Cmomentary On Competition

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32779, 2 December 1971, Page 13

Cmomentary On Competition

G. Perry (500 Suzuki) won the first major event of the road racing season —the Porirua grand prix —by almost a mile from Aucklander, P. Leahy (246 Chat Yamaha). However, he did not have things all his own way in the early

stages. C. Brown, a New Zealander now living in Australia, led the 25-lap race for 16 laps before withdrawing his 500 Suzuki because of failing brakes. C. Woodmas, of Kaikohe, took his 500 c.c. Triumph Daytona to third place. Last year’s winner, T. Discombe, of Hamilton, did not compete. The runner-up in the world 500 c.c. road racing championship this year, K. Turner, rode a production Norton Commando and a 250 Suzuki at the meeting. He won two races, the six-lap production event on the Norton and a six-lap 250 c.c. event for racing machines on his Suzuki. « » « Although the English international, R. Owen (400 C.Z.), was only third in the recent Australian international moto-cross, he was still far too good for New Zealand’s leading scramblers in the recent Feilding moto-cross. Owen won both legs in com-

manding fashion, leaving Palmerston North’s A. Collison (400 C.Z.) and Waganui’s P. Ploen (400 Suzuki) to fight out the major placings. Owen is a certain starter in the Mount Cook Airlines national moto-cross, to be held by the Christchurch combined clubs on December 12 at Clarkville. A water cart is to be used in an attempt to combat the dust problem there but it is still a shame that a more hilly, spectacular circuit was not chosen for what promises to be the scrambling highlight of the season. * * * The Dunsandel rider,D. McLaughlin, won the solo section of the Auckland Motor-cycle Club’s Shell 500-mile road trial. He lost only 49 points throughout the 24-hour event to collect $55 as the overall winner, $lO for being the first solo and another $lO for being the rider who travelled the furthest distance to compete. His nearest challenger for overall honours was S. Mellsop, who lost 51 points. J. Bedgood was third with 56} penalty points. McLaughlin also featured in the teams’ section. Teamed with J. McGill and S. Palmer, he won the teams’ contest

with a loss of 162 points. Each member received $2O for this and a further $lO voucher each from motorcycle dealers. The trio also won the award for being the eldest team and $5 each.

♦ * * A young Wanganui scrambler beginning to make his name in the sport is Brian Lawrence. He has been highly placed in a number of national events and is currently in Australia furthering his career. There he has been erroneously hailed as the New Zealand champion. Although this high praise might be a little premature there is no doubt that he will be making his presence felt this season. He is, incidentally, a brother of the New Zealand car racing driver, Graham Lawrence. * * «

Now back in England after winning the Australian international motocross series, L Miller, of Blenheim, is showing exceptional form. Riding a 400 Husqvarna, he recently took third place in the season-opening I.T.V. World of Sport scramble at Cadwell Park. Those to beat him were B. Wade (400 Husqvarna) and D. J. Nicholl (500 8.5. A.). At the same meeting, Miller finished runner-up to Wade in the Lincolnshire grand national. Only the previous week, Miller had won the South Eastern centre scrambles championship with a maximum points score. * * *

The battle for places in New Zealand’s speedway test team is going to be tougher than ever this season. G. Stapleton proved beyond all doubt that tie was capable of riding at this level when he defeated the reigning New Zealand champion, F. Shuter, and another member of last season’s test team, A. Brown, at Templeton last Saturday. All three will be competing for places in the team this season, as well as two other Templeton stalwarts, R. Wright and T. Black. The results of their clashes in the weeks ahead

should not go unnoticed by the New Zealand selector. * * * New Zealand’s threetimes world speedway champion, I. Mauger, was runner-up in the national “Sportsman of the Year” contest. This was a thoroughly deserved honour

for a man who has consistenty kept New Zealand to the fore in his branch of international sport. Mauger was the highest polling individual in the contest. The sportsman

title was won by the New Zealand rowing eight. * * * The 10-times world road racing champion, G. Agostini, of Italy, has renewed his contract to race for M.V.-Augusta next season. Any doubts as to his future plans have been dispelled. The handsome Italian joined M.V.-Augus-ta in 1965 and since then has won six 500 c.c. world championships and four 350 c.c. titles. ‘ # # * New Zealand will have to seriously consider introducing a class for 750 c.c. road racing machines now that the F.I.M. has given its approval to this American - type racing. However, there is no possibility of the class being recognised as a world championship before 1974 and the F.I.M. has stipulated that races must not exceed 200 miles unless provision is made for an interval to change tyres. » # * The Russian, V. Gordejev, has been found guilty by the F.I.M. of using an

illegal fuel additive, nitromethane, in the world speedway final at Gothenberg. The matter has now been turned over to the Russians for action. The likely outcome is a period of suspension for Gordejev, who was fourth equal in the world championship. No decision has been made yet on whether to exclude the Russian from the final results or recompute each heat.