Spill ends Avant’s ride

Press, 11 December 1976, Page 56

Spill ends Avant’s ride

A minor spill while leading the first leg eliminated the 21-year-old Christchurch international motor-cycle road racer, Stewart Avant (TZ7SO Bakker-Yamaha), from the Formula 750 event at the Calder Raceway, Melbourne, last Sunday. Avant, having his first serious outing on the special four-cyclinder racer built in the Christchurch workshops of Tommy’s Yamaha, has no idea what caused the crash, which occurred on a slow corner. He and the outstanding Australian, Gregg Hansford (750 Kawasaki), were battling for supremacy at the time and lapping in 47sec — 2sec faster than the lap record. Damage tn Avant’s bike was superficial but he was unable to get it repaired in time to contest the second leg. Hansford won both legs. On his smaller TZ3SO Yamaha, Avant finished 3sec behind the Australian champion for the class, Ray Quincey (TZ3SO Yamaha), to claim second

place in the 350 race. Avant used the same machine in the 500 race and after a dreadful start worked his way up to second. Unfortunately, the hydraulic oil started to leak out of his front disc brake system and he finished the race without a front brake in seventh place. Chas Mortimer (England), who is expected to be a top contender for the forthcoming Marlboro series when he has his own bikes, finished eighth in the 500 race on a standard TZ3SO Yamaha he bought in Australia. He also finished fourth in the 350 race. Avant’s damaged bike arrived back in Christchurch today and work will begin immediately repairing the damage and preparing it for the first round of the Marlboro series at Auckland on December 19. However, Avant is not particularly interested in racing at present He spent yesterday in bed with tonsillitis.