Oliver drubs quality field

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 20

Oliver drubs quality field

Steve Oliver’s hopes of achieving a hat-trick of national titles in the motorcycle trial field were boosted to dizzy, heights with his success in the North Island series jin Manawatu last week-end. Riding a new RTL 250 cu cm Honda for the first time, the gifted Christchurch rider drubbed a quality field in winning all three rounds of the 10-round North Island championship. Oliver did not contest the first four rounds of the event, held earlier in the year, but took part in last week-end’s competition to gauge his pro-

gress towards successfully defending his national title in Tauranga in October. He has won the New Zealand crown in this exacting sport in each of the last two years.

There were two main reaons for Oliver’s delight. One was that the vanquished included such prominent competitors as Paul Symons, an expatriate Kiwi who has been the Australian trials champion, and Andrew Clement, a former New Zealand title winner. The other was the extent of his winning margin. At the end of the first day he was 58

points down; the next best rider was 124 points down. It was the same story on the second day: Oliver 69 points down, next best 110. The course was much tougher than terrain used for events in the South Island, and the, 80 riders in the three classes had a gruelling time. Tony Cameron, another Christchurch competitor, did well to finish tenth over all.

Oliver was so encouraged by his showing that he might tackle the Australian championships this year and campaign In England In 1988.