N.I. dominates moto-cross

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 27

N.I. dominates moto-cross

<N.Z. Press Association/ WANGANUI. North Island riders made a clean sweep of all 15 races to convincingly win the annual inter-island moto-cross series on the Devil’s Drop circuit.

North chalked up its nineteenth win in the 20-year history of the contest with a convincing win by 395 points to 146. South's sole success over 20 years came at Christchurch in 1958. The outstanding riders were the national 125 champion, Grant Macrae (Hawera), who raced away from the field to win his five races and help the 125 North Island team to a win by 138 to 42. The top North Island rider, Rod Sherriffs (Longburn), was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs and a snapped wrist after a spectacular accident; his condition yesterday was still serious.

The former national champion, Peter Ploen (Tauranga), made a clean sweep of all

five 250 races to give the North a 113-67 win in the class. If it had not been for the riding oi Ploen and Laurie Love (Hamilton), two former Wanganui riders, the North

Island would have been extended by South, who won the class last year. To complete an unbeaten day of victories, North Island also won all five 500 events, with Moss Smith (Thames) and Reg Dixon (Egmont Village) dominating the class and sharing the wins. Although out-classed by the North, the South Island did well to share the opening 250 class race 18 points all; the best Southern riders of the day were Gary Goodfellow (Dunedin), Rod Selby (Christchurch) and Patil Doecke (Christchurch).