Superior brake parts cleanerSuperior brake parts cleaner

Bike ace Charlett has unfinished business

Stuff.co.nz

Stuff.co.nz7:00pm 5 December 2014

10873232

Christchurch superbike sensation Dennis Charlett is a man on a mission, but he’s got Taranaki’s Hayden Fitzgerald, among others, standing in his way.

The 46-year-old Charlett has numerous national titles to his credit after a sparkling career that spans more than three decades, but the Suzuki road-race hero still has unfinished business to complete before he finally hangs up his helmet and boots.

“I have never won the Robert Holden Memorial trophy and to win that is one of my main aims this season,” he declared.

The New Zealand superbike season kicks off this weekend at Hampton Downs with the first of three rounds of the popular Suzuki Series, the final round of which is on the streets of Whanganui on Boxing Day, and that’s when the Robert Holden feature race trophy will be on the line.

“I’ve won New Zealand TT titles, New Zealand GP titles, I have been national 125GP class champion, national 600cc champion, I am currently the New Zealand superbike champion and I have won the Suzuki series in the past too [in 2012], but the trophy I really want is the Robert Holden Memorial.

“I know I’ll retire a happy man regardless, but I would like to add that one to my curriculum vitae, just so I can tick all the boxes.

“Road-racing can be a dangerous sport, but I have resisted the temptation to retire because I’m still fit enough to race at the top level and I’m still enjoying it so much.”

The 2014-15 season-opening Suzuki series kicks of at Hampton Downs tomorrow and Sunday, with round two to follow at Manfeild on December 13-14 and the streets around the Wanganui Cemetery closed off for the final round on December 26.

The four-round New Zealand superbike championships follow soon after, with round one set for Ruapuna Raceway, on the outskirts of Christchurch, on January 10-11.

National No 1 Charlett knows there will be a target on his back and is taking nothing for granted.

Last season’s Suzuki series winner Nick Cole, of Hamilton, and perennial frontrunner Craig Shirriffs, of Feilding, have both retired from racing, but Charlett is well aware that there are still perhaps half a dozen others who will threaten him.

“Wellington’s Sloan Frost will be fast again and so will [Auckland youngster] Jaden Hassan. Then there’s Australian Linden Magee and New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald. Whanganui’s Jayden Carrick is now on a superbike and he will do well.

“Jayden’s a bit of a dark horse really because he’s just moved up from the 600cc class, but he always goes well at Manfeild and on the streets of Whanganui. He races there a lot, so he will have to be respected.

“These guys are all young and fit and fast. It’s going to be tough for me.”

Charlett will also face a challenge from an international contingent, with first-time visitor to New Zealand Horst Saiger arriving from Liechtenstein, bordering Austria, and Australian father-and-daughter pair Phil and Sophie Lovett returning for another crack at the Kiwi superbike scene.

Flamboyant British rider Guy Martin also returns, but he will race the final round of the Suzuki series only.

“Consistency is vital in winning a championship. I will just keep gathering up the points where I can and see how it all adds up at the end,” Charlett said.

“I’m glad to have the backing of Suzuki New Zealand. I have been given the bike of (five-time former New Zealand superbike champion) Robbie Bugden to ride this year. It’s a 2012-model GSX-R1000 and a great bike.

“Also I can’t thank [ultra fast broadband installers] Underground Brown enough for the support they give me. I wouldn’t still be racing if it wasn’t for their sponsorship.

“Perhaps they can make an ultra fast motorcycle racer out of me again,” he joked.

The Suzuki series includes competition for Formula Two 600cc Supersport, Formula Three Sportbikes, Post Classics, Bears (non-Japanese bikes), Super Moto and sidecars classes, so spectators can expect packed programmes at the tracks on each of the race weekends.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Racism in the racing paddock

11:12am 22 January 2015

Motorsport Magazine
0

Lewis-Hamilton

will there ever be a lewis hamilton of motogp, a black king of motorcycle…  More >

Rossi upbeat for 2015: “I’m in my best ever form”

2:28am 29 December 2014

Autosport
1

1419006482

Valentino rossi reckons he is in the best form of his entire motogp career after finishing second in the…  More >

Hugh Anderson writes his story

6:07am 18 December 2014

NZ Herald
1

SCCZEN_1512SPLMotorsport1_620x310

New zealand motorcycle racers had been making the trip overseas, to europe in particular, since the early 1900s and…  More >

Jorge lorenzo has renewed optimism that he will be able to challenge marc marquez as the pair both contend…  More >

Suzuki Series attracts a wealth of talent

1:23pm 27 November 2014

NZ Herald
0

2111NZHAMCharlett_2

The starting grids are filling rapidly as excitement builds for the suzuki series, the traditional kick-off to the new…  More >

Guy Martin returns to the Cemetery Circuit

1:48pm 20 November 2014

NZ Herald
0

GuyMartinonSuzukiGSXR1000atWanganui_620x310

Racers from around the world are all revved up and ready for the 2014 suzuki series which kicks off…  More >

RACE COUNTDOWN

V8 SuperTourers

Round 4

Waikato 250, Hampton Downs, 31 January

NZV8

Round 5

Manfeild Circuit, Feilding, 15 February

Indycars

Round 1

Brasilia Indy 300, Brasilia, 1 March

V8 Supercars

Round 1

Clipsal 500, Adelaide, 1 March

V8 Supercars

Round 2

Tasmania 400, Symmons Plains, 1 March

  • Latest story comments

  • CRC Motornews poll

    Who do you think will be top of the Kiwi in the 2014 V8 Supercars?

      View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...
  • Newsletter icon

    Get the latest motorsport news delivered to your inbox