Stanaway impresses in V8

Young Tauranga racing driver Richie Stanaway has completed a promising debut test in a V8 Supercar.
In his first drive of a closed cockpit racing car, Stanaway tested at Queensland Raceway last week with Howard Racing, one of the leading teams in Fujitsu V8 Development Series.
"It was a scheduled test as a prize for winning the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship," said Stanaway.
"They were impressed with my performance and have invited me back for another day."
Stanaway completed 15 laps driving the Ford Falcon BF campaigned in the Fujitsu V8 series by David Russell.
"Richie did a great job," said Howard Racing team manager and ex-pat Kiwi Warren Davis.
"His approach and attitude towards his first run in a Supercar was great. I was very impressed with the way  Richie adapted to the gearbox and his general control of the car.
"The data traces were very good and we will be getting Richie back over here in the next few months for our next test day."
 The V8 Supercar test was slotted into a stopover on Stanaway's journey to Frankfurt where he will begin a three-race campaign in the German Formula Masters Series this weekend.
The 17-year-old will drive for Ma-Con Racing in the 1.6-litre VW-powered "wings and slicks" single-seater class.
Stanaway spent last weekend watching the DTM series and F3 EuroSeries at the Nurburgring and is testing this week at a private test track near Berlin ahead of his Formula Masters debut at the Nurburgring.
This weekend's racing is part of the support programme for the Nurburgring 1000km Le Mans Series endurance race.
Amrein bags points
 Katikati's Garth Amrein scored points in both motos of the FIM World Junior Motocross Champs at Taupo last weekend.
Riding in the New Zealand 85cc team, the Katikati College third former completed the world champs ranked 18th in the 35-strong field, the reward for 18th place finishes in both races aboard his Yamaha YZ80.
At age 13 Amrein was one of the youngest riders in action at the world champs and he said he was pleased to achieve point scoring finishes in the world champs.
The 85cc class for 13-15 year old riders saw Jay Wilson score Australia's first world title success in motocross with a win over Italian Samuele Bernadini.
The 125cc class for 15-18 year olds was won by US representative Eli Tomac from Australian Tye Simmonds and young Warkworth rider Hamish Dobbyn.
Dobbyn thrilled the big crowd at Digger McEwen MX Park by leading until half distance in the first moto and his second and fourth placings were rewarded with New Zealand's first podium finish at the world champs.
 A knee injury  sustained nine weeks ago prevented Tauranga Boys' College fourth former Logan Blackburn from riding at his best. He completed both 85cc races but failed to score points.
Blackburn is hoping to be back at full fitness to compete at the Australian Junior MX Nationals at Newry in Victoria at the end of next month.
Cooper falls behind
 Papamoa racer Cody Cooper had a difficult weekend at the ninth round of the AMA national motocross champs at Unadilla, New York last weekend.
The Unadilla track was the scene of Cooper's best performance last year and things looked promising again with sixth fastest time in qualifying.
In the first moto Cooper went down in the first turn, remounted and charged close to the top-10 only to suffer another crash and be credited with 17th.
The second moto again proved difficult  for Cooper with a rock lodged in his front brake caliper he was forced  to make a pitstop  and finished 30th. Cooper's combined moto finishes gave him 19th overall for the day.
Cooper is now ninth in the US championship with the next round at Budd's Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland this weekend.
Phillips unlucky 13th
 Mason Phillips (Mount Maunganui) completed the Canadian Motocross Nationals with a 13th place finish at Walton, Ontario at the weekend.
Phillips was a retirement only four laps into the opening moto and finished ninth in the second moto. He completed his third full season of racing in for the KTM team in Canada - and first in the MX1 class - with 11th place in the nine-round championship.
Maize motocross
 Local motocross enthusiasts have two chances for some maize paddock fun riding this weekend.
On Saturday, Mary Perkins and Encounter FMX are running a fundraiser event for Te Puke Baptside mission near Pukehina. The venue is on Highway 2, about 1.5km past the Pukehina turnoff.
On Sunday the Tauranga Motorcycle Club has a fun day at 224 Omanawa Rd. Both events have sign-on available from 8.45am with the track open for riding from 10am.