Mauger to foster speedway talent

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 26

Mauger to foster speedway talent

By

ROD DEW

The establishment of an under 21 series in New Zealand and the introduction of an annual "Rider to Europe” scheme are just two of the “hobby projects” the six-times world speedway champion, Ivan Mauger, will pursue now that he has retired from racing. Races were held for riders under 21 at most of his highly successful Champion Spark Plug World Jubilee Series and these proved very successful. The riders were paraded, and were placed next to the international riders in the pits so they culd observe their preparation. “New Zealand has got a greater wealth of young talent than ever before,” Mauger said. “I think we are on the verge of another breakthrough.” This is just as well because at international level New Zealand has rarely been in such poor shape. Only three New Zealanders, Larry Ross, David Bargh and Mitch Shirra, are considered competitive in the British league. In the period up to the 19705, New Zealand could boast anything up to 40 riders in the British league. Mauger feels that the decline might have been caused by the Japanese motor-cycle manufacturers when they started to make easy-to-ride moto-cross machines. “A lot of young riders who were potentially good speedway riders turned to moto-cross. A lot still do, but they tend to ride for fun rather than with the intention of making a

career out of it.” Mauger has now seen most of the young riders in New Zealand and he feels that the future is bright. He also considers that help is needed if another world champion is to be found from New Zealand. “If there is to be any international future for New Zealand speedway, we need to find more riders who will rise to world class,” he said. To help in this aim he has suggested the establishment of a “Rider to Europe” scheme under which a young person of unusual potential would have his expenses paid for a season in Europe.

It would be similar to the “Driver to Europe” scheme which worked so well in car racing, he said.

Mauger hopes to persuade New Zealand businesses to sponsor both the under 21 series and the “Rider to Europe” scheme, and is also planning to gain the interest of the New Zealand Sports Foundation. New Zealand’s record at world level still remains unchallenged, although the last of its; "big three” — Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs and Mauger — has now retired, Between them they won a total of 12 individual world championships and a host of lesser titles. There is no obvious successor. But Mauger hopes to change this before too many seasons have passed.

He observes that the day of the superstar in speedway appears to have disappeared. Throughout

his long career, there were always one or two riders who could fill a stadium on their own — people like Moore, Briggs, Ole Olsen (Denmark), Peter Collins (England), Anders Michanek (Sweden). “It has amazed me that nobody has managed to do this sort of thing in recent years. There are as many good riders as there were a few years ago, perhaps even more. But there are veiy few superstars, and it is difficult to say why. There is no obvious reason,” Manger's outstanding World Jubilee Series, held throughout the world to celebrate his 30 years in speedway, has not quite ended. A grand final will be held at the renovated Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam on May 12. Mauger qualified for the final with his third in the Australian section of his farewell series. He also finished third in the New Zealand series. However, he has no intention of changing his mind and returning to the track for one more meeting. “I won’t race in Amsterdam. The nineteenth qualifier will take my place.” He will, nevertheless, be the guest of honour. He will formally cut the ribbon to open the new track in the stadium, and will then ride four laps. From now on, his motor-cycling will be restricted to the “fun” level, a few enduros and trials.

Mauger, who has spent much of the summer in New Zealand, will return to England soon. He intends to settle permanently in New Zealand, although he expects it will

take a year or two to settle his various affairs before this will be possible. In the meantime, he has a few projects in mind. One of these might be the arranging of another visit by a world troupe to New Zealand — and that is something that deserves all the support the sport can give.