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10-02-2014

Champ Has To Work For Title

A relieved Jason Bunyan claims title number 9 (photo credit to Corey Varcoe Photography)

New Zealand Solo Bike Champs

Review by Daryl Shuttleworth

A massive Southern crowd were treated to some of the best Solo racing ever witnessed at the Russell Cunningham Oreti Park Speedway on Saturday night, it was a night that promised so much for so many but at the end of the day there could only be one winner and that was now 9 time champion Jason Bunyan who had to pull out all of his international experience to claim the record equaling title.

The Southern Bolts And Fasteners New Zealand Solo Champs started with 20 of the countries top Solo riders all aiming for a spot in the top 8 to contest the semi finals, after all the heat races the top 8 consisted of Bunyan and fellow Auckland riders Ryan Terry Daley, Brady Mudgway, Sean Mason, Canterbury riders Dale Finch, Cody Tocher , Andy Aldridge and Southland hopefuls Jack McRae, Paul Hayes and Grant Tregoning.

The first semi final was dominated by Bunyan, he was pushed hard by Finch who made an unfortunate mistake which led to him slipping back to fourth and put him out of the running for the final, Mason capitalised on the mistake to book his spot in the final alongside Bunyan and McRae finished third but missed the cut also.

In semi final 2 it was Tregoning who got the jump at the start but Aldridge made him work hard for the lead and challenged him for the entire race, the pairing doing enough to take a place in the final, Tocher who rode well all night settled for third and Hayes fourth.


Grant Tregoning 5i, Andy Aldridge 23c and Jason Bunyan NZ1, do battle in an epic NZ Solo Championship Final
(photo credit to Corey Varcoe Photography)

This was the the match up people wanted to see, Bunyan the 8 time New Zealand champ, head to head with local hero Tregoning, the pair hadnt crossed paths in the heats or semis and this battle was going to be worth the price of admission alone, add to that Mason and Aldridge and the crowd was treated to one of the best New Zealand finals line ups seen anywhere before. The final started and it was Tregoning who got the jump, he got a brilliant start and managed to get into the first corner ahead of Mason and Aldridge, Bunyan was relishing out wide in fourth.
Tregoning increased his lead and held it for the next 3 laps, the huge Southland crowd raced to the fence in  hope that their home town hero was going to pull off the ride of his life to claim the top spot in New Zealand speedway, but Bunyan wasn't finished with as he weaved his way through Mason and Aldridge to move to second and within striking distance of the lead and a record equalling 9th New Zealand title, he pushed Tregoning hard but couldnt find a way past as they rounded the final corner Bunyan shot wide and it looked like Tregonings race, but Bunyan got amazing drive off the corner and as they passed the chequred flag it was Bunyan who got a wheel over the line ahead of Tregoning to claim his 9th title, equalling speedway legend Larry Ross, Mason was third.


Grant Tregoning 5i and Jason Bunyan NZ1 hit the finish line side by side
(photo credit to Corey Varcoe Photography)

The hearty crowd were all on their feet as they had just witnessed possibly the best final in the history of the championship, both Tregoning and Bunyan stopped on the back straight and congratulated each other with a pat on the back before Bunyan celebrated his win by getting his bike on his rear wheel, saluting the crowd.


Oreti Park Speedway President Warren Shuttleworth and runner up Grant Tregoning aplaude Jason Bunyan
(photo credit to Corey Varcoe Photography)

In support races, Kevin McDonald and Karl Hosie dominated the sidecars, Zane Pay won Solo Support, Les Payne won Classics, Vincent Tocher of Chrishchurch Junior Solo and in PeeWees it was a 3 way run off for first, won by Hayden Brookland followed by a quickly improving Cormac Buchanan and Brodie Molloy.

The club has a well deserved break now but will be back on track again March 1st with the Brian Reed Memorial Solos.