U.S. speedway team here

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 18

U.S. speedway team here

’THREE years ago two American speedway riders, DeW. Keeter and C. Jones, visited New Zealand and Australia to gain experience. Now they have re-

turned as captain and manager, respectively, of the first American speedway team to visit this country. Tonight the team of six will meet New Zealand in

the second official test match at the Templeton Speedway, keen to avenge its loss in the first.test at Auckland last Saturday.

To do so they will have to be on top form for the team which will oppose them tonight is probably stronger than the one they went down to, 38-70, last Saturday. The only member of last Saturday’s New Zealand team who will be riding tonight is the Auckland international, B. Gribb. He top scored against the Americans with one short of the possible 18 points. New Zealand’s four times

world champion, B. Briggs, has now gone overseas but this should not weaken the New Zealand team. Two of the country’s other world champions, I. Mauger and R. L. Moore, have been brought into the team and should give the Americans the toughest opposition they have yet encountered.

Tonight’s test will also mark the test debut of the 25-year-old Christchurch rider, G. J. Stapleton, who was a reserve for the final test against Sweden. Stapleton has been in superb form in recent weeks and after his great performance in the recent best pairs competition, seems likely to be among the highest scorers in the team. The man to watch in the American team is W. Cody. He was the top scorer on the Australian section of the tour, averaging 12 points a test. In the first test against New Zealand, he was top for his team with 12. Keeter and M. Konle both scored 11.

Strangely, the three who scored best at Auckland, have yet to Win the American championship. But the team includes three others who have. M. Bast is the reigning champion, his brother, S. Bast won in 1970, and S. Nutter won in 1968.

Jones is a non-competing manager. He was seriously injured in Australia in 1969, and will never ride again. However, he has never lost his interest in the sport, which is still in its infancy in America, and was largely responsible for negotiating the current tour. The teams are:—

New Zealand.—T. Mauger (captain), R. L. Moore, G. Stapleton, T. Black, R. Wright, B. Cribb. Reserve: S. Foster. America.—DeW. Keeter (captain), S. Nutter, W. Cody, S. Bast, M. Konle, M. Bast .