Tense speedway

Press, 12 February 1979, Page 6

Tense speedway

PA Dunedin Larry Ross (New Zealandi and Bruce Penhall (U.S.A.) dominated the day’s racing in the international speedway event held at Beachlands Raceway, Dunedin, yesterday.

Ross and Penhall provided tl/‘ action for the crowd of 4000 with skilful displays of riding in difficult conditions.

The meeting began with a Kiwi v. Overseas competition. Tne overseas team of Rudi Muts (Netherlands), and Trord Skretting (Norway), beating the Kiwi combination oi Ross, Graham Stapleton and Tony Briggs. The final decision was in douti until the last race. With the points tally at 16 to 13 New Zea land needed maximum points from the last race. Ross and Stapleton got out well to t?ke an early lead with Penhall chasing hard. On the second lap Pen hall got through Stapleton and the Kiwi rider trying too hard to pass on the next bend suffered his third fall of the day to give the overseas team a win by two points. Ross went on to record his third win of the dav.

After the interval heavy rain set in. The track, which hac been in immaculate condition

became extremely greasy and troubled the local riders in particular.

In the semifinals of the King of the Beach aeries Penhall had an easy win against Skretting and Ross eliminated four times world champion Barry Briggs The final, which was -brought forward after three events Wei* cancelled, proved to be gn anticlimax with Ross suffering mechanical failure in the first tap to give Penhall a hollow victory. Abbreviations are: New Zealand <N.Z. i. Norwax (N.), Netherlands iNeth.), United States (U.S.):

Kiwi v. Overseas.—Heat 1: Ross (N.Z.) 1, Penhall (U.S.) 2. Skretting (N.) 3; 77.35ec. Heat 2: Briggs (N.Z.) 1, Ross (N.Z.) 2, Muts iNeth.) 3; 80.2 sec. Heat 3: Muts INeth.i 1, Penhall (U.S.) 2, Briggs (N.Z.) 3; 78 osec. H'*t 4: Ross 1, Muts 2, Skretting 3; 77.1 sec. Heat 5: Penhall 1.. Stapleton 2. Skretting 3; 78.7 see. Heat 0: Ross 1, Penhall 2. Muts J; 76.25ec.

King of the Beach.—Heat 1: Skretting 1, T. Briggs 2; 594 sec. Heat 2: Penhall 1, Muts ? 5? 3 sec. Heat 3: Ross I, Stapleton 2; >99sec. Heat 4: Barry Briggs N.Z.) 1, Burgess 2. First semifinal: Penhall 1. Skretting 2. See>nd semi-final: Ross 1. Briggs 2. vinal- Penhall 1. Ross 2.