Wanganui's Jayden Carrick sits just a point behind the double-duty pulling Aucklander Toby Summers in the Formula Two (600cc) class after the opening round of the annual Suzuki Series at Hampton Downs.
The series, which moves to Manfeild this coming weekend before concluding on Wanganui's Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day, had a near-perfect start for Summers on Saturday.
He took his 2011-model Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike to win both races in the Super Moto class, then backed that up on his 2011-model Yamaha R6 to finish first and second to Carrick in the Formula Two (600cc) events.
However, 2012 Formula Two series runnerup Carrick can take a lot of confidence from his outings, given that at the same time last year he was sitting fourth overall after taking his Suzuki to fourth and fifth during the first-round races.
On Saturday he had a grand battle with Summers, as well as Clive's Adam Chambers, Auckland's Daniel Mettam and Yamaha riders such as Rhys Holmes, from Tauranga, and German visitor Thomas Kreutz.