Round 1 Season 16 Wrap

Race day: 8 September 2026

Its Spring and time to go Cup Racing again. Cant believe we are into our 16th season. A lot of water under the bridge since the Cup idea popped into my head after watching some Club racing at Pukekohe in 2010 and remembering the Honda V Formula Cup I raced in the UK in 1986. Hundreds of riders have been a part of the Cup, and many for over 10 years now. Our longest competing rider Benny Cook is back for his 15th season and going faster than ever, so good to see.

We are very privileged to again have the support of Carl Cox Motorsport as our naming sponsor. Carl has expanded his sponsorship portfolio over the last year or so and he still see’s the Cup as his best involvement in grass roots racing. We also have continued support after many years of partnering with quality brands and people. Motul NZ, Kiwibike Insurance, Passmasters NZ, Kawasaki NZ, MTF Finance Wairau Valley, Bridgestone Moto, Nolan (Eurobike), WIL Sport, Auckland Motorcycle Club are back on board and we are very proud to announce a new sponsor AVA NZ joining us.

41 riders have signed up for the Cup this season. 25 Ninja 400’s and 16 Hyosung’s. We welcome many new racers also, Galib Leo, Ashton Cogdale, and Josh Christie on Ninjas and Josh Richmond-Deacon, Blair Edhouse, Jason Carr, Grant Wenzlick, Xavier Booth and Joel Bennett on Hyosungs. Five women will fight it out for the Women’s Cup, Megs, Alyssa and Dani on Ninjas, Shelley and Amy on the 250’s. We have 7 past Cup Champions competing, all on Ninjas. We are set up for a very good season and round 1 did not disappoint.

The weather forecast was mixed in the days leading up to the Father’s Day round, changing every few hours (Hey, its Spring). So, the day dawned not too bad. Overcast, windy, not warm but dry. 21 Ninjas and 14 Hyosung’s entered so a field of 35 wasn’t bad. Practice was underway after a large oil slick was cleaned up which compromised the ideal racing line so times weren’t expected to be on lap record pace.

The “Joe Show” Stroud set the pace for the Ninjas with a pole time of 1:17.513, a full second ahead of a returning Oli Pykett. The last spot on the front row of the new 3 across layout was Benny Cook. Row 2 was headed by the current Women’s Champion and new to Ninja’s rider Alyssa Boyd, P5 was Megs and P6 of course Lozza May. Hads Thomson was P7 from Passmasters NZ and past Ninja Cup Champion Chris Smith and rounding out row 3 was legend Andy Ansell.

The 250’s were lead by Lachlan Stace taking pole with a 1:27.329. Lachlan was looking to continue his form from the end of last season, smooth and fast. P2 was a great lap by Jarrod Thompson just ahead of new comer Xavier Booth. Row 2 was Shelley Belcourt in P4 (awesome result), a nice to have back Vaughan Maine, and Jack Harrison in P6. Row 3 was Aaran Ashworth, newcomer Joel Bennett and Dylan McDermott.

*“The Joe Show” Dominated the Ninja Cup*

Race 1

Sooo race 1 got underway with plenty of cement dust around and riders gagging to attack after a long break from racing. The Joe Show wasn’t muckin around. After his wheelie off the start line Jow only gave up his lead for a few corners when he ran wide at turn 1 and Benny slipped it under him. Joe brought it home by 1.5 from Benny. Joe put in a 1:16.428 for the bonus fastest lap point. The real fight was for second and awesome to watch Megs, Alyssa Boyd, Oli Pykett and Lozza swap places every lap. 1 second covered them over the stripe in that order, Lozza of course was always going to finish 6th as that’s his favourite place to finish. Highest finishing Cup newcomer on a Ninja was Josh Christie in 13th.

Lachlan was off to a flyer on his Hyosung GT250R but chased hard by Big Vaughan Maine and a super fast Shelley! So good to see Shelley jump into the front group, her first podium and riding so well. That was the podium for Hyosung’s with Xavier coming home P4, Arran P5 and Dylan McDermott in P6. Lachlans 1:25.916 earned him the fastest lap point.

*Full attack. Lachlan leads Xavier on their GT250R’s*

Race 2

Our Le Mans start race was red flagged after Oli, Sasha and Amy found the weeds. Fortunately, no riders hurt and we had a full restart after the seniors race. This was actually fortunate for the Joe Show as he near stalled his Ninja the first attempt but made a good restart and lead every lap stretching away for a 5.2 second win. Again, all the action was behind Joe for second. Megs, Alyssa, Benny and Scotty Findlay were having a ball, giving the spectators some fantastic entertainment, loads of passing and slipstreaming, race craft and last lap planning was going on. That’s how they finished with Lozza of course P6. Hadleigh headed home Andy Ansell and Chris Smith from Alex le Comte and Bretto Butler.

*Team Blipbr had a great day. Lozza, Benny and Megs*

Xavier cracked his first Le Mans start and took out his first win by 6 seconds from Vaughan and Lachlan who were covered by a blanket. Shelley a fine P4 by some margin over Dylan, Aaran and Marcus. Aaran did well as he had a pit lane start. Times were along way off record pace as track conditions were a wee bit slippy after a sprinkle of rain, but still Xavier took the extra point with a 1:26.195.

Race 3

Race 3 was another dominant performance by The Joe Show, leading the pack every lap as he settled into his newly set up Ninja 400. This race was another bonus point after a cracking 1:15.616 lap to win by 3.6 seconds. It was hard to take your eyes off the race behind Joe as once again Alyssa, Benny, Megs, Scotty and Lozza went at it hammer and tongs. Some of the best Ninja Cup racing we’ve seen. 0.8 seconds covered these 5 and yes, you guessed it Lozza was 6th. Behind this scrap was Hads, Andy and Chris also fighting big time for 7th. So much close racing I didn’t know where to look, lol.

*What a Ninja battle. Scotty, Alyssa, Megs, Lozza and Benny*

Xavier now knew how to win and he liked that feeling, so he did it again, this time by just 1.5 from Lachlan and BIG Vaughan just behind him. Shelley had a lonely ride home for P5 from Dylan, Jack and Aaran, Jarrod and Amy were non starters. Xavier also bagged fastest lap with a 1:25.470.

Race 4

Our last race of the day was no less exciting. The Joe Show did take out the clean sweep and lead every lap but this time its was Alyssa and Megs who chased him big time. These two womens’s Cup contenders were on fire and riding sooo well. Megs banked the days fastest Ninja lap with a 1:15.299 chasing down Alyssa but could not take that P2 away from the immaculately prepared Ninja 400 of our current Women’s Champion. Scotty had his hands full of Lozza after Benny took to the weeds (unhurt) which really spoilt Lozza’s day as he would finish in 5th not his preferred 6th, lol. That spot was secured by Chris over Hads and Andy. These 3 battled all day, so good. There were some good fights in pairs throughout the field. Alex and Sasha for 9th, Josh and Dani for 11th Troy and Too Tall Trento for 13th, Graeme Le Comte and Ashton for 16th.

Xavier liked the Gold medal flavour of winning and yup he did it again by 0.25 over Lachlan, these two on their own from Shelley with another fantastic P3. Aaran held off Jack for 4th. Xavier again takes fastest lap point with a 1:25.260. The Hyosung field was depleted with 4 DNF’s, no one injured but a shame so many didn’t see the chequered flag.

Podium

The days podium winners;

Thanks to the whole Team at the Auckland Motorcycle Club and the super flaggy’s for another very efficiently run event. All volunteers who act like professionals and give up their weekend so we can have fun on bikes, totally awesome!