Altherm Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) rider Alastair Hoogenboezem proved that consistency pays off, with a runner-up finish at the second round of the 2024 Suzuki International Series in the Manawatu at the weekend.
In a drama-filled race meeting at Manfeild, three of the front-running riders in the Superbike class crashed out in separate incidents, leaving Hoogenboezem able to claim the second spot on the podium.
Team Manager Grant Shivas described it as a “strong weekend” for the YRT, with all attention focused on Hoogenbooezem, as the team’s Supersport 600 rider Jake Lewis and supported Superbike rider Dale Finch, both sat this round out.
“Although it took us a while to get up to speed, Alastair finished second overall. He gave up a podium in race two after an amazing save at the end of the straight, where he would have finished third but almost lost it in the braking zone on turn 1 and got passed by another rider to finish fourth,” Shivas says.
“I’m really impressed with the way Alastair is riding, and can’t wait to see him on the streets at Whanganui. Thanks to the team at Altherm, Yamaha, and Josh Coppins Racing, I feel we have the opportunity to have a strong 2025 season.”
Hoogenboezem says this second round started out with setting some little goals each testing session, “which we knocked out of the park.”
Qualifying fifth, he found there was a gap to bridge to the top three frontrunners, United Kingdom-based 2024 Isle of Man champions Peter Hickman and Davey Todd and defending Suzuki Series champion Whakatane’s Mitch Rees.
“It is not the nationals, so I’m not too worried about results at the moment. We are making some really good positive changes, and I’m feeling good. I’m especially looking forward to when we start heading back down south and getting onto my home tracks,” the former Cantabrian, but now Auckland-based Hoogenboezem says.
“I managed to get some pretty good starts and my 5-4-4 finishes gave me second overall for the weekend with a couple of the lads dropping out, so it pays to stay on the track.”
Hoogenbooezem added that the Altherm YRT continued making improvements to give him a quicker Yamaha YZF-R1 each race. He heads to the popular public street race final at Whanganui’s world-renowned Cemetery Circuit on December 26, with an undamaged R1 and a determination to keep getting faster.
“Big thanks to Grant and the team for putting a big effort in, even though it was just myself riding this weekend. We are definitely bridging that gap to the top three and I’m confident we can have a good stab at the NZSBK,” he wraps up.
The Altherm YRT begins its New Zealand Superbike Championship campaign in February at the country’s southern-most track Teretonga Park, in Invercargill. The manager, riders and mechanics wish all their supporters and sponsors a safe and happy Christmas as they look forward to a successful 2025 road racing season!
Suzuki Series Round One Results:
F1/Superbike
1st Tony Rees – 60
2nd Alastair Hoogenboezem (YZF-R1) – 52
3rd Mitch Rees – 51
* Dale Finch (YZF-R1) – did not race.
F2/Supersport 600
1st Morgan McLaren-Wood – 76
2nd Ashton Hughes – 62
3rd Dillon Telford – 56
* Jake Lewis (YZF-R6) – did not race.
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
NZ Superbike Championship Round 1 @ Teretonga on 7-8-9- February 2025
NZ Superbike Championship Round 2 @ Levels on 13-14-15 February 2025
NZ Superbike Championship Round 3 @ Hampton Downs on 7-8-9 March 2025 with MotoFest
NZ Superbike Championship Round 4 @ Taupo on 14-15-16 March 2025
ALTHERM YAMAHA RACING TEAM (YRT) WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS:
Altherm Window Systems, Yamaha Motor NZ, Kiwi Motorsport Development, Ward Demolition, Yamalube, GYTR, bLU cRU, YMF, YMI, Akrapovic, Pirelli, Race Supplies, GB Racing, JCR, Hughes Transport, Holland Collision Centre, Workshop Graphics & Sprint Filter.
