Moore Park fans were treated to some outstanding solo speedway racing on Saturday 2nd February when the NZ Selection team defeated the Elf All Stars by 44 to 34 points.

A very close encounter that saw both teams still equal on points after 10 of the 13 scheduled heats. Isle of Wight Captain, Jason Bunyan started the meeting off by heading home the local star Andrew Aldridge in heat one. Sean Cox picked up the third placing so the team score card was Elf All Stars 3, NZ Selection 3.

It stayed like this after every race and when at 18 points each, The NZ team pulled in a two point advantage. Larry Ross led home the current NZ Champion, Andrew Bargh with the big hearted young Invercargill rider Andrew Tree picking up the 3rd spot. Right back at the NZ team came the All Stars in the next heat with Michael Long and young Sean Mason taking the 1st and 3rd spots from 2nd place Sean Cox to bring the points card again level at 24.

Next two heats were evenly scored and in heat 11 it looked once again the score sheet would be tied. Diaster struck as Bargh was enjoying a comfortable lead until his engine died. This resulted in Aldridge who Bargh forced wide on the first turn, picking off the field one at a time to win the race over his team mate Cox and the All Stars rider Mason. A four point advantage was gained by the NZ team.

Heat 12 was the most outstanding race of the day. Larry Ross out gated Bunyan. Under 21 Champion Grant Tregoning was in third. Bunyan’s partner, Mitchell McHardy was caught by the tapes and an all in rerun was ordered. Unusual for it to happen twice in a race but Ross did it again. He led the field into the first turn. Bunyan never gave up and looked both inside and out throughout the entire race, but the vastly experienced veteran rider was not going to let this one get away. He stayed low and tight . With the crowd on their feet urging him on. Ross led Bunyan home from Tregoning in 3rd. This now gave the NZ Selection an 8 point advantage with one heat remaining.

Aldridge and Tree made it a one - two for the NZ Selection with Jade Mudgway coming home in 3rd as Bargh struggled on a borrowed bike. NZ 44 All Stars 34.

Some inspirational riding was seen as both teams exhibited some
excellent riding skills in a meeting organise by the Canterbury Motor
Cycle Speedway Club and John McCallum from J J Promotions, to send off Aldridge and Tregoning as they try their hand overseas. Both boys were presented with prints on canvas from Moore Park as well as receiving the proceeds of the track raffle.

All riders respond to the challenge of matching their skills to a higher standard of riding than what is available at local club level.Since Larry Ross returned to the track a couple of seasons ago, he has been, simply by his presence, an inspiration for the younger speedway riders.

He has provided some advice, particularly in getting Aldridge up to speed and placed in the Rye House Club. Ross, even at 53 years of
age, set a new bench mark for them to aspire to which has resulted in
lifting the standard of solo racing in the South Island. There are a
number of riders that are now entering the competitive bracket that
could see them match it with some of the European semi professional riders.

Some excellent riding was also on display in the supporting events with
one junior race declared a dead heat between Konner McCluskey - Young and Ryan Moss. Both boys finished the meeting on 22 1/2 points each. Lionel Green and Aaron Ray were comfortable in the end as the Side Car winners while Kody Tocher more than held his own in the Solo support class. Behind him the battle ranged between another 50 plus rider Craig Blackett. Jonathan Able and Jamie Martin made a return to the track and fought it all out with Scott Jeffcoate.

NZ SELECTION
Andrew Aldridge 11, Larry Ross 11,Grant Tregoning 8, Sean Cox (Nelson) 5, Andrew Tree (INV) 4, Alex Cunningham (INV) 4, Cory Lang (Greymouth) 1. Total 44.

ELF ALL STARS
Jason Bunyan (UK) 11, Jade Mudgway (P NTH) 6, Andrew Bargh (Napier) 5, Mitchell McHardy (P NTH) 4, Michael Long (Westport) 3, Sean Mason (Auckland) 3, Karl Bagshaw (Auckland) 2. Total 34.