Discombe regains grand prix title with fine riding

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 3

Discombe regains grand prix title with fine riding

By

ROD DEW

A splendid victory by the experienced international rider, Trevor Discombe (Yamaha TZ7SOE), of Cambridge, in the New Zealand open motor-cycle grand prix at Ruapuna Park yesterday provided a fitting finale to the championship road racing season.

Discombe, aged 36, has not competed regularly in recent months because of the poor returns in prize money and the almost prohibitive cost of taking his immaculate racer out of the workshop. But the aggressive manner in which he “locked horns” with the defending New Zealand open champion, Rodger Freeth (Yamaha TZ7SO), of Auckland, for the grand prix title firmly dispelled any suggestion that he might be a spent force.

The two riders were never more than a second apart — until the gearbox of Freeth’s Yamaha racer failed less than two laps from the end of the 15-lap race. At the time, Freeth was a close second, still within challenging distance of Discombe. “I thought I might be able to get Trevor on the last corner. But I never got that far. I just lost all drive,” a disappointed Freeth said later.

Discombe went on to win the title by a wide margin from Dave Hiscock (Suzuki GSIOOO Yoshimura), of Wellington, and Alan de Lautour (Suzuki RGSOO), of Palmerston North. Freeth’s retirement ended a superb duel. Earlier, it had seemed anybody’s race, Freeth led for the first two laps, then Discombe took over. He stayed in front for the next seven laps but his best efforts to shake off Freeth failed. On the tenth lap, Freeth was back in the lead.

However, two missed gear changes provided Discombe with the opportunity he needed. He shot past Freeth in the main straight and was never again headed, winning the open grand prix crown for the second time in three years.

Discombe, who won his first grand prix title in 1967, later said he had always been confident of winning. “When Rodger went past me he looked very ragged. He was all over the place. I thought if I applied a little pressure he might overdo things. But as it turned out I didn't have to."

De Lautour won the senior grand prix for the second time with a well-judged if unspectacular ride. His closest challenger, Mike Pero (Yamaha TZ3SO), of Christchurch, dropped out of the race on the eleventh lap with clutch failure.

Before that, Pero had kept hopes of a local victory alive with some brilliant riding on a bike appreciably less powerful than that of de Lautour. Pero actually led the race for six laps, making up the time lost down the straights with some outstanding cornering. Once he retired, interest in the race evaporated.

Pero also had bad luck in the open grand prix. He was in fifth place after nine laps on his TZ3SO Yamaha when his chain snapped. But not everything went wrong for the talented 19-year-old mechanic. He won the very competitive final round of the national 410 cu cm production championship from Bob Toomev. of Wellington. Both rode Yamaha RD4OO twostrokes. This win gave Pero the national title for the second successive year. Pero also won the New Zealand light-weight (up to 250 cu cm) grand prix in effortless style at his first atj tempt. He was first off the [grid and none of his rivals

could even get close to him. In addition, he won the 125250 cu cm handicap race, was fourth in the ultra light-weight grand prix on a Norjo Special, fourth in the open handicap race, and run-ner-up in the junior (up to 350 cu cm) grand prix.

“Tired is not the word for it,” Pero said after completing his ninth race of the 13-event programme. In the junior grand prix, Dave Hiscock (Yamaha TZ3SO) had a slight edge. He led for much of the distance, and Pero had to be satisfied with a creditable second. Hiscock had a special reason for wanting to win — he needed the points to overtake the absent John Woodley (Blenheim) in the race for the coveted national 350 road racing championship.

John Wood (Yamaha TZ3SO), of Blenheim, was third. Hiscock also confirmed his right to the national open production championship crown with another fine win in the final round. He had the title won even before the race, but this did not stop him demolishing the opposition on his Suzuki GSIOOO. Robert Holden (Suzuki GS1000), who later displayed uncanny ability in the wheelie contest, was second. N.Z. open grand prix <l5 laps).—T. Discombe (Cambridge), Yamaha TZ7SOE, t; D. Hiscock (Wellington), Suzuki 1000, 2; A. de Latour (Palmerston North), Suzuki RGSOO, 3; S. McLellan (Oamaru). Frepin-Yamaha TZSOO, 4; D. Rankine (Dunedin), Kawasaki 1015. 5.

