Christchurch riders in bid for grand prix

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33987, 30 October 1975, Page 32

Christchurch riders in bid for grand prix

< By

ROD DEW)

Two Christchurch international motorcycle road racers, John Boote and Stewart Avant, will leave tomorrow Cor South-East Asia to prepare for the demanding Indonesian grand prix at Jakarta on November 8.

Boote, who recently returned from nine months of globe-trotting, will be provided with a works fourcylinder Suzuki 500 when he arrives in Jakarta, and hopes to spend some time practising privately on the machine before official timing for grid positions begins.

The Suzuki is rated as the fastest 500 c.c. machine in the world, but is considerably smaller than the TZ7SO Yamaha on which Boote has made his name.

Avant, a former New Zealand 350 c.c. road champion, will take his own twincylinder TRSOO Suzuki with him and will ride what he describes as a “tortoise and hare” race. “I am going for experience,” he said. “I made up my mind only a few hours ago and will be concentrating

on consistency of performance, hoping that some of the riders on the big 750 s don’t last the distance. It might work. If it doesn’t, I have lost nothing.” , Both riders will have their costs met by the grand prix I organisation. Former pupils lof Cashmere High School, | they jokingly refer to themselves as the Cashmere old pupils’ racing team but will actually ride under the Levi’s sponsorship banner. Boote, who built up an impressive record in South-East Asia last year with wins in the .Malaysian. Selangor, and Penang grand prix races, feels that he has the ability to win at Jakarta.. “As long as the Suzuki is what. I expect it to be, I must have a good chance," he said. However, Boote realises that even with the full back(ing of the Suzuki factory, he ! I will be at a distinct power I disadvantage in comparison to the TZ7SO Yamahas most of his rivals will ride. “I have to reallv work hard on the corners,” he said. “All they will have to do is to lie on the tank and screw’ the throttle down the straights.” Boote has not previously raced at Jakarta, but has studied pictures of the course, and is satisfied that acceleration and sheer power will not be the only deciding factors. The course is about three miles in circumference. Two races will be held counting towards the grand prix title, the first of 60 miles and the second of 90 miles. The shorter leg presents no!,

! problems, but a stop for fuel ; will probably he necessary in • the second leg. “I think they . made the second race 90 i miles for a purpose,” said Boote. “The bigger bikes can ; only do about 80 miles on a full tank.” ( Two of the biggest challenges for the 20-year-old (N’ew Zealander are likely to (come from the two Japanese [Yamaha works riders, Hideo iKanaya and Takazumi Kata-

yama, who will both ride factory TZ7SO machines. Kanaya was leading the world 500 c.c. championship in Europe this vear before being recalled to Japan for testing, and Katayama finished an impressive second in the recent Ontario classic in the United States. Boote, however, is looking forward to the meeting with considerable enthusiasm, it will mark his first ride on a-

works machine, and a good performance is almost certain to lead to further works support. Two Japanese mechanics will fly out from Japan specifically to care for the four-cylinder Suzuki he will race. NO RESERVATIONS Avant competed in the j lndonesian grand prix last season but was forced to withdraw early in the race when the rear tyre of the TZ7SO Yamaha he was riding punctured. He has no reserv-i ations about taking on the faster four-cylinder factory machines on his water-cooled-twin. “I am very happy with my bike.” he said. “It is the right bike to learn on—and • you never know what might happen.” Avant will be back with the Suzuki in time for the second round of the New Zealand 500 c.c. championship at Porirua on November 23. He is at present second to John; Woodley (Blenheim).

[ Big Rugby score.— Northern (Transvaal. South Africa’s Currie Cup winner, scored 12 tries to swamp Belgium. 63-0. in a Rugby friendly match in Brussells on Tuesday.