Freeth, Jones cruise in, other races close at Ruapuna

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 21

Freeth, Jones cruise in, other races close at Ruapuna

By JOHN HAWKINS Rodger Freeth from Auckland, added to his already impressive record of race victories with a dominant win in the New Zealand formula one motor-cycle grand prix at Ruapuna Parkon Saturday.

Although Freeth and Brent Jones, of Christchurch, rode to unchallenged wins in the prestigious formula one and formula two grand prix races respectively, the newly extended Ruapuna circuit generally allowed close and spectacular racing during the day’s programme. Freeth took the lead at the start of the formula one event and was never threatened, quickly moving away from the rest of the field on his powerful Mclntosh Suzuki. At the

end of the 15 lap race, Freeth held a massive 25 second advantage over Robert Holden, who rode a fine race on his less potent Suzuki GSX 750 machine.

Further back, Ken

Steadman on his Yamaha TZSOO finally got the better of a race-long duel with the local rider, Marty Dock, on his production Suzuki. In the forumula two event, Jones overcame a potentially unnerving tumble on the warm-up laps to win easily, after beating off an early challenge from Bill Cooney, whose Moriwaki 600 held a straight line speed advantage. There was an intriguing battle for third place which lasted for the whole event, between Tony Maxwell and lan Dawson, with Maxwell narrowly winning out.

If the formula one and two events proved something of an anticlimax, the senior production grand prix was anything but that.

After a mix up at the first comer, where three riders fell, Holden worked his way through the field to hit the front on lap eight. Although he held a

comfortable lead from then on, there was a hectic five-bike battle for the minor placings. Aaron Slight got second place from Dock, Bob Toomey, Rob Lewis and Eddie Kattenberg, all in Indian file behind.

The sidecar grand prix also produced an exciting race, with Howard Gregory and Tony Price passing Andrew and Anne Kippen at two thirds distance to take the lead. The Kippens fought back, however, and pursued Gregory and Price closely on the penultimate lap. As the leaders negotiated the hairpin on the final lap they seemed to falter and the Kippens were close enough to pounce, surviving a wild slide at the first S bend to snatch victory.

Results were:

Fendalton Motor Cycles N.Z. 50 c.c.: P. Sales (Suzuki GTSO) 1, P. De Geus (De Geus/50) 2, H. Jack (Suzuki 50) 3.

Monarch Yamaha N.Z. ultra lightweight 125 c.c.: D. Moore (Morbidelli 125) 1, L. Westoby (Rotax 125) 2, S. Clegg (Honda RSI2SRW) 3.

Yokohama Tyres—Pro Helmet N.Z. junior production: L. O’Connor (Yamaha 350) 1, J. Boot (RZ2SO) 2, R. Lewis (Kawasaki GTZ6OO) 3. Motor Imports, Ltd, Champion spark plugs NZ sidecar grand prix: A. Kippen and A. Kippen (Kawasaki 1100) 1, H. Gregory and T. Price (Yamaha CCSO) 2, K. Wendt and C. Dolph (Haley 1100) 2.

Eric Wood Suzuki Pro Helmet N.Z. senior production grand prix: R. Holden (GSX7SOR) 1, A. Slight (Yamaha GZ7SON) .2, M. Dock (GS7SO) 3.

Tommy’s Yamaha Tsubaki chain N.Z. formula two grand prix: B. Jones (Yamaha TZ2SO) 1, P. Cooney (Moriwaki 600) 2, T. Maxwell (Rotax 250) 3.

Norjo Motors Shellsport New Zealand. Up 250 c.c. productions grand prix: M. McCutcheon (Suzuki RG2SOG) 1, D. Martin (Yamaha RZ2SORR) 2, N. Algie (Kawasaki KR2SO) 3.

Superior Budgets Motor-CycleSpares-Zarko Boots N.Z. forumla 1 grand prix: R. Freeth (Mclntosh Suzuki 1135) 1, R. Holden (GSXR 750) 2, K. Steadman (Yamaha TZSOO) 3.