Mauger involved in speedway upset

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33141, 3 February 1973, Page 46

Mauger involved in speedway upset

(N.Z.PA. Staff Correspondent) LONDON. A major row is developing in British speedway circles about a proposal that New Zealand’s world champion, I. Mauger, should ride for the Wimbledon club this year.

According to the London ! "Evening Standard,” the Bri- 1 tish League Promoters’ Asso- ( ciation has recommended , that Mauger be moved from i the Belle Vue club in Man- i Chester to Wimbledon in 1 south London. 1 It quotes the Belle Vue I manager, Mr J. Feamley, as 1 saving: “This is diabolical. [The battle is not ovet yet. i ,

Let us see what Ivan has to say.” If the 33-year-old Mauger, the greatest drawcard in world speedway at present, does go to- Wimbledon, he will be filling the gap caused by the retirement of another New Zealand rider, the former world champion, R. Moore. Under the system in which speedway is run in Britain, the association’s control board has the right to transfer top ride.s—a system which the Belle Vue officials claim robs a club of star men if they become too successful. Last October, Mauger was reported to be contemplating a switch from speedway to m.otor-car racing, and when approached at the time he would only say that he had "several ideas at the moment.” The British speedway system begins at Easter.