By The third and final round of the 2021 New Zealand Superbike Championship at the Taupo based Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, provided drama a plenty in particular for the Team Rees squad.
Going into the final rounds with a 16.5 point advantage over elder brother Mitch Rees, many were anticipating that new Ashcourt Racing signing Damon Rees would claim his nation’s coveted national Superbike title.
It wasn’t to be though as a mix of machinery problems, misfortune and pure and simple bad luck thwarted his title efforts.
Third within the opening Superbike encounter, the following big bike race stint saw him forced to pilot an older spec Honda mount, after an electrical fault afflicted his prime CBR 1000RR-R Fireblade Honda steed.
Although better times arose for the third and final Superbike encounter at Taupo, more niggling issues were not far away and he had to settle for another third place finish.
Reflecting via his Facebook racing page about missing out on the 2021 New Zealand Superbike Championship crown to brother, Cemetery Circuit Races lap record holder Mitch Rees, he stated:
“We managed to fix the fault in our CBR1000RR-R ahead of Race 3. Again, another amazing effort by our team.
As I exited pit-lane, I soon learnt that we hadn’t re-calibrated the Quick shifter! and again, I rode through it, taking the lead in the opening laps but I just couldn’t compete and slipped back to P3 where I would finish.
It’s been a nightmare of a weekend but we made it work and I finished 2nd in the Superbike Championship behind my big bro Mitch Rees. He rode like a legend all weekend and although it’s hard to take, I wouldn’t want to lose to anyone else!”
Aside from the Rees bro’s others with excellent street racing pedigrees, to conclude their NZ Superbike series campaigns with quality results included Scott Moir, Richie Dibben, former Cookstown 100 winner Daniel Mettam.
Supersport front runners Rogan Chandler, Zak Fuller and 2017 Newcomers B Manx GP podium finisher Ben Rosendaal.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
