Larry Ross provides big speedway upset

Press, 11 June 1982, Page 32

Larry Ross provides big speedway upset

' The New Zealand speedway representative, Larry Ross, of Christchurch, provided a major upset with a splendid win in the World 1000 m long track championship qualifying round at Herxheim, West Germany, recently. Riding an English Godden, Ross went through the meeting unbeaten and is now being hailed as a strong prospect for the world championship final in September. Among those who finished behind Ross in the qualifying round was the defending champion, Karl Maier, of West Germany. Maier finished two points behind Ross with 18 points. Another surprise was the elimination of the reigning world speedway champion,

Bruce Penhall (United States), who finished a lowly tenth on eight points. Ross’s success amazed his rivals, who had discounted him as a threat becasue he was riding with a broken collar bone, an injury suffered a few weeks earlier. “I didn't expect to win, especially with my injury, but it was one of those days when everything went right,” a delighted Ross said. “I have only done four or five long track meetings in my life and am a complete greenhorn compared with some of the others.” Third place in the Herzheim quarter-final went to a former world speedway champion, Peter Collins (England), who scored 16.

The “great” Dane, Ole Olsen, another former world speedway champion, was also among the qualifiers, on 11. In another of the long track quarter-finals, the veteran New Zealander, Ivan Mauger, a former winner of the world long track championship, showed that he still had a sting in his tail. Competing at Muldorf, West Ger many, he claimed a worthy second place, equal with two others, for a place in the semi-finals. The only rider who finished ahead of Mauger was the accomplished Swede, Anders Michanek. The two semi-finals will be held at West German venues, Jubek and Vilshofen. on August 1.