S.I. SET FOR SECOND WIN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 15

S.I. SET FOR SECOND WIN

Current form suggests that the South team might defeat the North in the annual inter - island motor - cycle scramble at Lyalldale, south of Timaru, tomorrow. And if it does, it will be only the second time in the long history of the event. Much will depend on the form of the two outstanding Christchurch riders, G. Holland and G. Stapleton. Hol-

land, the current South Island open champion, will be racing in the 250 c.c. class on his Czechoslovakian C.Z. and can be relied on to give a useful return. of points. Stapleton, who has been racing 250 c.c. lightweight machinery for the last two seasons, has returned to the 500 c.c. class and could scoop the pool on his new 360 c.c. C.Z. A week ago he won the 500 c.c. South Island championship and his performances towards the end of the international moto-cross series suggested that he would emerge as the top New Zealand rider before the end of the season. His main opposition in the 500 c.c. class will come from

the Palmerston North rider, M. Sheriffs, who will be riding a new Metisse. He was the highest scoring New Zealander in the international series. The South Island team has greater all-round strength than it has had before. In support of Stapleton in the 500 c.c. class are the South Island gold star champion, N. Currie (Christchurch), and the reliable Blenheim rider, N. Miller. Even the 350 c.c. class, usually the achilles heel of the South Island team, is strong this year. N. McElwain (Blenheim), M. Butler (Christchurch) and I. Boorer (Timaru) should be at least

a match for the best of the North Island competitors. The 250 c.c. class should be very even. G. Terry (Palmerston North), multiple holder of the New Zealand 250 c.c. title, should be able to score maximum points for the North but the South riders are likely to gain many points from the minor placings. Holland and I. Miller (Blenheim) are good for at least second or third place points in each of the five five-lap races. There has been one change in the South Island team. B. Gurdler (Christchurch) has been forced to withdraw because of illness and will be replaced in the 250 c.c. class by J. Aubry (Blenheim).