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Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1996
By Tracy Holmes
NZ Champion Mark Thorpe was looking forward to lining up but sadly, injury cost him the place and NZ was left repless.
This is from the programme;
'As this programme went to press, Mark had to pull out of the Overseas Final after dislocating and breaking his wrist last week. There was no news of a replacement.'And so it was. Sadly, Mark had missed his last ever shot. On August 17, his career ended in a freak accident involving a track grader. Eventually returning to New Zealand, he would recover enough to ride again, but only for that Kiwi season. After which he retired from the sport altogether.
The Overseas Final was at Coventry on June 9 with the impressive American Chris Manchester taking the winners cheque.
Chris Manchester 14. Ryan Sullivan 12. Jason Lyons 12. Carl Stonehewer 11. Kelvin Tatum 10. Tony Langdon 9. Mike Faria 9. David Norris 8.
Ray Morton 7. Mick Poole 7. Ben Howe res 6. Simon Cross 5. David Walsh 4. Mark Lemon 4. Charlie Venegas 1. Bobby Hedden 1. MARK THORPE Q inj ns.
Reserve Dave Mullett dnr
This meeting was not recognized by the FIM because 13 of the starters refused to ride with the regulation 'solid block' tyres. Only Ryan Sullivan and Kelvin Tatum lined up at the Intercontinental Final.
It was no wonder the rest of the sporting world could not take Speedway seriously. Ah well never mind, soon be dinner time.
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This article was first published on 8th April 2018