Mur phy wIns races but loses By BOB PEARCE Hastings driver Greg Murphy left no doubt of his ability when he distanced the field in the two major single-seater races at Pukekohe yesterday. But it was not enough to take the Peter Jackson series from Australian Paul Stokeil, who finished a distant second in both races but ended 10 points ahead of the 21year-old New Zealander in the championship. Murphy won five out of the six races but failed to finish in the Lady Wigram Trophy in Christehurch when he spun off in torrential rain. Stokell took the win that day and was second everywhere else. Their dominance of the series was a reflection of the Formula Brabham cars' edge over the Formula Atlantics. At Pukekohe the Brabhams had their ride height raised but that made little difference. In the short first race Murphy and Stokell were followed home by Australians Kevin Weeks and Steve Cramp in Brabhams with the first Atlantic driven by American Buzz Calkins in fifth place. In the 25-lap main race for the New Zealand Motor Cup the order of the first four was the same but Graham Watson finished fifth in another Brabham and the first Atlantic was driven by German Michael Graf in sixth place. Both races lost some edge when Kenny Smith, who had qualified his Atlantic in fourth place, was forced to start from pit lane. In the first race his car jammed in gear and he required a push start for the second. The first series involving the Brabhams has suggested that they could become the major single-seater class for the series next year. But there must be a question mark over the regulations matching them with the Atlantics. The finish of the touring car championship could hardly have been closer as BMW team-mates Craig Baird and Brett Riley came to the final race one point apart after Baird had taken back the points lead by finishing third to Riley's fifth in the first race of the day. At Pukekohe the BMWs were unable to match the Commodores and the genial Ed Lamont won both races, the second after a battle to the line with Peter van Breughel. Behind them the BMWs had their own battle and Riley was the one who ended up with the scars. series He began the 12-lapper a couple of places ahead of Baird on the reverse grid. But when Ted Jarvis' Toyota Corolla spun out at the first corner Riley lost ground. Worse followed at the hairpin where Rhys McKay's spin in front of Riley seemed to have ended the Aucklander's chances. But he battled back up the field to such an extent that with two laps to go he was in fifth place behind Lamont, van Breughel, Nigel Arkell and Baird. Into the hairpin for the last time Arkell spun under pressure from Baird and the spinning car thumped Riley amidships, causing extensive damage. Riley finished fifth but his championship hopes were Shattered. Riley was not impressed by his 12 laps in the spindrier, but baird reckoned justice was done since he won more races than anyone else and lost winning points for a technical breach at Manteild. The best racing of the day came in the Formula Fords. Ashley Stchbury nad the series title wrapped up but he had no easy ride in the three races yesterday. He won the first behind the pace car after a fourth-lap accident had decimated the field. British driver Sean McNally had slid at high speed into the barriers at the end of the pit straight and while he was not badly hurt his damaged car was left at the edge of the track. On the next lap Andrew Neale clipped the parked car while challenging for the lead and half a dozen other cars took to the grass in avoiding the collision. Christchurch driver Shane Drake won the second race by half a nose from Stichbury after a race-long battle. In the third Drake spun out while in the lead and Stichbury won from Neale and Mark Pedersen. The Mini Sevens were back to their best with constant lead swaps and victories for Warren Heron, Wayne Timms and Angus Fogg. John Alley in his Mustang made no race of the first pre 65 eight lapper, but in the second Grant Sprague's Anglia took the honours. Kayne Scott's Mustang dominated the Tranzams as he has all season. He won the three races and in the last produced a lap of 55.74s, quicker than all but Murphy and Stokell in the Brabhams. Owen Evans in his Porsche scored an impressive double in the historic classics and sports Gi class. PICTURE: GERALD SHACKLOCK Greg Murphy at speed at Pukekohe yesterday, and later, with the New Zealand Motor Cup. 7-2-94