By National Superstock 1000 Champion Richard Cooper, nine times International Road Race winner Lee Johnston are the standout International entrants for 2019 competition on the illustrious Whanganui based Cemetery Circuit Races, which as per tradition is scheduled to take place on boxing day, the 26th of December.
Fastest newcomer in North West 200 history Cooper, who will compete for respected event exponent Sloan Frost’s team is set to retain his link with GSX-R 1000 Suzuki machinery.
Whilst recently crowned Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup Champion Johnston, as at TT 2019 pilots one of BMW’s fabled S1000RR steeds which features title support from M1 Motorsport NZ.
A former top six finisher in the Robert Holden Memorial feature race at the ‘Southern Hemisphere’s Isle of Man’, there’s no doubt that the happy go lucky Johnston will be in contention for strong results a plenty.
Joining Johnston, event debutant Cooper on this year’s Cemetery Circuit Races entry include seasoned Mountain Course Morgan Govignon and fellow Frenchman Xavier Denis.
Three wheeling stars Estelle Leblond/Frank Claeys are also Whanganui bound as are a host of leading New Zealand roads competitors which include Scott Moir, Shane Richardson, 2017 Newcomers B Manx GP runner-up Ben Rosendaal and Nick Southerwood.
Words by Stevie Rial
