Suzuki Series is on track Platinum Homes joins as sponsor for motorcycle races

• Published date: 10 August 2022

“Suzuki has partnered for 20-odd years,” says Allan (Flea) Willacy, Suzuki Series organiser

“And now Platinum Homes has come on board at the next level down, so it’s a relationship of two Whanganui companies supporting the Suzuki Series.”

He says after the cancellation of last year’s series, everything is “back on track”.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced organisers to reluctantly cancel the 2021 running of the motorcycle racing series and its street race finale.

Guest of honour at the photoshoot at the new Platinum Homes subdivision at Tirimoana Place, St Johns Hill, was the Suzuki Hayabusa, the 1300cc street bike that Sloan Frost, New Zealand superbike champion, will pilot during the series this year.

“When they launched them in 1999, they were the fastest production bike ever made,” says Peter Goldfinch, dealer executive at Suzuki NZ.

They are still the fastest naturally aspirated production bike on the road.

Peter has ridden the machine, and he called the experience “frightening”.

He says to have Sloan Frost at least place on what is essentially a street bike will be good marketing for Suzuki.

“It’ll be a massive crowd pleaser,” says Flea.

“This year, we are going to have the New Zealand TT title and the Supermoto championship finishes at Whanganui, too,” he says. “So there’s quite a lot to play for this year at Whanganui.

“The TT title originally came from street racing, so it’s come home.”

Flea says the first two rounds of the Suzuki International Series — at Taupo’s Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park and Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, in Feilding — are combined with the National Championships, but the Cemetery Circuit is the jewel in the crown.

“Everybody still wants to...