Duos more than side show

Local riders may struggle to peg back current champions John Blaymires and Charlie Bilby in the Pre-1982 classic sidecar class in Wanganui on Boxing Day.

Blaymires, from Te Puke, is a former two-time F1 sidecar national champ and this year he and his Wanganui swinger Bilby headed the Post Classic Sidecar points table on the New Zealand Classic Motorcycle Racing Register. Last year the pair won the Pre-82 class on the Cemetery Circuit with their 850cc MotoGuzzi.

Wanganui pairing Nutz Andrews and Shayne Perry finished third on the register this year and will again line up on Boxing day with their Triumph.

The pre-82 class at the Cemetery Circuit includes pre-76 and pre-63 machines and other Wanganui chances on Boxing Day include Robert Hood and Mark Thompson (920cc Norton), the Dennison brothers, Rick and Dave (Matchless G15), and Will Williamson and Julie Loveridge (Triumph T110) and Jason Rees and Bryce Rose (1007cc Norton) who finished first and second respectively on the Pre-63 register this year.

Danny Collins and Jono Abbott (Triumph T140) round out the Wanganui connection.

The Hood/Thompson pairing are a relatively new combination having only raced three times together finishing second on all three occasions. Hood teamed with former speedway sidecar star Richard Hercock to finish second to Blaymires and Bilby on Boxing Day last year.

"I've got a new motor and a relatively new swinger, but Mark and I are going okay. We're happy with the way the bike is performing, although we might struggle again behind Blaymires on Boxing Day.

Their bike is such a good package and handles the street circuit well, while we are still ironing out a few kinks," Hood said yesterday. The sidecars have been a popular event for the spectators and with 15 classics and 17 moderns (F1) taking to the grid on Boxing Day there will be no shortage of action.