Mauger leads N.Z. to speedway test win

Press, 25 February 1980, Page 3

Mauger leads N.Z. to speedway test win

PA Auckland Even with their captain, Ivan Mauger, out of form the New Zealand motor-cycle speedway 7 team ha d little trouble in defeating Australia —6B points to 40—in the international test at Western Springs on Saturday night.

It was a resounding win for New Zealand and right from the first heat when I Mauger blasted to a win lover the Australian number lone, Billy Sanders, they never appeared in danger of; defeat. New Zealand riders won I 12 of the 18 heats, failed to I score points in only two, I and in only one heat —• number 13 — did the Aus-i tralians outscore them. I Although he led a well-! 'beaten team, the Australian! captain Sanders, showed his I class by sharing the topi individual score of 16 with! Mauger and recording the>

iifastest time for three laps of 1153.35. “i But Mauger was the spe- • jcial hero. Still recuperating 'jfrom hospital treatment for ‘la blood condition that has Heft him weak, Mauger /admitted beforehand that he ■ I should not really race. I Once on the track, how■ever, he turned on a periformance worthy of a world I champion. He won his first [three races and then in the (second half as his lack of I fitness began to tell he still (managed to force himself to I a win and two seconds in ■ his final three starts.

i'i The New Zealand two, Larry Ross, scored 15 • l ■ points and provided the best! ’■racing when, incredibly, he| Hgot up to win heat 11 afterp • trailing the Australian, Mikeir ; Farrell, for most of the way. Ij ■Ross, the New Zealand! : champion, tried every trick J in the book to take Farrell r but could only find a way r I past when he powered round 1 the outside on the last cor- 0 : ner to snatch victory on the line. B The Aucklanders, Mitch y ■ Shirra (14 points) and John Goodall (10) were the most £ successful New Zealand 0

combination. Shirra won three races. Apart from Sanders only Farrell of the Australians really threatened the New Zealanders. He ended with 12 points after winning two races. John Titman blew a motor —which he replaced in 11 minutes — ( and scored only eight points. , Scores:— New Zealand 68 (Mauger 16. Ross 15. Shirra 14, Goodall ID. Wayne Brown 8. David Bargh si. Australia 40 (Sanders 16. Farrell 12, Titnian 8, Steve Koppe 3, Keith Wright 1, Glen McDonald 31.