Hawke's Bay superstock driver Jason Long last night declined to elaborate on the issues which saw him leave the Hawkeyes camp to race for Gisborne at the ENZED Teams Champs in Palmerston North on February 3 and 4.
A key member of the Hawkeyes team which won the most prestigious event on the Speedway New Zealand calendar in 2016 and last year, Long, said there were a few issues earlier in the campaign.
"I wasn't happy with the way a few things were handled so I decided I wasn't going to race for Hawke's Bay. Gisborne had only four cars so their crew welcomed me with open arms.
There was no way I was going to miss the event and ideally I would love to be racing for Hawke's Bay but I am not able to."
"Dad owns the car and was part of the decision. It was one of the hardest decisions for him in more than 35 years involved in the sport," Long said, referring to his father Murray who raced for the Hawkeyes for 20 years and in 52 races at the Palmy event before announcing his retirement in 2015.