FEATURE
WANGANUI CEMETERY CIRCUIT
P98
two spots to be in 11
th
, but then stuck behind
some slower riders who made it all but impos-
sible to pass. I did manage a quick slip up the
inside at turn one to get myself into the top 10,
and that's where I finished.
I'd chickened out in race one. Got too
scared, didn't get the knives out in turn one,
got boxed and subsequently left for dead.
That would not pass for race two, oh no…
For race two, I pulled the start of my life. I
went from 13
th
to fifth into turn one, and this
time I was going to hang on. By the end of lap
two I was holding the pace of the leaders until
the race was stopped with the fourth place
rider crashed out.
That meant I had to do it all again. And I did!
Up to fifth again from 13
th
, but coming down
the back straight for the first time, my bike lost
all power. I went from fifth to 14
th
in the blink of
an eye. I was screaming at myself. I've never
been so p!ssed off. So I thought, "screw it, I'm
going for it."
Happy to see the
end, but Rennie
wishes there was
more racing!
How do you get there?
e track is located toward the bottom of the North
Island of New Zealand, around five hours drive from
the nation's capital of Wellington. Flights from the US
to New Zealand generally leave from San Francisco or
Los Angeles and land in Auckland, and from there you
can hire a car or bike and drive to the track (highly
recommended), about five hours south. Prices can vary
as the race is held in the peak Christmas travel period.
Accommodation are best booked early.
Click this link to see where Wanganui is on Google
Maps. http://tinyurl.com/oqqw8o2
Check out all the action from the 2014 Wanganui
Cemetery Circuit by clicking this link. You'll want to
get down there for yourself!
Channeling my inner Marquez, over the next
five laps, I passed eight riders to finish seventh in
the race. Catch/pass, catch/pass, catch/pass.
Why didn't I ride like this in race one!?
I came in disappointed with the result, but
happy in how I rode. I was also happy I didn't end
up in the cemetery or making friends with a gutter
somewhere.
Regardless, it was a good end to a stressful yet
ultimately enjoyable day of racing. I have to thank
Suzuki New Zealand for giving me a bike to ride,
Allan Willacy for the entry and accommodation,
and Ray Clee, Daniel Mettam and their pit crew
for constantly helping me over the day's racing.
I'm already planning on how I'm going to get
back there this Boxing Day. Factory team, aye
Kit? CN
