Lucchinelli and Baker coming

Press, 27 October 1977, Page 23

Lucchinelli and Baker coming

The spectacular Italian rider, Marco Lucchinelli, is a confirmed entry for the Marlboro international road racing series which begins in Auckland on Decmeber 18. He plans to use the series to “tune up” for the next European season. | Another strong possi- : bility is that the world Formula 750 champion, Steve Baker (U.S.A.), i will also race. Baker planned to compete in the New Zealand series two years ago but problems over bikes prevented him coming. In those days, however, he was a little known rider for Canada Yamaha.

Now he is one of the finest riders in the world. In the northern season recently completed, he won the Daytona 200 and the 250 cu. cm. race at the same meeting. Then he went to Europe and finished a great season by winning the world 750 championship and finishing runner-up to Barry Sheene (Great Britain) in the world 500 championship. If Baker comes, it is certain that he will bring with him the latest factory 750 Yamaha racer. Lucchinelli has not had quite the same success but he is a rider capable of rare feats of brilliance. He took the grand prix circus by storm on an RGSOO Suzuki in 1976 and after three rounds was sharing second place in the world 500 championship with Phil Read (Great Britain). |

This year, little was seen of him on the grant} prix circuits but his New Zealand entry is almost certain to be a preliminary to a full-scale assault on the world championship next year.