It is rapidly turning into the “Summer of Cole”.
Waikato’s Nick Cole has been nothing short of sensational is his ambition to succeed on the nation’s motorcycle race tracks.
But the 23-year-old made life difficult for himself when he crashed his Kawasaki ZX-6R during the practice session at the annual Battle of the Streets race meeting on the public roads of Paeroa on Sunday.
Incredibly, he picked himself up, dusted off his distinctive green leathers and proceeded to win both the formula two points races that followed shortly afterwards.
Not only did he succeed is brushing off his earlier disaster, but he also raced his 600cc Kawasaki ZX-6R to third spot in the day’s all-in King of the Streets feature race.
"This is by far the best I've ever done at this event," enthused Cole afterwards.
"I made it hard on myself though, after crashing during the practice session early in the day. Lucklily I wasn't hurt but the bike's front forks were twisted. It was still rideable though.
"In the King of the Streets race I had a real horsepower disadvantage. Craig Shirriffs and Hayden Fitzgerald were gaining a lot of ground on me on the straights."
After the national superbikes championships, which continues with the fourth of five rounds at Manfeild next weekend, Cole says he has plans to tackle the legendary Isle of Man.
"I desperately need a sponsor or two but that's certainly the plan, to race the Manx GP at the Isle of Man in early September. It's just something I've got to do."
Cole is in position to win his first national road-racing title, just a handful of points off the lead in the 600cc sports production class and, but for a snapped drive chain at one round, he'd be comfortably leading the series. He has plans to attack at Manfeild this weekend and then wrap up the title at the final round at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, in March.
Meanwhile Cole’s team-mate on the Red Devil Racing Kawasaki team, Hawke’s Bay’s Adam Chambers was also running hot at Paeroa.
The rider from Clive, midway between Napier and Hastings, took his Kawasaki ZX-6R to finish third equal with Auckland’s David Manuell in the formula two class.
The significance of this is that Chambers has been notable by his absence from racing this season, the Paeroa event only his second outing of the season.
“I haven’t raced any national championship rounds because I don’t have the budget this year,” the 22-year-old crane operator explained.
“I simply couldn’t afford to get myself and the bike down to the South Island for the early rounds. But I love racing these street events. I finished fifth in the formula two class at the Cemetery Circuit in Wanganui on Boxing Day and now I’m third at Paeroa. This was only my second visit to Paeroa too … so I think I did pretty well,” said Chambers.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
