Muddy T.T.

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33858, 2 June 1975, Page 14

Muddy T.T.

-John Nicholls (CR2SO Honda), of Christchurch, yesterday ploughed his wa> through a sea of mud to win the New Zealand open miniature T.T. motor-cycle championship from a field of Ila on the new Honda Park circuit at Darfield.

His riding skill and throttle control on a steadily deteriorating surface was quite superb. However, he could not afford to relax at any stage in the 10-lap final.

The exnerienced Christchurch rider, Graham Sword (RH2SO Suzuki), who was runner-up was back to his best form after some disappointing performances ano was never far behind. The third finisher in a final dominated by Christchurch riders was John Penny on the first of tlie big capacity machines, a German 400 Maico.

Unfortunately, the expected) duel between two of New Zea-| land’s leading light-weight; riders. Ross Horsburgh and : Graeme Stapleton, did not, eventuate. Horsburgh withdrew! because of pressure of university | studies and Stapleton. a former national champion, crashed his 250 Kawasaki in spectacular) fashion while well placed in his' first qualifying heat. Although he I [insisted on racing again he was; | a mere shadow of bis former j ■ self. ' However, the uniuckiest rider ; of the day was Gordon Holland! [(360 Holland Special). who (appeared to have a grand chance' [ of winning his first New Zealand! 'championship after many- near; misses. Holland, riding with all. ■ his old verve, started magnifiIcently in the final and led for; nearly three laps before the left foot ’ rest of his CZ-powered racer broke off. Nicholls, who had been m close attendance, swept past into a. lead he was to hold until the. end. Sword also went past him| a short time later. Although; Holland tried gamely to keep ini contact with the new leaders, it! was a hopeless task He was still third on. the seventh lap but rapidly losing ground and retired soon after. Penny rode very consistently

to take third place, just holding, off Robin Happer (250 Honda), who recovered well from a poor start —he was eleventh at the end of the opening lap. John Hailing <250 Honda), who looked a strong contender after finishing a close second to Nicholls In the second semi-final, was never higher than fourth. (But he fared better than some others who were prominent in the semi-finals. 'Gary Norris [ (Suzuki) and Andy Suites '(Suzuki), who finished first and ; second respectively in the first ■ semi-final, both fell victim to (the treacherous surface in the [final. Results (all riders from Christ[church) were:—

Semi-finals Hive. laps).—First race: G. Norris (Suzuki), 1; A. Sintes (Suzuki). 2; G. Holland Holland Special). 3: J. Penny Maico), 4; B. Williams Hlonda), 15. Second race: J Nicholls 'Honda:, 1: J. Hanning (Honda). 2: G. Sword (Suzuki). 3; R Happer (Honda). 4: P Doecke (Suzuki), 5.

Final.—Nicholls 1, Sword 2. Penny 3. Happer 4. Hanning 5, A. Sabiston (Suzuki) 6.