Tarrant knows title defence will be tough
Hawke's Bay superstock driver Randal Tarrant was the toast of the Speedway New Zealand scene last summer.
A late entrant into the Wanganui-hosted national championship, the lad from Central Hawke's Bay with a limited budget took on the big spenders from the big smoke and returned home with the national title. Tarrant, 27, knows things will be a little different when he tackles next weekend's Rotorua-hosted 157-car national championship with the 1NZ number ... he will be a marked man.
"I have to try and qualify first. Whatever happens from there will be a bonus," Tarrant said as he completed prep work on his car today.
"This is the biggest field ever for the championship so it will be the toughest one to qualify for," Tarrant explained.
He is one of 14 Hawke's Bay starters in the field and groups will be drawn tomorrow. Depending on how many Bay drivers qualify he expects they will be able to assist each other as required in the final race once the points situation is outlined.
Last summer Tarrant benefitted from assistance from fellow Hawkeye Jason Long and Wellington brothers Ethan and Keegan Levien.
"When you have mates from other regions it certainly makes things interesting," Tarrant explained.
He blew an engine at the last Meeanee meeting on December 12 and was happy with how the new replacement engine performed when he finished all three races at the December 19 meeting in Wellington. Earlier this season he was top on points going into the final heat of the Auckland-hosted North Island championship when he was rolled by Palmerston North's Scott Joblin.
"I won't forget about it," Tarrant replied when quizzed about possible pay back for Joblin in Rotorua.
The diesel mechanic for Vaughan Chote Motors in Waipukurau has always liked the Rotorua track and naturally hopes his good luck will continue there next weekend.
The next Meeanee meeting will be staged on Tuesday night. It will feature a round of the Mufflers NZ Ltd Saloon Speedweek presented by Valvoline, the Hawke's Bay sidecar championship and the Hawke's Bay solobike championship.
Hawke's Bay's multiple New Zealand champion Bradley Wilson-Dean will be one of nine starters in the solobike championship and it will be a surprise if he isn't on top of the podium at the end of the meeting.
Superstocks, stockcars and ministocks will provide the support class action. Racing begins at 7pm.
