Nicknamed ‘The Southern Hemisphere’s Isle of Man’ the rising in popularity Wanganui based Cemetery Circuit races, looks set to attract one of it’s most world class entries to date, for the showpiece New Zealand roads event, which as always takes place on boxing day.
Event organisers have received a strong amount of early entries which include Newcomers B Manx GP front runners Ben Rosendaal and Nick Southerwood, seasoned Mountain Course exponent Rob Whittall and event specialists such as Toby Summers and Jay Lawrence.
Photo by Jim Gibson
Leading Sidecar entries received thus far include consistent front runners on the Cemetery Circuit Barry Smith/Tracey Bryan, plus prospective newcomers TT stalwarts Greg Lambert/Julie Canipa.
In recent years star names from the UK to participate at the meeting first ran in 1951, have most notably included Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop.
Fellow international road race winners Lee Johnston and Conor Cummins are both strongly linked to following in the footsteps of the combined 46 times international road race winners, in sampling this December the under a mile long roads course.
Possibly as well we could see TT Privateers champion Horst Saiger return to Wanganui for a fourth successive year, the former North West 200 Superstock lap record holder came extremely close to sealing feature race honours in 2016 after a thrilling race long duel with Tony Rees.
Once again part of the Suzuki Tri Series, this years Cemetery Circuit races are shaping up to be amongst the most illustrious of the event’s iconic feat upon iconic feat graced history.
Words by Stevie Rial