Ross outstanding rider

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 22

Ross outstanding rider

Larry Ross was the outstanding solo rider at the Lucas Batteries Speedway on Saturday evening. He won three of his four starts, his only defeat coming in the opening handicap race when he started off the back mark of 70m.

A Scottish rider, Kenny McKinna, easily won the other A grade handicap race, having passed his main rival, Roger Wright, on the opening straight. He overtook the race leader, Craig Blackett, on the second lap and was never headed. Wright took second, passing Blackett on the third lap. The solo final was won impressively by Ross. The lead changed three times on the first bend; Wright led the packed field into the bend, but McKinna went to the lead wide on the track. He drifted wide and took Mason with him. allowing Wright to regain the lead. Then Ross squeezed through a minute gap outside McKinna and inside the safety fence to dart to the lead. With Ross ahead of Wright, a good battle developed between McKinna and Mason for third place. McKinna’s motor started missing and Mason finally got through on the last bend. Mason and McKinna headed the field into the first bend in the Lemon and Paeroa flying four

race, but Ross, again wide on the track, shot to the lead with Wright also getting by the earlv leaders to take second place. Mason and McKinna were again locked in a battle for third place. Mason again beating the Scot home.

With the crowd warming Io such close racing, Ross, from grid six, outpaced the field in an extra race and went on to win with ease from Wright and McKinna. Mason fell on the first lap when trying to go round McKinna on the town bend.

Robin Hampton was robbed of certain victory in the super six race when, having led the race from the start, his bike found some unexpected extra drive on the prison bend, on the final lap. which took him out to the fence and allowed Max Brown to take the lead.

John Sylvester made a great start and seemed to be assured of winning the feature race. Then his car’s motor went off tune mid-way through the race and he was forced to retire. Results:—

B grade.— Handicap race 1: C. Slade 1, M. Richards 2. S. Morice 3. Time: 81.4. Handicap race 2: L. Begbie 1, C. Searle 2, M. Banks 3. Time: 85.6. Consolation: S. Gurdler 1, R. Brown 2. No time. Final: Slade 1, Richards 2, Mor-

ice 3. Time: 65.0. Flying Four;; Brown 1, Morice 2. Slade 3. Time: 82.2.

A grade.— Handicap race 1: M. Brown 1. L. Ross 2, A. Mason 3. Time: 81.0. Handicap race 2: K. McKinna 1, R. Wright 2. C. Blackett 3. Time: 81.8. Consolation: A. Crosbie 1. Blackett 2, S. Hann 3. Time: 79.9. Final: Ross 1, Wright 2, Mason 3. Super Six: Brown 1. R. Hampton 2, Blackett 3. Time: 80.7. Flying Four; Ross 1, Wright 2, Mason 3. Time: 76.9. Super Six: Ross 1, Wright 2. McKinna 3. Time: 76.8.

Three-quarter midgets.— Race 1: D. Smith 1, C. Beach 2, G. Stapleton 3. Time: 2min ' 8.65. Race 2: J. Sylvester 1, R. Smith 2, Stapleton 3. No time. Race 3: D. Webb 1, R. Smith 2, G. Taylor 3. Time: 2:12.4.

Midgets — Race 1: N. Chandler 1. R. Robinson 2, G. Fineran 3. Time: 2:39.4. Race 2: M. Williams 1, Fineran 2, G. Roxburgh 3. Time; 1:15.8. 2 x 4 Heat 1: Fineran 1, Williams 2. Time: 1:19.3. Heat 2: Fineran 1, N. Chandler 2, D. Cawley 3. Time: 1:18.0.

Sprintcars.— Race 1: R. Silcock 1, S. Everett 2, T. Demmocks 3. Time: 2:50.5. Race 2: Everett 1, P. Horridge 2, Demmocks 3. Time: 2:19.0. Race 3: Everett 1, W. Pierson 2, K. Scallion 3. Time: 1:17.0.