Motor-Cycling Top Riders Will Meet In Grand Prix Today

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28258, 22 April 1957, Page 17

Motor-Cycling Top Riders Will Meet In Grand Prix Today

With a course which should be in perfect order unless further heavy rain falls, the New Zea-

land Grand Prix meeting to be held at Cust today should prove

as exciting as any of its predecessors. The entries, which are the largest for several years, are drawn from the cream of New Zealand's racing motor-cyclists. The senior grand prix for the premier national road race title will be made all the more interesting by the inclusion of the Isle of Man Junior Grand Prix winner, Rod Coleman, of Wanganui; A. G. Holland, of Christchurch, who rode a brilliant race for first place last year: and the steady J. Swarbrick, of Oxford, winner in 1949, 1951, and 1955.

It would appear extremely unlikely that these three will be seriously challenged by the rest

of the field, and Holland, who has established a story-book reputation for speedway and track riding over the last 16 years, is tipped as the likely winner in motor-cycling circles. His large Manx Norton machine in itself is a large factor in his favour.

Coleman and Swarbrick. mounted on 7R A.J.S. racing machines, should be close at hand to capitalise on any mistakes made by Holland. A competitor who has raced at Cust consistently for several years and is due for higher placings is

G. Newbrook, of Mangaroa, who will also ride a 7R A.J.S. With an improved display which earned him third place last year, Newbrook could well provide a surprise for Holland, Coleman, and Swarbrick.

It was significant that the veteran Swarbrick, who knows every foot of the Cust course, should have come in fourth last year behind Newbrook. However, if there is rain, a surprise could occur in this race. At the practice on Saturday, which was held in very heavy rain, no competitor showed as much ability to handle the sticky conditions as J. Stone, of Invercargill. Mounted on a Manx Norton—the only one in the race besides Holland’s—Stone could be a serious threat to the favourites. His racing experience in Southland could be to his advantage today. In the junior event, Holland, Coleman, and Swarbrick will all be riding 7R A.J.S. machines. Swarbrick has the latest model and fastest machine. Holland has last year’s model, and Coleman’s is an earlier model still. O. Frew, winner of the Rangiora Handican last year, should be well up with the leaders, as should T. McCleary (Gold Star 8.5. A.). By the outstanding reputation of his German NSU machine, Coleman is the logical first choice

as winner of the lightweight race. This does not mean that competition will be lacking, but the odds favour the faster machines on the straights at Cust. Given fine weather, those who travel to Cust today will not be disappointed.

Peter Murphy At Brands Hatch

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 20. Peter Murphy, of New Zealand, was third in a 20-lap 500 c.c. motorcycle invitation scratch race at the Brands Hatch track today. He finished half a mile behind the world champion, John Surtees (MV), who came in second to Alan Trow, a 24-year-old Kent engineer. Trow rode a Norton.