1976 Australasian Individual Speedway Championship

The 1976 Australasian Individual Speedway Championship was the inaugural Australasian Final, introduced for Motorcycle speedway riders from Australia and New Zealand as part of the qualification for the 1976 Speedway World Championship.[1]

The Final took place at the 413 metres (452 yards) long Western Springs Stadium in Auckland. South Australian Champion John Boulger took out the Final from fellow Australians Billy Sanders and Phil Crump. The then four time World Champion Ivan Mauger finished fourth to grab the final spot in the 1976 Intercontinental Final at London's famous Wembley Stadium.

Mitch Shirra, who before the end of the 1970s would be riding for his native New Zealand (he was born in Auckland), actually rode as an Australian in this meeting complete with the Australian flag on his breast plate. Sixteen-year-old Shirra (who in late 1973 began riding at the age of 14 after lying about his age) was living in Sydney and considered the Liverpool International Speedway to be his home track.[citation needed]

Australasian Final edit

Pos. Rider Total
1   John Boulger 14
2   Billy Sanders 13
3   Phil Crump 12
4   Ivan Mauger 11+3
5   Phil Herne 11+2
6   Mitch Shirra 11+1
7   Barry Briggs 8
8   John Titman 8
9   Ricky Day 6
10   Colin Tucker 5
11   John Langfield 4
12   Larry Ross 4
13   Colin Farquharson 4
14   Graeme Stapleton 3
15   Roy Trigg 2
16   Paul Fewings 2
17   D. Sincock (Res) 1
18   Robin Adlington (Res) 1

References edit

See also edit