UNTOUCHABLE: Oreti Park's Grant Tregoning leads Paul Hayes,  of Invercargill, Anthony Knowles, Andy Aldridge, both of Christchurch,  and Alex Cunningham, also of Invercargill, at the Southland Solo  Championships staged on Saturday night. Photo by: Cory Varcoe

The sweet taste of victory – it's a flavour Grant Tregoning has certainly become accustomed to.

Tregoning added the Southland Solo Championship title to his collection at the Russell Cunningham Properties Oreti Park Speedway 10th Anniversary meeting on Saturday night.

It completes an impressive feat for Tregoning who has won just about every title he's contested this season. The New Zealand Solo crown is the only one to allude the self-confessed speed demon – and that's still stings a little bit.
“I really wanted to win the New Zealand title but had to settle for second,” Tregoning said. “But there's always next year.” He's lost track of how many races he's won – in fact, it's easier to count those he hasn't claimed the checkered flag in. “That's easier – it's only one. It's been an awesome season.”

Testament to his riding ability, Tregoning claimed the Southland title using two borrowed bikes which previously failed to even make the top 16 at the national championships.

Celebrating 10 years since the Oreti Park Speedway was resurrected, Saturday's fixture also marked the final event of the season and produced some spectacular racing. “The track was unreal – it was a fantastic event,” Tregoning said.

In the solo event, Anthony Knowles, of Christchurch, was second followed by Oreti Park stalwart Paul Hayes.
Fraser Gillespie and Nigel Cuckow won the sidecar title, followed by Jason Harpur and Mark George, and Kevin McDonald and Karl Hosie respectively.

In the junior ranks, Hayden Sims reigned supreme, followed by Connor Spriggs and Peleti Woods, while Noel Caufield won the classic solo event, ahead of Andre Hodge and Nigel Luscombe.

Oreti Park Speedway will hold a Have a Go Day on April 10 for anyone interested in twisting the throttle.