Shivas brings his Kiwi Motorsports Development (KMD) Racing experience to the team and summed up the opening round of four - hosted by Teretonga Park, near Invercargill - as a “good solid first round for the Altherm Yamaha KMD race team.”
“Alastair finished third overall, with two thirds and a second place. It was a fantastic start to the season for him, proving that he is in with a chance this year. Jake successfully won all three Supersport 600 races, seeing him first overall for the weekend. Dale and Av both performed to a very high standard. The team all worked well together. We had heaps of laughter and some awesome results,” Shivas says.
Hoogenboezem qualified on the front row, alongside his teammate Finch. In the first race he got tangled up with a couple of riders and dropped back in fifth. He managed to claw his way back up to third as he chased father and son duo Tony and Mitch Rees.
In Sunday morning’s secod race, Hoogenboezem got a better start and claimed another third.
Then in the third race, he “got a good start and was with the front two for the whole race. Then Mitch pulled away and I managed to pass Tony for second. Dale was very close behind me,” Hoogenboezem says.
“I’m really happy with how the Yamaha YZF-R1 bike is performing and how I am going. We are there and thereabouts, where we weren’t at the Suzuki Series.The first full team outing was really cool. Grant has created a great vibe in the pits with great people. All smiles and we are all having fun.”
“Congrats to Dale who had a wicked first national outing on the Yamaha YZF-R1 to finish fourth overall. Congrats to Jake for clean sweeping his races and Av for her three wins in the Pro Twins 650 class too. Pretty epic little team!”
Hoogenboezem thanked his family, the Altherm Yamaha team and his personal sponsors. He is looking forward to getting back on track at Levels Raceway this weekend.
Lewis couldn’t have asked for a better return to national level racing after a nearly two-year hiatus.
“We had a great opening round to the NZ Superbike Championship and it was great to be back with Altherm Yamaha and the KMD Racing Team. Qualifying P2 I knew it was going to be a hard weekend. Each race was a hectic battle for the lead, with many overtakes each lap, it made for extremely exciting racing,” Lewis says.
“The Yamaha YZF-R6 was an absolute weapon this weekend and to go 1-1-1 was a dream start. I can’t wait for round two at Levels this weekend, where we look to continue with this momentum,” Lewis wraps up.
The series’ second round will be held at Levels International Motor Raceway, near Timaru, this coming Friday and Saturday (February 14-15), before heading to Hampton Downs, near Meremere, for round three on March 8-9 and finishes the following weekend at Taupo with round four on March 15-16.
NZSBK Round One Results:
Superbikes
1st Mitch Rees – 76
2nd Tony Rees – 56
3rd Alastair Hoogenboezem (YZF-R1) – 52
4th Dale Finch (YZF-R1) – 39
SuperSport 600
1st Jake Lewis (YZF-R6) – 75
2nd Luca Durning – 57
3rd Seth Devereux – 52
Pro Twins
1st Avalon Lewis (YZF-R7) – 76
2nd Billie Fuller – 56
3rd Scott Findlay – 52
NZSBK Championship Results (Round One):
Superbikes
1st Mitch Rees – 76
2nd Tony Rees – 56
3rd Alastair Hoogenboezem (YZF-R1) – 52
4th Dale Finch (YZF-R1) – 39
SuperSport 600
1st Jake Lewis (YZF-R6) – 75
2nd Luca Durning – 57
3rd Seth Devereux – 52
Pro Twins
1st Avalon Lewis (YZF-R7) – 76
2nd Billie Fuller – 56
3rd Scott Findlay – 52
2024/2025 Altherm Yamaha Racing Team Calendar:
Suzuki International Series Round 1 @Taupo 7 - 8th Dec 2024
Suzuki International Series Round 2 @ Manfeild 14 - 15 Dec 2024
NZSBK Championship Round 1 @ Teretonga on 7-8-9- February 2025
NZSBK Championship Round 2 @ Levels on 13-14-15 February 2025
NZSBK Championship Round 3 @ Hampton Downs on 7-8-9 March 2025
NZSBK Championship Round 4 @ Taupo on 14-15-16 March 2025
*Words by Catherin Pattison