Commentary On Competition

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 17

Commentary On Competition

Observed sections in New Zealand trials riding had to be developed, the experienced Wellington rider, M. Harris, who has won the national title seven times, said after the second round of the New Zealand championships in the Canterbury area. Recently returned from a trip to Europe where he saw major trials events and visited motorcycle factories, Harris is convinced that sections will in future have to offer more scope to a rider. The New Zealand sections were often too narrow—there was only one path possible through them. Overseas, a section might be 100 yards long and part of the skill was picking the best path through. “A rider has got to be a thinker. It is no good just following the path left by the previous riders.”

Trials riding is now a young man’s sport, he considers. “Dedication and

aggressiveness are the things which win trials today,” he said. “Once we had to make our own machines and things were very different then.” He considers that there are a lot of talented riders in New Zealand and sees no reason why this country should not produce a world champion rider in trials the same as it has done in road racing and speedway. His 18-year-old son, Chris Harris, will obviously be the first New Zealand challenger for this

title. The reigning national champion, he plans to travel to Europe next season to gain experience. * * #

In future the competitive interests of the Rangiora rider, K. Miles, will be divided between trials riding and scrambles. He entered the sport as a scrambler and showed considerable ability before switching his interests to trials riding. He recently bought a new 250 Ossa, a replica of the machine on which the Englishman, M. Andrews won the last European trials championship, and he seemed about to channel all his efforts into this facet of the sport. Now, however, he has taken delivery of a new Yamaha RT2-MX and with this intends to apply himself to scrambling as well. Miles finished eighth in the recent Canterbury round of the New Zealand trials championship. ❖ ❖ ❖

The former world speedway champion, B. Briggs, has been put out of action for at least three weeks because of injuries sustained in a crash during the recent test between Australia and New Zealand. Briggs damaged his spine, his ribs and a wrist in the accident, which undoubtedly cost New Zealand victory. He is determined to take his place in the British final of the world championship at Coventry on August 2 but there is some doubt as to whether he will, even then, be fully fit. * * SS

The New Zealand international road racer, W. (Ginger) Molloy, has been provided with a works 750 Kawasaki three-cylinder racer and will race this in the Asia-Pacific area. Reputed to deliver 100 brake horsepower, the Kawasaki is a replica of the works models which made their debut at Daytona last March and has a top speed of 170 miles an hour. The agreement could be the first step towards Molloy gaining a place in Team Hansen, Kawasaki’s American race team, next season. # * *

The New Zealand 500 c.c. road racing champion, G. L. Perry (500 Suzuki), won the recent Indonesian grand prix at Djakarta. The runner-up was T. Oda (350 Yamaha) and another New Zealand rider, W. Molloy (500 Kawasaki), third. Perry rode the last four laps of the race with his Suzuki locked in one gear after the internal gear shaft snapped.