SMALL ON CAPACITY; BIG ON THRILLS

They ride the smallest capacity bikes in the championship, but it never pays to underestimate the thrill appeal of the 125GP class competitors.

Round three of the New Zealand Superbike Championships arrives at Timaru’s Levels Raceway this weekend and it’s here that the championship will possibly be defined.

Defending champion in the 125GP class is Dunedin’s Tim McArthur and he has not had an easy time of it in the two rounds thus far. In fact, he’s not won a single race … with Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem (Honda) unbeaten in all six races so far and hogging the top step of the podium.

Things then went from bad to worse for McArthur when he crashed in the day’s final 125cc race at Invercargill’s Teretonga race track last weekend and the injury he sustained — a broken wrist — has now sidelined him, at least for this weekend’s racing at Timaru.

McArthur is now a massive 54 points behind Hoogenboezem (pictured above) and with him out of the championship chase this weekend, that margin looks set to grow. Auckland Yamaha racer Jaden Hassan is third in the 125cc class, 14 points behind McArthur.

“Tim’s been close to me throughout the championship, until he crashed at Teretonga last weekend,” said the 17-year-old Hoogenboezem.

“Everyone has been coming on strong this year, so, even with Tim sidelined, I’m not taking anything for granted.

“Also, I had some motor troubles at Teretonga, so I will be going back to the standard motor for this weekend. The racing is sure to be close.”

Local eyes may also be on Timaru’s Johnny Small (Suzuki) at Levels this weekend.

The 18-year-old Small is leading the junior street-stock class, 14 points ahead of Tapanui’s Seth Devereaux (Kawasaki) and another 22 clear of third-ranked Anthony Singer (Suzuki), of Leeston, just south of Christchurch.

“It’s only the second season I’ve raced the nationals points rounds, so I’m fairly much a novice,” said Small. “But I’m pleased with how I’m going.

“I finished second all day at Teretonga but we’re on my home track this weekend — I’ve done more laps around Levels than anywhere else — so I’m feeling pretty confident.”

And while the 125cc and street-stock classes are expected to heat up, so too are the other bike categories.

The premier division, the superbikes class, is looming as a real battle of the giants with defending champion Robbie Bugden, of Australia, forced to play catch-up after disaster struck for him at round one in Christchurch a fortnight ago.

Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud won the day at Christchurch, thanks to 4-1 placings, and Bugden found himself 13 points in arrears and in an unaccustomed fifth place overall.

The two Suzuki riders shared wins at round two in Invercargill last weekend and, although Bugden remains 13 points behind Stroud, he is now up to second in the championship standings.

Christchurch rider James Smith (Suzuki) is third overall in this class and, tackling two classes this year, he is also, remarkably, on the top step of the podium in the fierce 600cc sports production class.

Smith took over the 600cc class from Nick Cole, the Kawasaki rider from Hamilton suffering a minor mechanical failure in Invercargill that prevented him from extending his unbeaten run.

With just six points to separate these two riders, the champagne is likely to stay on ice right up until the fifth and final round, set for the new circuit at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, in March.

Closes battles are also expected in the other classes at Levels this weekend, with points up for grabs in the formula three, pro twins, super motard and sidecars classes as well.