NZ Sidecar Crew to compete in World Champs

Article reprinted with permission from ACP Media. Motorcycle Trader NZ - Issue 157

By Terry Stevenson

When Australian SsangYong sidecar team owner Brett Gilbert rang Steve Bron recently to come along to the “worlds”, Bron thought he was being offered a trip to watch the Rugby World Cup!

No, it was to join the Stacey Sellars/Darren Abraham Aussie combination for an “Australasian assault” and compete in all rounds of the world sidecar championship. Including two MotoGP rounds.

“I feel absolutely honoured and privileged, humbled to be asked,” Wanganui’s Bron said, before winning the NZ Sidecar TT at Pukekohe on his Yamaha R1 powered SsangYong LCR sidecar. Setting a new lap record of 1m 4.6s in the lead up race. Not bad for a rider who has completed only two seasons racing!

“We’re pretty excited! We’re hoping if we do this, we can get a Superside meeting in New Zealand.”

The SsangYong team travel to Europe in May for the opening race on May 13. They will shell out $130,000 per rig (without engines) for two LCR sidecars, which will run Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6 engines, tuned by no less than former world champ Steve Abbott.

Gilbert is expecting Bron and swinger Charles Bilby (Auckland) to finish in the top 10.

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