McCleary Can Still Be Second

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 19

McCleary Can Still Be Second

If the Christchurch rider, K. McCleary, had not missed the first four North Island rounds of the New Zealand 250 c.c. motor* cycle road-racing championship series, he would have almost certainly regained the title he won two years ago.

In the five South Island rounds counting towards the ehampionship, McCleary scored 22 points. He shares second place with G. Stott (Lower Hutt) and the promising Auckland rider, K. Williams. The final round of the ehampionship series is being held at Pukekohe on Saturday but McCleary, who was frustrated by mechanical troubles in the Wellington grand prix last week-end, is not sure whether the trouble and expense of travelling to Auckland for the chance of finishing runner-up in the series would be worthwhile.

The Auckland rider, P. Richards, who has contested all nine events with championship points at stake, has an unbeatable total of 35 points. However, McCleary is keen to finish as high as possible and has made an entry for the Auckland race. He will decide whether to compete ' later this week and it will de- . pend largely on the condition of his two machines, a watercooled Spanish Bultaco and a i new Japanese Kawasaki disc i valve twin. i Both machines suffered me- ! chanical failures last week- ' end but if he can get one of them back into first-class con-

dition he will probably go to Auckland.

He has a good chance of winning the final round because at Wellington, before his machine broke down, he was the fastest in practice on the new “round-the-houses” course. Most of his rivals were competing in this event.

If he derides against contesting the final round he might slip from second to seventh in the season’s rankings. Stott and Williams will certainly be there and G. Perry (Auckland), who is only two points behind them, is unlikely to miss a championship race in his own province. N. J. Landrebe (Dunedin), who is at present sixth on 18 points, could also upset the present order if his recent form is any indication. The Rothmans series, held in conjunction with the championship series, is even more open. Richards leads with 29 1

points but can still be overtaken by Stott, who is seven points behind. Stott, Perry, McCleary and Landrebe are all within four points of one another and any one of them could finish runner-up in the series.

The other two classes, the 350 c.c, and 500 c.c., have been decided. The works rider for the Spanish Bultaco factory, W. G. Molloy, who is now on the world title circuit in Europe, won the 350 c.c. championship, and T. Discombe (Hamilton) the 350 c.c. Rothman’s, series. The Christchurch rider, D. Wylie, was fifth in the national event and fourth in the Rothman’s series.

The 500 c.c. New Zealand championship went to O. L. May (Manurewa) with an overwhelming 55 points. He also won the 500 c.c. class of the Rothmans series. In both contests Landrebe was run-'ner-up.