Reigning SuperTwins champion Luke Ryder returns to NZSBK on the same Aprilia RS660, but with a new number and a fresh challenge in the all-new SportBike class.
Reigning SuperTwins Champion Luke Ryder returns to the Star Insure New Zealand Superbike Championship this weekend with a familiar package — but under very different circumstances.
The West Coast–based racer will line up at Euromarque Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, for Round 1 of the Iconic Motorbikes Superbike Grand Prix aboard the same TR20 Aprilia RS660 that carried him to the 2025 SuperTwins title. What’s changed is everything around it: a new class, a new race number, and a fresh challenge in the newly introduced SportBike class.
At 35, Ryder is embracing the transition as SuperTwins evolves into SportBike, a category designed to broaden eligibility and bring more showroom-based middleweight machinery into national-level racing.
A new class — and a new number
Despite being the reigning SuperTwins champion, Ryder won’t be carrying the familiar #1 plate this season, nor the #80 he raced under during his championship-winning campaign.
“That number was just borrowed — now I’ve given it back,” Ryder explained.
“I asked Zak Fuller if I could use his number last year on the basis that it was his as soon as he returned to racing. Well, he’s back — as a rival — and I’m a man of my word.”
Instead, Ryder will race with #81 as he chases a unique piece of history: becoming the final SuperTwins champion and the inaugural SportBike title winner.
Strong field, familiar rivals
While the bike may be unchanged, the competition certainly isn’t. The new SportBike class has attracted a mix of returning names and rising talent, making it one of the most intriguing categories to watch at the NZSBK opener.
Ryder will face Zak Fuller on a Honda CBR650R, Nixon Frost aboard a Suzuki GSX-8R, and Tyler King on another Aprilia RS660, among others.
“I’m really looking forward to racing the new SportBike class against some exciting new entries and different brands,” Ryder said.
“The team and I are definitely aiming to be in the fight — with winning being everyone’s goal.”
From sleeping in a ute to national champion
Ryder’s rise through the ranks has been anything but conventional. He made his race debut in 2017 and still vividly recalls the early days.
“I remember sleeping in my ute trackside at Paeroa in 2018,” he said. “I didn’t know much about the sport, but I knew I loved the thrill.”
That passion carried him through to debuting the Aprilia RS660 in 2024, finishing runner-up in the SuperTwins Championship before stepping up to take the title in 2025.
Now settled on the West Coast after relocating south with wife Sophie and their family, Ryder has continued to build momentum, adapting quickly to a new region and racing environment.
Success on southern soil
Since the move, Ryder has wasted little time making an impact. He’s contested the Southern Race Series and MCI King of Canterbury for the first time, claiming F3 wins in both, along with a recent New Zealand Grand Prix title.
“Life on the Coast has been a relaxing change for the whole family,” Ryder said.
“Plenty of friendly faces manage to come by, which makes it even better.”
Family remains central to Ryder’s racing life, with son Deegan continuing to race and his daughter a constant presence trackside.
“Sophie was pregnant with Emilia during the 2024 season where we had her gender reveal after the Hampton Downs round. She was barely crawling in 2025, and now she’s in full stride and obsessed with bikes.”
“We hope she follows the path of other amazing woman in our sport and already has Mum’s approval.”
Eyes on Ruapuna
As the NZSBK season kicks off at Ruapuna, Ryder knows the task ahead won’t be straightforward. The SportBike class promises closer racing, deeper fields and less margin for error — but that’s exactly what appeals.
With proven pace, a settled package and momentum behind him, Luke Ryder arrives at the season opener not just as a champion defending his reputation, but as a rider ready to write the next chapter of his career.
Ryder acknowledges “some great people keeping it going” – TR20, Dentures +, Birch Ave Radiators, The Blackwood Project, The Dentists, as well as SC-Project, Race Supplies, Xpress Racewear, Redline Oil, EBC and RST.
Pics: MJSmyth Images
SportBike Class Explainer
What is the SportBike Class?
The SportBike class is a new category within the Star Insure New Zealand Superbike Championship, evolving from the former SuperTwins class.
Its aim is to broaden eligibility by allowing more mid-capacity, showroom-based motorcycles, creating closer racing and attracting a wider range of manufacturers and riders.
Bikes to Watch
- Aprilia RS660 – proven SuperTwins platform
- Honda CBR650R – inline-four consistency
- Suzuki GSX-8R – new-generation parallel twin
Why It Matters
The SportBike class represents a shift toward more accessible national-level racing, making it easier for riders to compete on bikes closer to what’s available in dealerships — while still delivering competitive, entertaining racing for fans.
