Boote prepares for rich U.S. classic

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 14

Boote prepares for rich U.S. classic

The winner of the recent Penang and Selangor grand prix races in Malaysia, 19-year-old John Boote, of Christchurch, is now in the United States preparing for one of the most important events of his brief international career — the rich Ontario classic in California. The race, which has attracted many of the world’s leading riders, including the world 350 c.c. champion, Giacomo Agostini (Italy), is scheduled to be held on Sunday and by this time Boote is hopeful that the broken collarbone he received in Asia will no longer be troubling him. His TZ7SO Yamaha has been modified slightly and now has a different exhaust system which

should increase the power

output by about 10 brake horsepower. This work has been done by Ron Grant, who is well known for his racing exploits in New Zealand. Boote has high hopes that his mount will be fully competitive with the works machines of Agostini and the American, Kenny Roberts. Also among his rivals will be the New Zealand 500 c.c. champion, Dale Wylie (TZ7SO Yamaha), who has had an incredible run of bad luck since he has been racing in America. In the last A.M.A. championship race, he was lying sixth when the crankshaft of his racer broke. Earlier, in a qualifying heat, the engine had

seized. The Ontaria race represents Wylie’s last chance to make a strong impression with a view to gaining full sponsorship for the next American season. After the Ontario race, Boote will fly to Australia where he will partner Rob Hinton on a 750 Kawasaki in the annual Castrol six hours production race on October 20. Boote was runner-up in this event last season in his first racing excursion outside his homeland. Boote then plans to stay in Australia for the Pan Pacific road racing series before coming to New Zealand for the Marlboro international races which begin at Christmas. Next year he intends to contest the full American national circuit.