Gisborne Giants battle hard at Palmerston North speedway

The Gisborne Giants superstock car team finished fifth in a hard-fought New Zealand superstock teams event in Palmerston North at the weekend. Here, brothers Asher Rees (126G) and Ethan Rees (127G) cart the chequered flag round after one of their victories.

The Gisborne Giants superstock team had a tough time in the national teams championships in Palmerston North but fought hard to finish fifth out of 13 teams.

Robertson Prestige International Speedway was treated to two nights of hard-hitting action on Friday and Saturday.

The Giants were skittled by the Stratford Scrappers in their first race on Friday night and that set them back for the weekend.

Gisborne’s Josh Prentice (5G) led early until some expert blocking saw a Stratford driver take the lead.

The G team then lost Ethan Rees (127G), who was powered into by his teammate and father, Peter Rees (10G), after a huge hit on Rees senior in turn one.

The hit was so severe it dislodged Ethan Rees’ fuel tank.

The Giants landed big hits on everyone other than the leader over the remainder of the race but Stratford still crossed the line first.

Prentice was second with Peter Rees third, so the result was close, but in the Scrappers' favour, and it was extended when second-placed Prentice was disqualified.

The Giants then accounted for the Great Britain Lions 110-85 on points in race two Friday night, but it meant an uphill battle for them to get a shot at a podium on Saturday night.

They beat the Whanganui Warriors 125 to 70 in the first encounter that night, but it was not enough to go into a run-off for third and fourth.

Instead, the Giants were to meet the Auckland Allstars in the fifth and sixth run-off.

But Auckland declined to race and the Giants were handed fifth place.

Gisborne Speedway president Sam Hughes said: “It was a great spectacle to watch, but you need a bit of luck in speedway, and the Giants just didn’t have that bit of luck at the weekend. .

“As a club, we are still very proud of how they went.

“Now we look forward to the other superstock teams event in Auckland in April.”