750c.c. Suzuki at Wigram

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33128, 19 January 1973, Page 10

750c.c. Suzuki at Wigram

Travelling at 170 m.p.h. would be enough for most people, but on a motor-cycle with the tyre tread fraying might be described as terrifying.

This was the experience of the American motor-cyclist. R. Grant, when he first rode the fastest racing motor-cycle in the world in practice last year. Grant is in Christchurch for the onen class motor-cycle events at Wigram on Saturday.

The first feeling of power from the machine, a 750 c.c. three cylinder, water-cooled Suzuki, had been frightening, said Grant. This had been in Japan however, where the temperatures were cool, and the real problems began when the machine was taken back to Daytona, Florida, for practice.

Tyre companies had not foreseen such a development in racing machines and after only two laps of the Daytona circuit the conventional tyres were blistering and losing tread. The heat and the pressure on the tyres from the steeply banked track bad generated tremendous heat. Luckily the tyres had gone flat on the level part of the circuit and no serious accidents had occurred, said Grant, “but we had a few scary moments.” Since then a tyre with a steel belt inserted, and used on a wider rim. had been developed and the problems overcome Grant was In New Zealand In 1969-70. when he won every race in which he competed. This year he was in Australia and decided to come to New Zea-

land for the series. He has already won three races and was beaten In the fourth by an 18s vear-old Christchurch rider. J. Bente after brake problems "John (Boote) has a lot of ootentlal and 1 would like to see him competing In the United States.” said Grant, "I think he would make quite a name for himself," Grant likes the New Zealand circuits, because they are shorter than the American ones and require more attention on corners. This keeps him alert and in trim for the American season, which will begin in March At Wigram Grant expects tn get the Suzuki to between 156 and 160 m.p.h. The value of the machine he said, on which every nut and bolt was titanium, was $20,000