Turner rider to beat in N.Z. grand prix

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33803, 27 March 1975, Page 23

Turner rider to beat in N.Z. grand prix

(By

ROD DEW)

A rider who has gained international acclaim for his exploits on the European racing circuits, Keith Turner (Taradale), appears to be the man to beat in the New Zealand senior and junior grand prix championships, which will be decided at Ruapuna Park on Saturday. Turner, who will ride a : water-cooled TZ3SO Yamaha in both events, was runner- i up to the brilliant Italian, Giacomo Agostini, in the j 1971 world 500 c.c. chain- i pionship scries.

This summer, his racing has been restricted, largely, to the production class. A 500 c.c. works Benelli he was hoping for did not arrive and he was unable to compete in the racing class of the rich Marlboro international series. But he has previously proved his ability on a 350 c.c. Yamaha racer and on Saturday it will take a performance of rare skill to force him into a minor placing. Turner has won practically every major domestic honour in the sport, including the New Zealand 250

c.c. road racing championship and the national senior and junior T.T. titles. How-

ever, he has yet to win a New Zealand grand prix and is keen to put this right on Saturday. AVANT MISSING The winner of both grand prix titles last season, Stewart Avant (Christchurch), is not competing. He will be with another international rider, John Boote. in Australia, competing in the $22,000 Bathurst ■ grand prix on the same day. I In spite of such a big] counter attraction, the field for the New Zealand event, I to be held over 20 miles, is strong. Turner’s biggest threat in' the senior race seems likely to come from Steve Dundon (Wellington), who will ride a water-cooled TRSOO Suzuki Mark 11. Dundon has already won the New Zealand senior T.T. this' season and is certain to win, the national 500 c.c. road: championship for the first| time. He has made great: progress in the racing field: and will be hoping that the I extra power of his Suzuki' will help overcome Turner’s: greater experience. The other riders likely to | be strong challengers include John Woodley, (Blenheim), Steve Maxwell (Tauranga), Dennis Ireland (Dunedin) and the very experienced Kevin McCleary (Christchurch). All will ride 350 c.c. Yamaha twins.

Woodley has not had al good season but has pre-1

viously been highly placed in the grand priz and certainly knows his way round the Ruapuna circuit. Ireland and Maxwell are both young riders on their way to the top. McCleary, a former New Zealand 250 c.c. road champion and a winner of the light-weight grand prix four times, is not now racing as seriously as. he once was. But he has the ability and the experience to hold his own with the best. JUNIOR RACE The top contenders for the 20-mile junior (up to 350 c.c.) grand prix will be the same as for the senior

event, with the exception of Dundon. The field will be strengthened by the leading 250 c.c. riders, Murray de Lacy (Hamilton) and Gary Boote (Christchurch). Both wiil ride Yamahas. de Lacy and Boote, nevertheless, will be reserving their mam efforts for the light-weight grand prix of 15 laps, de Lacy leads the New Zealand 250 c.c. championship series by a mere three points from Boote. Both will be seeking the victory they need to clinch the series. On his home circuit, Boote must start as the favourite.

The ultra light-weight (125 c.c.) grand prix is of

eight laps and promises to be full of interest. McCleary, probably the fastest rider in the class in New Zealand on the evidence of his rare outings so far this season, must be favoured to win the title he so narrowly missed last season. Alister Mitchell, who now lives in Christchurch, won last time but no longer has a 125 c.c. racer. He will contest the 250 c.c. class, instead. Nevertheless, McCleary, who will ride at TAI2S Yamaha, will not be short of opposition. David Hutchinson (Christchurch) has been showing good form on another TA 125 and