Dennis Ireland leads the 250s at Timaru
Chas Mortimer , and from Australia an impressive group that included Warren Willing , Greg Hansford , Jeff and Murray Sale , Kenny Blake , and Ron Boulden . They were met by a contingent of local riders that included Graeme Crosby , Dennis Ireland , Stu Avant , Trevor Discombe , John Woodley , Rodger Freeth , and Paul McLauchlan . International racing had come to New Zealand . Nothing quite like it had been seen before , and I think it ’ s fair to say nothing like it has been seen since .
changed all that , with starting grids made up of international as well as local riders , mostly on competitive machinery . Italian Marco Luccinelli , who went on to become 500cc World Champion in 1981 , rode in the final round . A young American , Pat Hennen , also tipped to become a 500cc World Champion , until a crash in the Isle of Man in 1984 ended his racing career , won the Marlboro Series three times . Another American , Randy Mamola rode here as a teenager . Yet another American , the legendary Cal Rayborn , sadly died following an accident in the second round at Pukekohe in 1973 . Hideo Kanaya from Japan rode in the final series , from Britain came Isle of Man TT winner
A MONTH OF HELL FOR THE HARDEST TITLE As was the case with car racing , New Zealand was too far away to bring a batch of international riders for one meeting , so a series had to be organised throughout the country . The first Marlboro Series in 1973-74 began in Wanganui , then moved to Pukekohe , Gracefield , and Ruapuna . The second in 1974-75 dropped Pukekohe and included Bay Park and
Pat Hennen and Gregg Hansford battle at Timaru
76 KIWI RIDER