Photo: Jason Bunyan leads Grant TregoningAfter racking up thousands of kilometres to get here, UK rider Jason Bunyan successfully defended his title at the Calder Stewart Roofing New Zealand Solo Championships staged at Oreti Park Speedway on Saturday 27th February.
Representing Auckland's Rosebank Road Speedway, Bunyan, 30, clinched 1NZ status ahead of Oreti's own Grant Tregoning and veteran Larry Ross, of Christchurch's Moore Park.
Qualifying fastest with a lightning quick lap of 17.25 secs, Bunyan then went head-to-head with Tregoning in the first heat of the night – and it ultimately proved the title decider.
Hailed as the King of Oreti, Tregoning relished competing on home turf and fought solidly for all four laps but Bunyan, who races professionally in the UK, managed to hold off the gutsy challenge. The pair went on to win each of their remaining heats, leaving the opening race, where Bunyan earned the crucial extra point, to determine victory.
Among the night's exciting action, the large crowd was treated to a glimpse of speedway's future in young star Anthony Knowles, of Christchurch's Moore Park.
Knowles, who is just 15, earned a dispensation to race at the national fixture and impressed securing fourth overall in the competitive senior ranks. His sensational performance even prompted speedway enthusiasts to compare him to the legendary Ivan Mauger.
New Zealand U21 champion Dale Finch was in podium contention until he crashed in the fourth round and was carted off in the ambulance. He returned after a thorough check to compete in the final heat – only to have his chain come off in the penultimate lap.
The hotly-contested Malcolm Officer Memorial Trophy for sidecars produced fierce racing, with the Oreti combination of Kevin McDonald and Karl Hosie reigning supreme.
The talented duo won four of the five heats to secure the silverware ahead of Scott Ayto and Josh Heenan and Jason Harpur and Mark George respectively.
In other categories, Craig Blackett won the Solo Support class, Noel Caulfield the Solo Classics and Hayden Sims the Junior Solo.
Results:
Calder Stewart Roofing NZ Solo Championship
1st Jason Bunyan 15 points
2nd Grant Tregoning 14 points
3rd Larry Ross 12 points
4th Anthony Knowles 10 points
Malcolm Officer Memorial Trophy (Sidecars)
1st Kevin McDonald & Karl Hosie 12 points
2nd Scott Ayto & Josh Heenan 11 points
3rd Jason Harpur & Mark George 10 points
Solo Support & Non-qualifiers
1st Craig Blackett 12 points
2nd equal Matt Heenan 9 points
2nd equal Bradley Sharp 9 points
Solo Classic
1st Noel Caulfield 16 points
2nd Nigel Luscombe 11 points
3rd Les Payne 5 points
Junior Solo
1st Hayden Sims 16 points
2nd Connor Spriggs 10 points
3rd Adam Shuttleworth 9 points
Next meeting: Saturday March 13: Southland Sidecar Championship, Southland Solo Championship and Southland Junior Solo Championship with supporting Solo Classics. Racing starts 5pm.
