Speedway Grand Prix – NZ Champ Gains Wildcard Entry

BUNYAN AWARDED
NEW ZEALAND WILD CARD
HOLDER TARGETING ROSTRUM FINISH

New Zealand champion Jason Bunyan will tackle world speedway’s elite once again at Western Springs on March 23 after being handed the 2013 Buckley Systems New Zealand FIM Speedway Grand Prix wild card.

Bunyan, who lined up in last season’s inaugural Grand Prix in Auckland, has lifted the NZ title eight times since 2004 and spends the European off-season racing in the land of the long white cloud. He collected his latest title at North Island track Rosebank last month with a 15-point maximum – putting him one short of Kiwi legend Larry Ross’ record haul of nine championships between 1976 and 1990.

The 33-year-old dons the No.16 race jacket for what will be the opening round of the 2013 SGP series.
Bunyan is joined in the meeting by NZ Championship runner-up Dale Finch and third-placed Sean Mason.
They will serve as track reserves and take to the shale if any of the 16 riders in the main field are forced to miss a race through injury, illness or other reasons. Mason wears the No.17 race jacket and Finch is No.18.

The riders were unveiled at a press conference in Auckland, attended by world champion Chris Holder.

The four-time Australian champion achieved his worst ever SGP score of four points at Western Springs last year, which was very understandable after his son Max was born in the UK in the early hours of the morning on the day of the meeting.

With no such distractions this time around, the Sydneysider can’t wait to cross the Tasman Sea and produce a stellar performance for what’s expected to be a partisan Kiwi and Aussie crowd.

He said: “I was pretty down after last year’s meeting here, but it all turned out great when I picked up the World Championship in the end.

“Loads of my family and friends followed me over to Auckland last season and I was bummed I couldn’t do better for them. So I’d love to make up for that this year and it will be huge buzz to race my first Grand Prix as world champion so close to home.

“I hope the fans get behind me like they did last year and I’ll be stoked if I can get on top of the rostrum to start the season.”

Springs Promotions principal Bill Buckley is looking forward to welcoming speedway’s biggest names back to Auckland. He said: “I’m delighted to be welcoming the riders, officials, mechanics and fans of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix series back to Western Springs again next month.

“So much work went into bringing World Championship speedway to New Zealand and last year’s event made it all worthwhile.

“The New Zealand SGP has truly put our country back on the world speedway map and showcased Western Springs and Auckland to fans all over the world.

“I hope even more people join us on March 23 for what I’m sure will be another special night.”

2013 Buckley Systems New Zealand FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Saturday 23 March, Western Springs, Auckland.
Engines start: 4pm
Tickets start at just $60 adults, $30.00 kids.
For further information on the world championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix series visit: www.speedwaygp.com or book via www.ticketmaster.co.nz
/Ends

BSI Speedway
BSI Speedway is an IMG company and rights holders of the FIM Speedway World Championships
FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) and FIM Speedway World Cup (SWC).
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