Swedish Rider Unbeaten In Match-Race Series

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31921, 24 February 1969, Page 9

Swedish Rider Unbeaten In Match-Race Series

The brilliant Swedish rider, O. Fundin, gave an appreciative crowd of about 9000 a glimpse of the form which won him a record five world championships when he competed in a special international match-race series at the Templeton Speedway on Saturday night.

Fundin. who flew in from Australia only hours before the start of the meeting, won all three international fourlap scratch races against the two Christchurch world champions. I. Mauger and R. Moore, with a display of skill which suggested that he could extend his great record even further. As well as winning five world championships Fundin has been placed in the first three on seven other occasions. In the first race on Saturday night Fundin broke Mauger’s four-lap track record with a time of 75.35ec and set a new lap record of 18sec on the second lap. This was an amazing performance on a strange track but in the second match race he showed that it was no isolated effort by lowering both records again. He won the second race in 74.95ec and chopped another tenth of a second off the lap record, leaving it at 17.9 sec. Both times should remain to his credit at Templeton for a : long time. Mauger finished runner-up: in the series with two seconds and a third. Moore, who had to withdraw from the second* race while contesting second place with Mauger when his| 15-year-old machine gave trouble, was third with one third and one second. Mauger had his troubles too. * He got a puncture in the first heat and had to borrow a rear: wheel from the visiting Ameri-' can, D. Keeter, in order to complete the series. Although the two Christ-* church riders were probably un- 1 able to produce their best, no- i thing could detract from the brilliance of the Swedish visitor. It is his first visit to New Zealand since he rode at the old Aranui Stadium in 1956. soon after winning his first world championship, and it is evident that he has lost none of the form which has made him. in* the opinion of many, the great-I est speedway rider of all time.l Only in one race did Fundin

11 look like being beaten, although, 1 there was never a great mar-t / gin between the three contest-: r ants. This was in the final, I 1 heat, when Moore, normally a 1 slow starter, led the field into the first bend. " He held the lead for the first F lap with Fundin and Mauger only inches behind, but on the I second circuit Fundin found a gap and went through. The * race seemed over but the . crowd leapt to its feet and beIgan shouting: “Come on, Ronnie.’’ Moore seemed to sense > the reaction and with a burst , off the prison bend shot through t into the lead on the third lap. It was short-lived, however. Fundin, calling on all his vast store of skill and experience. e i inched his way ahead to win 1 narrowly. Mauger had dropped t'back considerably over the .i final two laps to finish third. “He is the greatest rider who ever sat astride a bike,” Moore - said before the start of the -j series. Subsequent events j proved that this comment was • ‘not unjustified. *■ The international series was i sponsored by Pennant Car Sales, j In the supporting events. > Keeter. who was runner-up in 'the American championship last •season, was in impressive form, 1 although he finished with only ['one second. This race was won . by Mauger in the exceptionally s fast time of 82sec from a handicap of 180yds. In this event 1 Mauger also equalled the old - lap record of IS.lsec. held . jointly by him and Moore. ’ Fundin won his first handi- • cap event off the same mark in ) 84.6 sec. l( In the middle stages of this I event Keeter, who has spent the i last few months racing in Australia, was leading Fundin narilrowly when he lost control at. [ : the start of the control box) . straight and crashed into the; • safety fence. He was not in-’ I jured. »l Results were: MOTOR-CYCLES i International Match Race I Series (4 laps).—First race: O Fundin < Sweden) 1, I. Mauger l <N.Z.) 2, R. Moore (N.Z.) 3. , Time: 75.3 (record). Fundin set a new lap record of ISsec on 1 the second lap. Second race: Fundin 1, Mauger 2. Time: 74.9 (record). Fundin set a new lap record of 17.9 sec on the second lap. Third race: Fundin 1, Moore 2, Mauger 3. Time: 75.6. Final points: Fundin 9, Mau- ; ger 5, Moore 3. Solo Handicap Events (4 laps). —First race: I. Mauger (180 yd : 1, D. Keeter (160 yd 2, G. Ray d3oyd) 3. Time: 82.0. Mauger equalled lap record of IS.lsec. .Second race: O. Fundin (180 yd ’ 11. R. Hall (go) 2, B. Amptman ; (30yd) 3. Time: 84.6. Third i race: M. Salt (100 yd 1. R. Hall i

, (go) 2. T. Black (120 yd 3. Time: 186.2. Fourth race: A. Nesbitt (100 yd 1, D. Keeter (150 yd 2, G. Jem melt (go) 3. Time:; 89.3. Novice Solo Events.—First handicap (4 laps).—B. Annan (go) 1. G. Cox (20yd) 2, W. Walker (10yd) 3. Time: 94.8. Second handicap (4 laps): D. Rankin (go) 1. K. Burt (30yd) 2. Time: 95.0. Solo Scratch Race (3 laps).— G. Jemmett 1, R. Hall 2, R. Dunlea 3. Time: 68.8. Sidecar Handicap Events (4 laps).—First race: 1. Begbic and D. Harper (60yd) 1. S. England and J. Hale (go) 2. Time: 93.4. Second race: Begbic and Harper (20yd) 1, England and Hale (go) 2. Third race (3 laps): Begbic and Harper (20yd) 1. England and Hale (go) 2. Time: 72.0. MIDGET CARS Three-quarter Midget Cars.—, Opening handicap <6 laps): A. Godfrey (110 yd 1, R. Burt I (120 yd 2, D. Richens (120 yd 3. Time, 2:11.4. John Morris challenge race (6 laps): A. Godfrey 1, D. Richens 2, B. Hopewell 3. Time: 2:11.2. S.I. championship points race (8 laps): S. Burt 1, D. Jones 2, A. Godfrey I 3. Time: 2:53.6. Progress points: Jones 26, D. Richens 17. N. Chandler 11, R. Burt 11. Speedcars.—Opening handicap (6 laps): E. A. Murray (200 yd 1. G. Roxburgh (80yd) 2, R. T. Hall (230 yd 3. Time: 2:8.8. Rothmans feature <6 laps): Hall 1. R. Mead 2. J. McKitterick 3. Time: 2:2.6. S.I. championship points race (8 laps): E. A. Murray 1, R. T. Hall 2, J. McKitterick 3. Time: 2:43.3. Progress points: Hall 31. McKitterick 17, G. Roxburgh 16. STOCK RODS | Supermodified Stock Rds. — Opening handicap (6 laps): R. , Stock 1, D. Cameron 2, B. Annan 3. Time: 2:16.3. Second handi- , cap (6 laps): B. Annan (80yd) 1. J. Annan (130 yd 2. P. Annan j (140 yd 3. Time: 2:18.4. S.I. ! championship points race (8 laps): D. Cameron 1. W. Rusi bridge 2. P. Annan 3. Time: 2:52.4. Progress points: Cameron 31, P. Annan 28. Rusbridgei 16.

Cricket XI. — The Ellesmere junior cricket team to play Hurunui at Hurunui for the Norman Allen Memorial Cup on Sunday is:—D. Mcßae (captain). C. Baylis. C. Paylor, D. Wilson. G. Mcllraith, C. Heslop, S. Ryan, B. Wheeler, M. Page, R. Kerr. R. Beswick, and W. Abbott (twelfth man). Rugby Tour.-r-The -Sydney University Rugby team won the second of its two matches in the United States, outclassing the Irvine All-Stars, 44-0.