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The Star Insure New Zealand Superbike Championship has reached a pivotal stage after two rounds, with teams and riders now preparing for MotoFest at Hampton Downs. The series resumed its northward swing following intense action in Christchurch and Invercargill. The standings show both clear dominance in places and tightly contested rivalries elsewhere. This report summarises on-track highlights, championship permutations and the provisional points picture as competitors head to the next venue.
At the front of the field sits Rogan Chandler, whose early-season scoring has set the benchmark in the premier class. Chandler’s results provide a measurable points buffer, but Superbike races have featured close, wheel-to-wheel battles. Those contests suggest the championship remains open despite the leader’s consistency.
Teams and riders have used the opening rounds to refine setups and pit strategies. Mechanical reliability and tyre management emerged as decisive factors in both Christchurch and Invercargill. As a consequence, several crews are prioritising incremental gains ahead of the Hampton Downs meeting.
Superbike class: leadership and the four-way contest
Superbike class: leadership and the four-way contest
Following the northward shift in the championship, the Superbike field is led by a rider who has turned raw pace into consistent results.
Rogan Chandler (M1 BMW) claimed four race wins across the opening two rounds. He produced a dominant weekend in Invercargill, where he also set the fastest laps.
Chandler then won the NZ Superbike Grand Prix in Christchurch, giving him a solid points buffer as the series moves to round three at Hampton Downs.
That advantage has not quelled competition. A small group of challengers have closed performance gaps and are targeting incremental gains in setup and racecraft.
Teams are prioritising reliability and small improvements to tyres, electronics and chassis balance ahead of the next meeting, seeking opportunities to erode Chandler’s lead.
Expect tighter qualifying margins and more aggressive race strategies as contenders push to convert single-lap speed into podium finishes.
Expect tighter qualifying margins and more aggressive race strategies as contenders push to convert single-lap speed into podium finishes. The narrative is far from a one-man show. A spirited quartet has emerged up front: Al Hoogenboezem (KMD Yamaha), Luca Durning (The Dentists BMW) and Dale Finch (KMD Yamaha) have all been regular protagonists in the leading group. Racing has remained consistently close. Aggressive moves and strategic defence have been common as these riders trade places and lap times. Complacency will not be an option for Chandler when the field reconvenes at MotoFest.
What to watch at Hampton Downs
Expect battles for track position to decide outcomes as much as raw speed. Teams will tune setups to Hampton Downs’ mix of long straights and technical sections, seeking any marginal gains. The combination of Chandler’s momentum and relentless pressure from his three nearest rivals creates a compelling title subplot for the coming rounds. Watch for tighter qualifying spreads, bolder tyre choices and more frequent strategic gambits as contenders pursue small advantages that could determine the championship order.
Junior classes and 600 supersport: prodigies and perfection
Following tighter qualifying margins and bolder strategic gambits, the junior ranks have produced a standout performer. Fifteen-year-old Hunter Charlett, racing for Optima Chartered Accountants Yamaha, delivered back-to-back weekends of clear dominance.
Charlett, a Christchurch rider, secured two poles and won three races in each of the 150 Supersport and 300 Supersport classes at both Christchurch and Invercargill. That repeat performance highlights exceptional consistency and measured racecraft for a rider of his age.
Ryder Chamberlain pushed Hunter Charlett closely in the 150 category, nearly ending Charlett’s run of national victories. The contest underscored the depth of competition in the junior ranks. Chamberlain’s challenge came within a margin small enough to suggest a maiden national win could be imminent.
The 300 class remains tightly contested on points. Riders including Diego Petrucci, Alvin Wu, Jakob Henderson, Chris Reynolds and Harriet Grace all sit in realistic contention. Consistent podiums and strategic racecraft are likely to decide the championship as the season progresses.
In the 600 Supersport division, Jake Lewis (KMD Yamaha) has set a high standard. Lewis secured pole positions and clean sweeps across both rounds before returning temporarily to Australia for work commitments. His performance has created an early points advantage.
The leading challengers — Ashton Hughes, Seth Devereux, Haydn Fordyce, Karl Hooper and Jesse Stroud — will seek to reduce that margin during Lewis’s absence. Their task will require consistent scoring and opportunistic results when Lewis is not on the entry list.
Definitions and race jargon
Racing officials declared one meeting partly void after an early-race collision halted the programme. The stoppage ended the Sportbike card and led to the final Sportbike race being voided.
Before the red flag, wins in the Sportbike class were shared by Zak Fuller of Blue Wing Honda and Tyler King of AVA NZ Aprilia. Fuller leaves the meeting holding the points lead in Sportbike heading into the next round.
In ProTwin, veteran Dennis Charlett extended his advantage in the standings. Charlett sits ahead of Azlan Blackwell, Marcus Thompson and Vaughan Maine after applying racecraft and consistency to his campaign.
For clarity: a clean sweep refers to taking pole position and winning every race in an event, while pole denotes the fastest qualifying time that places a rider at the front of the grid. These terms reflect both outright speed and race management, attributes shown repeatedly by Charlett and by Jake Lewis in recent rounds.
Race officials said investigations into the collision remain ongoing. Teams and riders can expect steward reports and possible grid or penalty changes before the next meeting.
Teams and riders can expect steward reports and possible grid or penalty changes before the next meeting. The Sidecar championship remains tightly contested, with Spike and Bubba Taylor (LCR Suzuki) holding the lead. Recent rounds saw the pairing of Barry and Dave Smith (LCR Kawasaki) reduce the deficit, tightening the fight for the title. Other crews, including Phillip Law with Angus Ravenwood (Windle BMW) and Burt Wolland with Vaughan Maine (LCR Suzuki), continue to press for podiums as the season progresses.
Provisional standings
The series’ provisional points after two rounds, subject to official confirmation, outline the current championship picture across classes. In Superbike the top five are: Rogan Chandler on 133 points, Al Hoogenboezem 114, Luca Durning 108, Dale Finch 76 and James Hoogenboezem 64. In 600 Supersport Jake Lewis leads on 152 points. Hunter Charlett tops both the 300 (151) and 150 (152) Supersport tables. Sportbike is led by Zak Fuller on 117, and ProTwin by Dennis Charlett on 122. The Sidecar category is provisionally led by Spike and Bubba Taylor with 129 points.
Race officials will confirm the provisional lists once all results and any penalties are processed. The standings set the scene for MotoFest, where championship battles are likely to intensify and strategic decisions will shape title prospects.
What to expect at Hampton Downs
The championship moves to Hampton Downs with several title narratives still unresolved. Young riders have shown consistent pace, but experienced contenders continue to influence race outcomes. Tight margins across classes mean a single result can alter championship trajectories.
Key dynamics to watch
In Superbike, tactical battles at the front are likely to determine podium order. Team strategies and tyre choices will matter equally to outright speed. Steward reports and potential grid or penalty adjustments could affect starting positions before the next races.
In the support classes, youth progression remains a defining theme. Emerging riders can gain decisive points if they convert qualifying form into race results. Consistency will be as valuable as occasional wins.
Implications for title prospects
The upcoming rounds will shape mathematical possibilities and strategic priorities. Teams facing narrow deficits may adopt conservative approaches to secure points. Leaders with slim advantages could pursue damage limitation as much as outright victory.
Race officials’ decisions and any regulatory clarifications before the meeting will be factors for teams and riders to monitor. Weather and track evolution at Hampton Downs will also influence tyre strategies and race plans.
The standings entering MotoFest frame the next phase of the season. Expect intensified competition and strategic manoeuvring as contenders aim to strengthen their title bids.