Dennis Charlett is quitting while he’s at the top, something he could easily have done several times in the past because he has been on top of the New Zealand motorcycling scene many times over the years.
But this season was special for the Christchurch rider because, just over a week ago, the former 125cc and 600cc champion finally became the national superbike (1000cc) champion, the pinnacle of the sport here, and he did it with relative ease – this despite the incredibly intense racing that ensued throughout the four-round series in 2014.
Charlett (Underground Brown Suzuki GSX-R1000) built up enough of a points lead at the two South Island rounds of the series that, by the time the racing headed up for the two North Island rounds, he was already in a strong position.
He arrived at Manfeild’s double-header fourth and final round with a massive 24-point lead over Hamilton Kawasaki ace Nick Cole.
When it was learned Cole would be a no-show at Manfeild – he had allegedly been assaulted in a pub in Taupo the preceding weekend – it meant the pressure on Charlett was further reduced.
He had nearly two race wins up his sleeve over the next best rider, Taupo’s Scott Moir (Suzuki GSX-R 1000), and only five races left.
So Charlett could afford to take a “slow but steady wins the race” approach at Manfeild, although, in a sport when even going slowly can mean racing at speeds in excess of 200km/h, it was never going to be a weekend without risk.
But the strategy did work and Charlett virtually cruised to seventh, eighth and sixth placings on the Friday and Saturday at Manfeild, enough to wrap up the premier class.
On the final day of racing on the Sunday, he was able to turn up the heat again and led for most of the final 10-lap race of the series, ably demonstrating that he was a deserving champion, only to be passed for the win right at the end by visiting Australian Linden Magee (BMW S1000RR).
Magee had also won the third race of the weekend, his 9-7-1-5-1 score-line over the three days elevating him from sixth position after round three to finish the championships in the No2 spot.
It was BikesportNZ.com-sponsored Taranaki rider Hayden Fitzgerald (Suzuki GSX-R1000) who was the overall winner in the superbike class at Manfeild, winning the battle with 2-2-3-4-3 placings, but it was Charlett who won the war.
“It was a really difficult weekend for me,” said Charlett afterwards.
Charlett was national 125cc champion in 1999 and had previously also won the 600cc class on three separate occasions, but the superbike title is the jewel in his crown.
“I go into semi-retirement now,” said the 45-year-old grandfather.
“I will race at club days and work at coaching some of the young riders down in the South Island.”
The 2014 national champions in the other classes are:
600cc Supersport, John Ross (Christchurch, Suzuki GSX-R600); Superlites, Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Suzuki SV650); Pro Twins, Royd Walker-Holt (Kawakawa, Suzuki SV650); 250 Production, Bailie Perriton (Ashburton, Kawasaki Ninja 250); 125GP Matthew Hoogenboezem (Christchurch, Honda RS125) and Sidecars, Spike Taylor and Astrid Hartnell (Masterton, LCR).
