Holden upsets Toomey’s run

Press, 4 January 1988, Page 15

Holden upsets Toomey’s run

By ;

JOHN HAWKINS

Robert Holden, riding a borrowed Suzuki GSXR 1100, thwarted Bob Toomey’s hopes of completing the international motor-cycle meeting at Ruapuna unbeaten, by heading off the Wellington rider in the Formula One Grand Prix. Toomey got the jump at the start and for a while it looked as if he was about to add to ,his previous nine wins gained at the meeting. On lap three, however, Holden moved past at the hairpin and continued to build up a slight buffer over Toomey. Holden had been forced to ride the machine, belonging to the Christchurch rider, Trevor Kirby, after his Ducati suffered engine trouble during Saturday’s racing. Dave Horton of Australia finished third after a stern battle with Richard Scott. The Senior Production Grand Prix developed into a two-man tussle between Toomey and the top local rider, Brent Jones. These two battled closely in the production bike races throughout the week-end and it was Toomey who moved first at the flag. Jones took the lead on the fourth lap, but the Wellington rider was not to be denied and swept back into the lead with a burst of speed on lap 11, holding on to win narrowly from Jones and Jason McEwan who was never able to challenge the first two. x The Australian, Damin Garrard, streaked away to a 12-second win in the Formula Two Grand Prix after his expected main opposition, Tony Maxwell, fell in the esses on the second lap. Maxwell was unhurt but unable to continue. Second place fell to Craig Barron after an initial battle with Mike Webb. The most closely contested races of the weekend were fought out in the 250, cu cm production class, where the class champion, Arron Slight, had to be content to play second fiddle to the Aucklander, Andrew Stroud on a similar Yamaha. Stroud led away at the start of the 250 Production Grand Prix and withstood tremendous pressure from Slight until Slight forged ahead on lap six. Slight in turn was demoted on the ninth lap by Stroud who remained in front in spite of continued attempts by Slight to take back the lead. On the last lap both riders crossed the line side by side, but Stroud held out to finish less than a bike length ahead at the chequered flag. The Junior Production Grand Prix developed into something of a procession after Dave Martin grabbed the lead at the start on his Honda CBR 600 and led all the way unchallenged. Grant Ramage moved his Suzuki ahead of Dave McLeod’s Honda on lap eight to claim second position but thereafter things remained stagnant

with little changing throughout the field. Provisional results: Formula One:— Race 1: B. Toomey (Wellington, Suzuki GSXR 1100), 1: G. Williams (N.Z.. Suzuki GSXR 1100), 2; B. Jones (Christchurch, Suzuki GSXR 1100), 3. Race 2: Toomey, 1; Jones, 2; Williams, 3; Race 3: Toomey, 1: R. Holden (Wellington, Suzuki GSXR 1100), 2; Williams. 3. Formula One N.Z. Grand Prix: Holden, I; Toomey, 2; D. Hopton (Australia, Suzuki RX 500). 3. Senior Production: Race 1: Toomey, 1; Jones, 2; R. Dean (Tauranga, Suzuki GSXR 1100), 3. Race 2: Toomey, 1; Jones, 2; R. Knapp (Wanganui, Yamaha FZR 1000), 3. Senior production N.Z. Grand Prix: Toomey, 1; Jones, 2; •J. McEwan (Takaro, Suzuki GSXR 1100). 3. Formula Two:— Race 1: T. Maxwell (Wellington, Yamaha TZ 250) 1: C. Barron (Christchurch, Yamaha TZ 250), 2; D. Garrard (Australia, Yamaha TZ 250), 3. Race 2: Garrard, 1; Barron, 2: P. Pavletich (Auckland, BMS Special), 3. Race 3: Maxwell, 1; Barron, 2: Darin Milner (Australia, Yamaha 250), 3. Formula Two N.Z. Grand Prix: Garrard, 1: Barron, 2: M. Webb, (Hamilton, Yamaha 250). 3. Formula Three: — Race 1: M. McCutcheon (Dunedin, Kawasaki), 1; T. McMurdo (Upper Hutt, Suzuki GSXR 400), 2; D. Moore (Christchurch, Morbidelli 125), 3. Race 2: McCutcheon, 1: McMurdo, 2: I. McAdam (Auckland, Suzuki), 3. Race 3: McCutcheon, 1; S. Clegg (Wellington, ABC Special), 2; McAdam. 3. Formula Three N.Z. Grand Prix: McCutcheon, 1; McMurdo, 2; Moore, 3. Junior Production:— Race 1: D. Martin (New Plymouth, Honda CBR 600), 1; D. McLeod (Hastings, Honda CBR 600), 2; G. Ramage (Timaru, Suzuki 400), 3. Race 2: Martin, 1; Hamage, 2; G. Williams (N.Z., Kawasaki 600), 3. Junior Production N.Z. Grand Prix: Martin, 1; Ramage, 2; McLeod, 3. 250 Production:— Race 1: A. Stroud (Auckland, Yamaha TZR 250), 1; A. Slight (Masterton, Yamaha TZR 250), 2; C. Sutcliffe (Timaru, Yamaha TZR 250), 3. Race 2: Stroud, 1; Slight, 2; Sutcliffe, 3. Race 3: Stroud, 1; Slight, 2; Sutcliffe, 3. 250 Production N.Z. Grand Prix: Stroud, 1; Slight, 2; D. Hicks (Upper Hutt, Yamaha TZR 250), 3. Suzuki Masters:— Race 1: Toomey, 1; Jones, 2; Dean, 3. Race 2: Toomey, 1: Jones, 2; J. McEwan (Palmerston Nth), 3. Race 3: Toomey, 1; Jones, 2; Dean, 3. Sidecars:— Race 1: D- Beresford/V. Steur (Masterton, Mobuilt 1100), 1; W. Jaimeson/ A. Kippen (-Rotorua, Sylvester 1100), 2; K. Maxwell/N. Edwards (Wellington, Suzuki 1100), 3. .. Race 2: Beresford/Steur, 1; Maxwell/Edwards, 2; H. Gregory/T. Price (Masterton, Yamaha 750), 3. Race 3: Beresford/Steur, 1; Gregory/Price, 2; Maxwell/Edwards, 3. N.Z. Sidecar Grand Prix:— Beresford/Steur, 1; Gregory/ Price, 2; A. Scriver.er/S. Bryon (Mt Maunganui, Kawasaki 1170), 3. 125 cu cm Racing:— Race 1: L. Westoby (Timaru, Rotax), 1; B. Jowett (Christchurch, Aerolite), 2; J. Wilson (Hawke’s Bay, Honda), 3. 125 cu cm N.Z. Grand Prix:— D. Moore (Christchurch, Morbidelli), 1; Westoby, 2; Jowett, 3. B.E.A.R.S.:— Race I: Pavletich, 1; A. Cathcart (G. 8. Ducati), 2; L. Williamson (Britten 1000), 3. Race 2: Pavletich, I; G. Aitkinson (Christchurch, Harley Davidson), 2; Williamson, 3. Race 3: Pavletich, 1; Aitkinson, 2; O. Coles (Australia, Ducati), 3. Race 4: Pavletich, 1; Coles, 2; B. Biber (Wellington, BMW), 3.