By Pure road racing action for the 2020’s kicked off in style at the Burt Munro Challenge incorporated Honda Invercargill Street Races.
Cemetery Circuit legend Tony Rees proved too strong for the opposition in the premier Formula 1 races, securing a hat trick of big bike triumphs, winning each F1 race by plus six seconds.
Rees didn’t have it all his own way though in terms of overall F1/F2 class honours, with Formula 2 pace setter, new Supersport lap record holder Richie Dibben coming ultra-close to defeating the New Zealand roads great, finishing respectively only 0.138, 0.256 and 0.019 behind within the six, five lap races.
Outside of the captivating Rees, Dibben battles others to excel in mixed conditions at Invercargill included Jay Lawrence aboard his immaculate XR69 Suzuki.
Lower Hutt’s Lawrence who placed a very creditable 23rd in last June’s Dunlop Senior TT, secured three successive Post Classic Pre 89 Open victories, along the way setting a blistering new class lap record of 42.234 seconds.
Photo by Nick Wheeler
Additional racers to take three wins from three starts in their respective classes were Vince Burrell (Post Classic Pre 72), Charlie Palmer (Pre 63 Classics 500cc +), Ross Bolding (AHRMA Class C).
Shane Brammer (Post Classic Pre 95), Jonny Lewis (Bears F1/Formula 3), Craig Ellis (Bears Junior) and three wheeling form horses Gary Cotterell/Layton Matheson.
Words by Stevie Rial
