Ross leads field for S.I. champs

Press, 15 January 1982, Page 3

Ross leads field for S.I. champs

Larry Ross. .New Zealand’s leading speedway rider, will head an all-Christchurch field of Hi lining up al the South Island solo motor-cycle championships at the Ruapuna Park Speedway on Saturday. The championships. from which seven riders qualify for the New Zealand finals in Auckland on January >O. are the first step for riders hoping to reach this year's world championships in I.os Angeles.

Iwentv heals will he held, with four riders in each race. Each rider gets five starts, with the fields arranged so that everyone meets each of the other entrants once. Points are awarded on a three-to-one basis for the first three placings. Ross, aged 27. confirmed his class with his first ride of the season at Ruapuna last week. Riding from the back mark, the thirteenth place-getter at last year's world finals won two races and set a season's-best time at the track in the process.

The main threats to Ross will he two former New Zealand representatives. Roger Wright and Graeme Stapleton. Wright has twice had a hattrick of wins in the A grade class this season, and has lowered the season record on each occasion. The veteran Stapleton has been similarly impressive, although he might be hampered by some of the bruising he received after slipping from his machine and colliding with the rim of the track last week. The Canterbury champion, Gavin Rhodes should also provide a solid challenge, while some other A grade racewinners. Steven Hann, Graham Taylor and Alan Mason, look likely qualifiers. Several B grade riders could provide upsets and among these will be the consistent Trevor Chapman, winner of a succession of finals in his class this season, and Lance Begbie. Ivan Mauger, the six-times world champion. from Christchurch, will not be among the starters at the championships. He has been seeded to one of the eight South Island places at the national championships automatically.