N.Z. senior grand prix (15 laps).—A. de Lautour (Palmerston North), Suzuki RGSOO, 1; S. McLellan (Oamaru), Yamaha TZSOO, 2: J. Wood (Blenheim), Yamaha 350, 3: B. Wylie (Christchurch), Yamaha 350, 4; G. Sell (Palmerston North), Suzuki RGSOO, 5. N.Z. junior grand prix (15 laps). —D. Hiscock (Wellington), TZ3SO Yamaha, 1; M. Pero (Chch), TZ3SO Yamaha. 2; J. W’ood (Blenheim), TZ3SO Yamaha, 3: A. Scobie (Hamilton), TZ3SO Yamaha, 4; N. Fenemor, TZ3SO Yamaha, 5. N.Z. light-weight grand prix (12 laps).—M. Pero (Christchurch), Yamaha TZ2SOF, 1; S. McLellan (Oamaru), Yamaha TZ2SO, 2; J. Wood (Blenheim), Yamaha TZ2SO, 3; B. Zillwood (Auckland), Yamaha TZ2SO. 4; P. Shapcott (Chch), Yamaha TZ2SO. 5. N.Z. ultra light-weight grand prix (8 laps).—R. Holden (Wellington), Suzuki 125. 1; S. Ward Yamaha TAI2S, 2; B. Jones (Chch), Norjo 125, 3. N.Z. 50 cu. cm grand prix (five laps).—B. de Gues (Chch), Special, 1: W. Jeffrey (Chch). Suzuki RGSO, 2; P. de Gues (Chch), Suzuki 50, 3.

N.Z. Sidecar grand prix (12 laps).—H. Gregory and T. Price, Yamaha 700. I: P. Soper and P. Skipper, Suzuki 750. 2; P. Hunter and .1. Power. Suzuki 1009. 3. Non-championship (eight laps): Gregory 1. Soper 2. Hunter 3. Open racing class <l5 laps).—T. Discombe (Cambridge), Yamaha TZ7SO, 1: A. de Lautour (Palmerston North), Suzuki RGSOO. 2; S. McLellan (Oamaru), Yamaha TZSOO, 3. Racing class, 125 to 250 cu. cm handicap (8 laps).—M. Pero, Yamaha TZ3SO, 1; B. Zillwood, Yamaha TZ3SO, 2; S. McLellan, Yamaha TZ3SO, 3. Classic machines, first race (6 laps).—P. Ansell. M.V. Augusta 250, 1: R. Self, 7R A..T.5., 2; A. Norfolk, Kawasaki AIR 250. 3, Second race <6 laps).—Ansell 1, Norfolk 2.

Production, 41 Ito 1050 cu. cm (15 lans).—D. Hiscock (Wellington). Suzuki GSIOOO. 1; R. Holden (Wellington), Suzuki GSIOOO, 2; D. Barrett (Wellington), Suzuki GStOOO, 3. Production, vn to 410 cu. cm (12 laps).—M. Pero (Chch). Yamaha RD4OO. 1: R. Toomey (Wellington', Yamaha RD4OO, 2; J. Greenfield (Wellington), Yamaha RD4OO 3. Production handicap. U" to HO cu. cm <a laps).—M. Ti n dMe, Yamaha nnjoo. 1: P. Walsh. Yamaha Unann. 9; D. Gilbert. Yamaha RD4OO, 3. Production 41! to 5 <150 era handicap laps).— n Barre*t. r = iOOO 1- R. Woiden, Silzuk. nsinno, o ; Hiscock, Suzuki GSIOOO, 3.