The Speedway King, Ivan Mauger is back in Christchurch next week running his Speedway Academy at Moore Park, West Melton.

The two day training academy hosted by the Canterbury Motorcycle Speedway Club will round off with a twilight North vs. South speedway challenge at 5.30 pm on Friday 11th. Oreti in Invercargill host round two on Sunday 13th.

It is a welcome return back to racing after a slow start to the season
with rain affecting the Powerbuilt track. Moore Park’s more specialised
surface incorporates a smaller oval specially built for the Mauger
Academy. Nearly 30 senior riders have confirmed and along with over 15
juniors, Fridays meeting is where the riders break out in the North vs.
South challenge putting into practice some of the skills they have
learned. The academy will include some motor cross riders on stock bikes.

Newly crowned NZ Under 21 rider, Grant Tregoning will be out to prove he is worthy of the title and improve his pace before he goes overseas to compete in the junior world qualifying rounds. His southern team mates, Andrew Tree and Alex Cunningham will want to prove that their under 21 efforts were hindered with some unfortunate luck. Jason McKay and the Bagshaw brothers come down from Auckland while the likable Mitchell McHardy comes in from Palmerston North. The Nelson veteran Sean Cox will make an appearance and Kody Tocher will get some much needed track time.

Dispensated Greymouth rider Cory Lang continues to lean the trade in the senior ranks and will be joined by the only female entrant, Rosemary Baird. Sean Mason is another youngster displaying some talent and will make his presence felt against the South.

The teams for Friday will be finalised later in the week but the South
squad again looks strong on paper. With the juniors included in the team racing, some exception young talent will be on show. Young Bradley Andrews from Auckland who was a crowd favourite the last time he was here is back, hopefully able to touch the ground now. MNZ No1 Konner McCluskey-Young will have some opposition from the North’s Ryan Terry-Daley, Dylan Hancock, and Ryan Bagshaw with others no doubt rising to the occasion. Moore Parks outstanding juniors Ryan Moss, Anthony Knowles and a vastly improved Adam Wilson will be some more of the home crowd favourites to watch.

A number of riders make their first visit to Christchurch and are of an
unknown down here and there is occasionally a rider of the future
uncovered. For Christchurch fans it is the only time this year riders of
this calibre will be racing here. The South Island, New Zealand and Long
Track titles are all in Invercargill this season. It will be a final
opportunity for Christchurch to see the local rider Andrew Aldridge race
with and against the other top riders. The first Christchurch rider in
decades to earn a start in the English league has to leave in early
March to join his Rye House team in the Conference Speedway league based in North London, and is unlikely to appear in Christchurch again this season.