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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
A new national champion will be crowned when Oreti Park Speedway hosts the Permacoat Roofing New Zealand Under-21 Championships this Saturday.
With defending champion Grant Tregoning now ruled out of contention by age, a new name will be etched on the silverware – and that’s got the hottest young stars of New Zealand speedway raring to twist the throttle.
The event has attracted an elite field to the Invercargill circuit with a 7-strong contingent venturing south from the North Island to battle it out against another 11 competitors.
“It’s a fantastic turnout of riders,” publicity officer Janene Stenning said. “The large field has even forced us to run an elimination component earlier in the day to determine the final competitors – and that speaks volumes about the emerging stars of our sport.”
Kody Tocher, of Christchurch, and Jamie Moohan, of Auckland, are definite title contenders after placing second and third respectively at last year’s championships and a battle of epic proportions is expected between the pair.
Christchurch rider Dale Finch has put a two-year injury layoff firmly behind him and has been in impressive form recently, finishing second at the Andy Tree Memorial and Burt Munro Challenge Spectacular events.
Gore teen Jack Macrae will have home track advantage and, together with Anthony Knowles, has been granted a dispensation by Speedway New Zealand to compete on 250cc machines – testament to their speedway prowess.
Tregoning, who has three New Zealand Under-21 titles to his credit and recently returned from a stint racing professionally in Europe, will join an impressive field of riders in the A Grade Support Solo class at the fixture. A competitive sidecar contingent will also feature in the quest to secure the Peter Blick Memorial Trophy.
The Under-21 competitors will practice at 1.30pm before elimination races featuring a flying lap start at 2.30pm.
Racing for the New Zealand title begins at 5pm. Entry costs $15 for adults, $25 for a family pass, $10 for pensioners and a gold coin for anyone aged under 16.
The Oreti Park Speedway club has a hectic calendar planned this season, including the Ivan Mauger North v South Challenge for solos and the Sidecar GP Series trans-Tasman test, featuring five Australian combinations, on January 9, 2010. The action continues in February with the New Zealand Sidecar Championships on the 13th and the New Zealand Solo Championships on the 27th.
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