MOTOR-CYCLE RAGNG Fourth motor-cycle title likely for Grant On the strengtl the Castrol classic fea way, Mount Maungan Open grand prix at l Open Tourist Troph experienced internatic will be warmly favou cycling race at Wigra • of his three wins - the first in ture event at the Bay Park Raceui, the second in the South Pacific Pukekohe, and th yal Levin last onal, Ron Grant red to win the o m this Saturday. he New Zealand Saturday — the (United States), pen class motor® Before arriving in New Zealand for the New Year eireuit, Grant had won the inaugural Pan Pacific Motor Cycle C'up in Perth. Tie New South Wales rider, B. Hindie, finished with 25 points - two behind Chant .. and ther were follower New Zealand's V "(Ginger) Molls alke the Englishman, C. Carr. Grant was born ink London, but most of his racing has been done in the United States where he is the Jeader of the American Suzuki works team. •In the 1969-70 season he 1 made a successful raid On the national circuit, winning most of his events on a 500 Suzuki twin. On this occasion, however, he will he riding one of the fastest racing machines in world—a three cylinder 750 c.c Suzuki. Unforlunately.: Carr, another Englishman domiciled America, will not be racing in the Dominion. While in Australia, expressed 'a keen desire 1o compete on the circuit, but arrangements to bring him to New Zealand were discontinued Provided: he has recovered from: the accident he had at. Wanganui, the Malaysian champion, Sonny ment. placing on his 500 c.c. Son, should gain a promi- Suzuki. • Hiş} machine has heen rebuilt in New Zealand." At: Wanganui, Soh broke h/s*: collar-bone during morning practices and ivas forced to miss meetings in the following weeks. How- ever, he is experted to take place in the field on Saturday. The Huntly rider, Molloy, runner up in the 1970 world 500 (.(. championship series, chased Grant closely in Australia and again al Pukekohe. although he was 25sec behind his overscas rival. Still it was a good performance by Molloy (750 (.c. Kaivasaki) who worked his way through the field after dropping back lo hih place in the initial stages of the race. DISCOMBE The consistent Christchurch international road racer, D. Wylie, live, perfo his exceedingly smaller capacity T 500 c.c. Suzuki at Pukekohe to finish third. He repeated that placing at Levin on Saturday. Before the Pukekohe meeting, Wylie had also finished third in the feature race at the Wanganul meeting, and won both the.open Production and production scratch races. The Dunedin rider, J.D. Landrebe (Yamaha), tinished third at Mount Maunganui, but judging hy the performances at Pukekohe and Levin, the Australian trio of M. Steele (Suzuki TR500), W. Willing (250 c.c. Yamaha TD 3) and M. Sayle (350 c.c. Yamaha TR2B). will be stronger possibilities. The up and coming 18year-old Christchurch racer, J. Boote, surprised Grant al Wanganui, and confirmed that excellent ride with a fine second at Levin, finish- 1ng only four seconds behind Grant. Because of an ankle injury suffered at Mount Maunganui, T. Discombe (Hamilton), the muitiple title-holder of the New Zealand 350 c.c. championship, dic not compele in the Pukekohe grand prix meeting. Discombe is awaiting delivery of a new 350 c.c. machine and, at present, is riding a 250 c.c. Yamaha. As well as the racing class, which is divided into four different categories, there will be a production race, also split into four classes. Both the motorcycle events have been sponsored by the suzuki Centre and the prize money is in excess of $750. Much interest in the production Case race will centre on the performance of the 903 c.c. Kawasaki, which will be the mount of leading Christchurch rider, O. Galbraith, The machine has only recently_been introduced in New Lealand. but has featured well in tests held in America. J. Lett (Wanganui) one of the North Island's most promising production riders, Grant and Wylie will all be riding Norton Commando machines. With riders of such calibre competing, both races should be exciting spectacles. W. (GINGER) MOLLOY Return to form by Te The fourth placing of the Taradale rider, K. Turner, in the Levin race on Saturday was more of the form expected from the internalnional racer. Turner has only resumed competitive racing recently since having an ankle broken in a crash in Europe. In 1971, Turner showed he was rider of woridclass ability by finishing second to the famous Italian, Giacomo . Agostini, ir the world 500 C.C. championship. Since his first ride at a Levin meeting when he was 17, Turner has ridden mumber of machines, but it was a Matchless G50 that he rode on the Isle of Man for the first time in 1967. Turner has competed on all . the big Continental circuits, being sponsored by the New Zealand Suzuki urner importer, Colemans, ol Wanganui. He is easily recognised through his distinctive and determined style of riding.i lying low on his machine. Turner gives the impression that. he will slide off the K. TURNER hike. His cornering looks uneven. hut there is no doubting its eficctiveness. Turner deserves the suclesses he gains. The 26-1 year-old mechanic has usually worked during the off-season and lived in caravan on the Grand Prix circuit. He hopes to eventually relurn to Now Zealand and race the natlonal, South- East Asian and American circuits.