A few photos of a ride to the 2012 Suzuki Tri-Series championship event at Hampton Downs, all taken at the hairpin showing some of the great riders who dominate racing in this country. 
The great Andrew Stroud – Suzuki GSX 1000. Andrew had a big tussle with Sloan Frost. Andrew is a true Kiwi legend who still races competitively at the tender age of 45. He has won 9 New Zealand Superbike national championships and is known internationally for his success on the Britten V1000, including winning Daytona in 1994 and the European Pro-Twins at Assen.
Sloan gets the most extreme body position of all the riders and was very quick on his BMW S1000RR – unfortunately too quick on Turn 1 of the second race as he was defending his lead from Andrew Stroud and had a huge off. 
Craig Shiriffs from Feilding is an amazing rider who is always in or near the lead. Here he battles with Dennis Charlett from Christchurch who was the eventual winner of the 2012 Suzuki Tri-Series. Both are riding Suzuki GSXR 1000’s. 
Tony Rees from Whakatane who had raced for many years on a Yamaha has moved to a Honda CBR1000, had close racing with John Ross of Christchurch on his Suzuki GSXR 1000RR.
John Houben rode a well presented Suzuki GSXR 1000 
As much as we enjoyed the racing, Andre, Justin and I were keen to finish off the weekend with a lap of our own favourite – the Coromandel Loop. Andre was trying out his recently purchased Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird. He needed something more suitable for the tender parts of his wife’s seating and sold his Yamaha XJR1200. The Blackbird is an amazing sports tourer, with a leaning towards sports, a very capable bike and quite similar in power and handling to my BMW K1200s 
Justin was riding his Ducati MHR which he has taken on longer trips before but not with us. What a gem, and Justin makes that bike go faster than you would expect from a 30 year old bike. A great weekend. 
Here we stopped in the Opitonui Valley on the eastern side near Whangapoua, looking towards Castle Rock on the skyline and near to the fabulous mountain crossing towards Coromandel Township. Paradise!!! 
Again, a late posting, but I hope you enjoy.
Max
Tailpipes and Headlamps 