• Fifth NZGP title for Bay's BWD

Fifth NZGP title for Bay's BWD

Hawke's Bay solo bike rider Bradley Wilson-Dean captured his fifth consecutive New Zealand Grand Prix title at Invercargill's Oreti Park Speedway last night.

Wilson-Dean, 26, won all four of his heats and the winner-takes-all final in the nine-rider event. He was the only North Island rider in the field.

Canterbury's George Congreve and Andy Aldridge were second and third respectively and Invercargill's Alex Cunningham fourth. Wilson-Dean was impressed with the form of 22-year-old Congreve.

"George was hot on my heels in the final. It won't be long before he starts beating me in the odd race," Wilson-Dean said.

With this title Wilson-Dean took his tally of national championship titles to 11 - four national open titles, two national under-21 titles and the five Grand Prix titles.

He will chase his fifth consecutive national title in Christchurch on February 6. While happy with his unbeaten run last night he was equally delighted with a four-hour training school he conducted in Invercargill today.

"There's a great atmosphere with solo bikes down here and I enjoyed giving something back. There were 12 kids among those attending and I was gobsmacked by their talent.

"This is great for the future. I would struggle to name three young riders in the North Island with as much potential," Wilson-Dean explained.   

Wilson-Dean's fifth consecutive Grand Prix title is the continuation of an outstanding summer to date for Hawke's Bay Speedway Club members at national championship level. On Wednesday night Magpies rugby prop Jason Long finished second at the national superstock championship in Rotorua and in November Long's Hawkeyes teammate Hayden Hart finished third at the North Island championship in Auckland.

Meanwhile Hawke's Bay ministock drivers Bailey Smith, Jacob Buckrell and Liam Danielsen finished first, second and third respectively at last night's Manawatu championship in Palmerston North. Another Hawke's Bay ministock driver, Jeremy Browne, finished fifth from grid 10 in Whanganui's Ocean View 500 at the weekend.