Stapleton Unlucky To Lose T.T. Title

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 14

Stapleton Unlucky To Lose T.T. Title

Water condensation in the petrol tank of his new Czechoslavakian C.Z. scrambler robbed the talented Christchurch rider, G. Stapleton, of his chance of winning the South Island miniature T.T. championship at Templeton yesterday.

The first signs of the condensation,' caused by the high temperatures, came shortly after the start of the first 10-lap heat.

By the time he got the motor running properly the rest of the field was more than a lap ahead. He finally finished seventh out of nine riders in the heat Stapleton won the second and third heats with comparative ease but the points he gained from these were only enough to give him third place over-all. Holland Successful

The title went to another Christchurch competitor, G. Holland, who won the first heat on his C.Z. and was second to Stapleton in the other two. B. Horton, a member

of this season’s South Island team, was third over-all with a second and two thirds. He was mounted on an English Greeves. The circuit on Mr A. Foster’s farm at Templeton was about three-quarters of a mile in length and, with few hills, was particularly fast. The ground was exceptionally hard and dry. Although Stapleton was obviously the fastest rider at the meeting, Holland thoroughly deserved the title because of his consistently high standard of competition in the three races. His machine was well prepared and he hardly put a foot wrong throughout the competition. This was Holland's fourth South Island title win this season. He already has the South Island open scramble, South Island 350 c.c. scramble and South Island 350 c.c. miniature T.T. titles—an impressive list for a rider who had never won a title before the beginning of the season. Asserted Dominance In the first heat Holland and Horton both made excellent starts and went into the first bend together. However, it was not long before Holland began asserting his dominance. At the half-way mark he was about 120 yards ahead of Horton who in turn was 150 yards in front of P. Doeke. The placings remained unchanged until the finish. Holland made a brilliant start in the second heat to lead Stapleton and Horton into the first corner, but with less than half a mile gone Stapleton shot into the lead and was six lengths clear at the end of the first lap. By the end of the second lap he had increased this to about 100 yards and was never under any pressure. His time of Umin 56.25ec was surprisingly slower than Holland's winning time in the first heat. Holland again made the best start in the final heat, but Stapleton swept past at the first corner, quickly establishing a comfortable lead which he held to the end. Stapleton's winning time in this heat was Umin 54.25ec, the fastest of the championship. Holland, realising he only had to finish fourth to win the title, was content with his second placing. Results were:— South Island Miniature T.T. Championship.—First heat (10 laps): G. Holland. C.Z. 11:55, 1; B. Horton, Greeves, 2; P. Doeke,. Greeves, 3. Second heat (10 laps): G. Stapleton, C.Z., 11:56.2, 1; Holland 2; Horton 3. Third heat: Stapleton, 11:54.2, 1; Holland 2, Horton 3. Final points: G. Holland 22, Horton 19, Stapleton 18, Doeke

1«, K. O'Regan 12, M. Bamford 5, L. Smart 4 G. Boyce 3. Class Racing.—2so c.c.: G. Holland, 7:13, 1; W. Johnston 2. P. Doeke 3. 350 c.c.: G. Smith. 7:36. 1; P. Kennedy 2; J. Dwight 3. 500 c.c.: G. Stapleton, 7:10. 1; G. Henry 2; R. Clark 3. All Comers Handicap (six laps).—R. Clark. 500 c.c. A.J.S.. 7:32. 1; M. Bamford 2: B. Gurdler 3.