Giants fit and ready for NZ champs

TITLE DEFENCE: The Gisborne Giants superstock team will be in action at Waikaraka Park Speedway in Auckland tonight to defend the national title they won there last year. Picture by John Sprague

Gisborne Giants superstock team will join the battle for the New Zealand championships in Palmerston North tomorrow and hopefully Sunday nights, and team leader Peter Rees believes they have a good shot at the title.

The Giants finished fifth in the Robertson Holden Speedway-hosted event last year, then went on to smash all before them in the other national event at Waikaraka Park in Auckland in early March.

The Palmerston North event has developed into one of the highlights on the New Zealand speedway scene.

The Giants team are Peter and Ethan Rees (10G and 127G), Gary Davis (31G), who are all from Palmerston North, Nick Vallance (45G) of Rotorua, and Jason Long (41G) of Hawke’s Bay.

Former 2NZ Long joined the team last month after a switch from the Hawkeyes superstock team.

“The team’s cars are all mechanically sound, and we’re all fit and ready to go,” Peter Rees said.

“So it’s fair to say we have as much chance as anybody.”

The event starts with qualifying tomorrow night. The Giants race against the Waikato Wanderers in their first heat and take on the Nelson Tigers in heat 2.

“We need to keep winning on the second night and that will be our aim,” Peter Rees said.

The inclusion of Long, who has been in the winning Hawkeyes team for the past two years, is a huge boost.

“He’s feared by other drivers because he’s a hard man, so he fits right into our team.”

Stratford driver Mark Cromarty is reserve for the Giants.

“We know the Giants are a team made up of drivers from outside the district, but thanks to Peter and his family, they race for Gisborne Speedway Club and Gisborne,” said Gisborne club president Grant MacGregor.

“As a club, we are very proud of that and we wish them all the best of luck this weekend.”

Gisborne’s speedway season continues on Saturday, February 10, with the saloon champ of champs meeting.