Oliver has new bike for world title tilt

Press, 27 January 1988, Page 29

Oliver has new bike for world title tilt

By ROD DEW One of New Zealand’s most successful trials riders in recent years, Stephen Oliver, of Christchurch, leaves on February 10 for his first tilt at the world motor-cycle trials championship in Europe. Oliver, who has twice won the New Zealand championship, has received considerable support from sponsors and a grant of $4OOO from the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union. He has also been provided with a new Honda RTL 250 limited production competition mount by the Christchurch motor-cycle dealer, Whiting Motor Cycles, Ltd.

The new machine, which is valued at about $15,000, will put Oliver on level terms with the top European riders and he is determined that he will perform with credit. He plans to be away for at least four months and a half, and even longer if he does well.

He has obtained entries to the Spanish, British, and Irish rounds of the world championship, and hopes to obtain a British competition licence which will enable him to compete in British events. “Things are looking pretty

good,” he said yesterday after a brief training ride on the new bike. "I am getting a lot of assistance from a lot of people. The British Auto Cycle Union has been really co-operative.”

Oliver, unfortunately, will not be travelling overseas as the New Zealand champion as he had planned. He broke several ribs in a water-bike crash a fortnight before the national event, and he had to be content with third place in the championbship. Andrew Poad, of Tauranga, won the title.

"It was really embarrassing,” Oliver said of his accident. “I shouldn’t really have ridden at all. But I didn’t want to let the title go without a fight. The ribs hurt quite a lot, and I was satisfied with my third placing.”

Before the accident, Oliver had won the South Island championship for the sixth time.

He will be accompanied on the trip by Brian Jones, of Cheviot, who will act as manager.