Defending New Zealand superbike champion Robbie Bugden has stolen a march on his rivals this season and it will take a superhuman effort for any of the Kiwi contenders to catch and pass the likeable Australian.

Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) is 24 points clear of his nearest rival, Feilding's Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki GSX-R1000), after three of five rounds and, with just 100 points still on offer and only four races remaining, the mathematics are chilling.

Pukekohe has hosted motorcycle racing since the track was built and the mountain right-hand sweeper commanded great respect from every rider.

On a good lap some of the bikes would be knocking on the door of 200km/h, and in the corner's original state there was damn all run-off before you hit the fence - but there was some.

While many motorcycle racers hang up their boots and helmet when they reach their mid-40s, multi-time former national superbike champion Tony Rees continues to show that even at 45 he's a force to be reckoned with.

After a bit of a hiccup at round two of the New Zealand Superbike championships at Timaru, normal transmission was resumed for Australian Robbie Bugden at Teretonga last weekend.

With three rounds of the series done and dusted, Bugden has only been bettered once and now has a commanding lead in the championship over the only other race winner, Craig Shirriffs, with Dennis Charlett in third.

With leading New Zealand Superbike rider Andrew Stroud out of this year's championship, it's been left to the rest of the Kiwi riders to keep Australian Robbie Bugden in check.

Things didn't quite work out at the opening round of the series at Ruapuna, January 5-6, where Bugden won both races from a hard chasing Craig Shirriffs.

Arriving at Timaru for round two, Shirriffs felt he just about had the measure of Bugden and so it was. Bugden did in fact win the first race but Shirriffs ended the Aussie's dominance in race two.

For the first time in a number of years defending Suzuki Tri-Series champion Andrew Stroud will not be at the Boxing Day races at the Cemetery Circuit, Wanganui, after suffering a number of injuries at the Feilding track.