Motorsport: Coutts easy to spot even at top speed

Whangarei motorcycle racer Duncan Coutts is hoping to continue last season's form on a newly built bike at this weekend's transtasman challenge.

More than 25 Australian riders are expected for the Barry Sheene Trans Tasman Challenge Series at Hampton Downs race track during Labour Weekend.

New Zealand entries have already topped the 200 mark, with riders from as far away as Invercargill drawn into what should be fierce competition. Motorcycles are classified according to their age and engine size, with no bike newer than 1989 taking part in the event.

Coutts raced a 1989 Honda CBR600 last season, winning his class in the NZ Grand Prix, NZ Tourist Trophy, NZ Post Classic and Auckland Motorcycle Club competitions.

He was awarded the number one plate in New Zealand for most points scored during the season. Coutts set a lap record in his class at the Pukekohe and Hampton Downs racetracks.

He also competes in unrestricted classes on a more modern bike, an Aprilia RSVR1000, and picked up an Auckland title on the bigger bike, as well as finishing third in the International Tri Series.

"I couldn't have had a better season, I had some luck and things went right for me at the right time," said Coutts.

"I should have retired then as the boys now joke I've got a target on my back."

Despite a few crashes, Coutts believes competitive motorcycling is a relatively safe sport.

"I managed to fall off when it didn't matter for the championships and the tracks these days are pretty safe with good runoff areas," he said. "It's only when you hit something that you can get hurt."

Coutts spent the winter building a hybrid race bike, a 1989 Kawasaki ZXR400 rolling chassis with a Honda 600cc motor.

"This bike should be a bit of a weapon and I'm hoping to knock a couple of seconds off my lap times," he said.

A fresian cow paint job makes his bikes easy to spot even at speed on the track. He rides under the banner of the Mad Cow Racing Disease team.

"I'm kind of stuck with the paint job now as people have got to know them and look for my bikes. The kids love the look."