Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1993
By Tracy Holmes

NZ Champion Mark Thorpe and Mitch Shirra both rode in the Commonwealth Final where they found themselves in a triple run-off for the last qualifying places. Shirra won it from Richard Knight and so Thorpe went as reserve.

The Overseas Final at Coventry was on June 13 with 9 places available to the World Championship Semi-Finals in July and August. And despite a winning start, Mitch Shirra crumbled. However, his 6 points were enough for one final shot. Also on 6 were British Champion Andy Smith, Jason Lyons and David Mullet. The 4 man run-off would decide the reserve berth.

But that's when it all finally ended. Smith won from Lyons and Mitch. And so, New Zealand's hopes of a representative at the World Final were gone.

In contrast, Ronnie Correy, Greg Hancock and Sam Ermolenko, all fell and were excluded from round one but all got it together and safely got through. All putting up three wins each.

Heat 1. SHIRRA, Hamill, Mullet, Smith.

8. Ermolenko, Screen, Louis, SHIRRA.

12. Correy, SHIRRA, Adams, Ott.

16. Hancock, Norris, SHIRRA, Knight.

20. Havelock, Dugard, Lyons, SHIRRA.

Run-off for 10th. Smith, Lyons, SHIRRA, Mullet.

Martin Dugard 13. Joe Screen 10. Ronnie Correy 10. Greg Hancock 9. Sam Ermolenko 9. Billy Hamill 9. Chris Louis 8. Leigh Adams 7. Gary Havelock 7. All qualify.

Andy Smith 6. Jason Lyons 6. MITCH SHIRRA 6. David Mullet 6. Bobby Ott 5. David Norris 5. Richard Knight 2.

Reserve Josh Larsen 1. MARK THORPE dnr.

1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989 - 1990 - 1991 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000/01

This article was first published on 15th March 2018