Ivan Mauger to ride

Press, 10 June 1978, Page 56

Ivan Mauger to ride

New Zealand, eliminated from the World teams speedway championship some weeks ago, may find the going just as tough this week-end when it contests the World pairs semi-finals. New Zealand will be represented by the current world champion, Ivan Mauger, and another well-per-formed Christchurch rider, Larry Ross, and they will line up against six other nations at Skien, Norway, tomorrow in one semi-final.

Mauger and Ross will be at full stretch to head off other top speedway countries like Australia, Denmark and Sweden, while the Neth-

erlands, Finland and Norway will also present strong competition. The defending champion, England, has been given a slightly easier draw than the New Zealanders. In the other semi-final on Sunday only Czechoslovakia looks likely to extend England. TThe other countries include Austria, Hungary, Italy, West Germany and Yugoslavia. These nations will be racing at Debrecen in Hungary- ~ . The world pairs championship is decided by two s e v e n-nation semi-finals, each of which will provide three finalists to go to the

final on June 25 in Poland. The six qualifiers will then be joined by a seeded duo from the host nation, in this case Poland, and these last seven countries compete to decide the winning team. Mauger’s return to the New Zealand colours could not have come at a better time. The failure of the team to defeat even the raw United States team in the recent world teams event must have left a sour taste in many mouths, and Mauger’s presence can only enhance New Zealand’s slim chances.