Queenslander Linden Magee escaped serious injury in a heavy fall during the second round of New Zealand’s Suzuki Series at Manfeild on Sunday.

M1Motorsport BMW’s Magee qualified ninth, however a crash during race one ended his weekend. Earlier, he won the first BEARS race of the weekend.

“I’m okay, just disappointed, a bit bruised and sore but will be right in a week or so,” Magee commented. “I’m determined to do well at the nationals and get away from the mid-pack craziness.”
 
Team manager Robert Ramshaw is expecting Magee to return at full fitness for the New Zealand Superbike Championship opener on 4-5 January at Ruapuna’s Powerbuilt Raceway.

“I was wandering out onto Manfeild’s pit lane with the pit-board and heard the crowd gasp,” he reflected. “I looked out and thought ‘uh-oh, I recognise that bike’, as it catapulted through the air.
 
“I’m obviously glad that our rider Linden Magee is okay as he can be after such a spectacular crash. I’m happy with our progress and good communication, I’m still smiling regardless of how the day went and confident we can continue to progress.

“I’m very happy with how the weekend went, I don’t feel it was wasted. We were able to progress to a point where the Valvoline-sponsored BMW S 1000 RR was running 6/100ths off the top riders.

“We made some progressive changes that worked for Linden, he was very happy with the feel of the bike and having a lot of fun out there.
 
“In the scheme of things, we were also able to introduce Linden to the 3.03km Manfeild circuit in preparation for the final two rounds at the NZSBK Nationals.”

Suzuki rider Dennis Charlett leads the Suzuki Series following Manfeild, three points ahead of Kawasaki-mounted Nick Cole entering Wanganui’s Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day.

Australian Chris Seaton, aboard an Aprilia, finished with 2-4 results at Manfeild.