Sidecar duo raring to go

SPECTACULAR: This wheel-stand drift into a corner sums up the hard-charging style of Gisborne sidecar combination Rob Miller (right) and Kerwin Arnaboldi. They were pictured at the Burt Munro Challenge in Invercargill in November. The New Zealand sidecar teams event is on this Saturday night at the Eastland Group Raceway, where the pair will be in action with their Gisborne teammates. Picture supplied

GISBORNE sidecar racers Rob Miller and his swinger Kerwin Arnaboldi prepared well last weekend at the Rosebank Track in Auckland with a win and four placings ahead of the New Zealand teams championship this weekend.

The Eastland Group Raceway hosts the teams event along with the Freestyle NZ Demon FMX event on Saturday night.

“We had some good battles at Rosebank at the weekend,” Miller (8G) said.

“We won the final race of the meeting and along the way had two seconds and two thirds, so it was a good workout.

“It was really good team-building for Kerwin and me,” he said.

Their success came at a cost, though, with Miller injured in Race 4.

“Our radiator hose blew and gave me a good burn on my left leg, but I was able to race the last race.

“All in all, it was a good day’s racing and the ideal build-up for the teams event here on Saturday night,” Miller said.

Five teams of three riders will compete in the championships, with combinations from Hawke’s Bay, Whanganui, Auckland and Gisborne, along with a wild-card team yet to be confirmed.

Hawke’s Bay will defend their New Zealand championship won at the Gisborne track last season.

“The Gisborne team will be Kerwin and me, Clive Ireland (56G) and his swinger Chris Symon, and Barry Irvine (22G) and Callum Innes,” Miller said.

“Barry and Callum are gating (starting) really well and they have picked up the pace.

“I’ve heard that Clive and Chris have also picked up the pace.

“So hopefully if Kerwin and I can keep going the way we have been, the Gisborne team should do well.”

Miller and Arnaboldi came home from the Burt Munro Challenge in Invercargill in November a bit disappointed with their performance.

“We were definitely on the pace but it just was not our day,” Miller said.

The event attracted the top 30 sidecar combinations from around New Zealand and the Gisborne pair were just a couple of points out of making the semifinals.

“It was long way to go for a good learning curve.

“We certainly look forward to a better showing this weekend.”