SWEDISH SPEEDWAY TEAM TO VISIT N.Z.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32715, 18 September 1971, Page 48

SWEDISH SPEEDWAY TEAM TO VISIT N.Z.

A team of seven Swedish speedway riders under the captaincy of the veteran world finalist, O. Nygren, is likely to compete in an international series against New Zealand in the coming season.

The president of the Christchurch Speedway Association (Mr D. Richens) is hopeful that one of the tests will be at Templeton. Negotiations are being conducted with the Swedish team, which has already contracted to race in Australia. No dates for the visit to New Zealand have yet been de-

cided because it is understood that the team will stay in Australia until its drawing power has diminished. This means that the New Zealand tour is likely to be in February. This would be the .most suitable time for New Zealand because at this time two of the country’s former world champions, I. Mauger and R. L. Moore, will be home. Without them. New Zealand could not be expected to provide strong resistance to the Swedish team. TEAM SELECTION “We need Ivan and Ronnie if we are to stand a chance,” Mr Richens commented. He confirmed that the New Zealand test team would be selected on a better basis than it was last season. Then, the spectacular Christchurch rider, A Brown, was ignored until the last test against the British team. Only after representations by Mauger, then the world champion, was Brown in-

eluded. He upheld the faith Mauger had in him by finishing with the second highest score in the team, behind Mauger. Mr Richens’s plan is for a North versus South contest to be held as a trial before the announcement of the New Zealand team to compete against Sweden. TEAM MEMBERS The Swedish team which has been named for the southern hemisphere tour is a particularly strong one. All but one have been world finalists in recent years. The captain, Nygren, has been in the top flight since 1948, finishing third in the world final in 1954. He raced for West Ham in the English league. The other members of the team are: A. Michanek, S. Sjosten, B. Jansson, B. Persson, B. Larsson, and J. Siemensen.

Mr Richens also has plans for a speedcar international meeting featuring leading drivers from America, Australia, and New Zealand. M. Bettenhausen, who has raced in New Zealand for the last two seasons, is certain to visit the Dominion again, and is expected to bring another leading American driver with him.

The possibility of “importing" Australian drivers and cars will depend largely on the finishing date of a major sponsored competition in Australia. The drivers cannot afford to be awav for any great length of time during the competition.

Socctr.—RmulU of an Ulster Cup soccer match on Thursday: Bangor 0, Glenavon 1. .