Superbikes coming to Hampton Downs

**erik** · 4th March 2008, 21:44

Originally Posted by jrandom

I can't wait for the first trackday there!

me neither!

http://www.hamptondowns.com/wse/grap...t%20110208.JPG

**HDTboy** · 4th March 2008, 22:27

Originally Posted by Kickaha

I'm just wondering what the support classes will be

If it's summer: Super 14
If it's winter: Tri nations

**Cleve** · 4th March 2008, 23:44

Originally Posted by HDTboy

If it's summer: Super 14
If it's winter: Tri nations

Hahaha... nice one Gav!

**denill** · 5th March 2008, 06:18

2011. BRING IT ON

**marioc** · 5th March 2008, 06:51

thats bloody awesome news

**jrandom** · 5th March 2008, 06:54

Originally Posted by erik

http://www.hamptondowns.com/wse/grap...t%20110208.JPG

Can anyone say sweeper heaven?

**Usarka** · 5th March 2008, 06:58

Sveeeper eeeavn.... svweepa heev.... seeepa headn....

nope, i cant.....

**jrandom** · 5th March 2008, 07:00

Originally Posted by Usarka

Sveeeper eeeavn.... svweepa heev.... seeepa headn....

nope, i cant.....

Never mind, just go ride it.

**denill** · 5th March 2008, 07:12

Originally Posted by boostin

Just heard TV3 news say that the Superbikes will return to NZ in two years at the new Hampton Downs track...

It aint in concrete - yet:

TV3 Sports News

Motorsport: NZ set to bid for hosting rights for World Superbikes
Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:17a.m.

New Zealand wants to host a round for the superbikes world championship for three years from 2010.
The country last hosted a round of the championship in 1992.
Motorcycling New Zealand president Sandra Perry today said the series organisers had accepted a bid providing their terms could be met.
"We have some huge ground work to do about sourcing investment to run the event," she told RadioSport today.
The event would be held at the new Horsham Downs circuit in Waikato.
"Some minor track modifications need to be looked at," she said.

NZPA

**NZsarge** · 5th March 2008, 07:44

I hope it goes ahead, it would be freakin' awesome to go see first hand! I'd be there with bells on for sure.

**denill** · 5th March 2008, 07:51

And Radio Sport's take on the subject:

**Matt Bleck** · 5th March 2008, 08:21

MEDIA RELEASE

SUPERBIKES COME TO WAIKATO IN 2010

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park has recently won a bid to host a round of the SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

Hampton Downs CEO, Jamie Kett, said it was a fantastic international series and a major sporting and tourism boost for New Zealand.

The SuperBike World Championship has 15 international rounds from late February to mid October. The New Zealand leg will be staged a week after the Phillip Island round in Australia in late February. Each round has four race classes with 140 riders from 27 countries participating.

Mr Kett said that Hampton Downs had negotiated the rights to hold for event from 2010 for a minimum of 3 years. The SuperBike World Championship has a worldwide media audience of more than two billion people.

“The benefits for the Waikato region are huge. Over three years it is expected to bring in about $75million in foreign spending to New Zealand.

This is the first major coup for Hampton Downs and we are very excited. Coming on the back of the Australian V8 Supercars in Hamilton, the region is firmly established as the Motorsport capital of New Zealand,” he said.

Waikato District Council Mayor Peter Harris said the winning of the series was a brilliant opportunity for the region and the Motorsport park. “This is a very popular event and the flow-on effects for the district and the city will be significant. We will continue to work closely with the park regarding the consent process,” he said.

Quotes:

Claude Danis
“My role within the FIM is to ensure the safety and fairness of motorcycle racing throughout the world. I recently meet with Jamie Kett in Qatar to discuss the Hampton Downs Circuit design and the possibility of a round of the SBK World Championship being held there. As long as the circuit satisfies all the safety requirements I would fully support their proposal and I am very excited with the prospects of SBK returning to New Zealand”

Paolo Flammini
“New Zealand and the Superbike World Championship are old friends.

The Manfield track has been a traditional World SBK venue in the first years of our adventure and riders like Aaron Slight and Simon Crafar have been the protagonists of some of the most beautiful pages in the Superbike World Championship history.

We all at FGSport welcome the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park initiative and look forward to give the Kiwi fans a new opportunity to “touch” the WSBK world.”

Paolo Ciabatti
“It has been a real pleasure to meet with Hampton Downs MotorSport Park representative in Qatar and I really hope that WSBK will be coming soon to NZ.”

Sandra Perry
Sandra Perry MNZ President commented that is was a worthwhile experience attending Round One of 2008 World Superbike Championship Round at Losail circuit Qatar to see first hand the huge growth and improvement since the Championships inception in 1988 when New Zealand hosted the inaugural final round at Manfeild.

Motorcycling New Zealand look forward to the event 'returning home' to Hampton Downs in 2010 remembering it was approved by the Federation Internationale Motocyclisme in 1987 as New Zealand's idea.