Australia won the first round of the Western Springs Speedway Midget Car International Test Series after a tight battle with the New Zealand Young Guns team in the opening round of the test series at Western Springs tonight.

The Aussies scored 44 points over the two-tests tonight, four more than the second-placed NZ Young guns on 40 points. The NZ Masters were only one point shy on 39 points.

The Americans trailed the two southern nations with the least points on the first night, 33, but the visitors were affected by non finishes in both test races.

Adam Clarke and Nathan Smee were the major contributors for the Aussies, earning 16 and 15 points respectively during the two races on the first night. New Zealander Carl Worboys was top points scorer of the night and his 20 points helped the Kiwi Young Guns team into second spot.

Worboys also drove superbly in the 30-lap World Midget Derby feature race to finish second to the returning Michael Pickens with Brad Mosen staying in front of BMRA champion Scott Hatton for third place.

It was Pickens’ first feature race win this season in , and a welcome return to form for the ace who is doing most of his racing across the Tasman this summer and leading the Australian Super Series.

“I’ve made a couple of mistakes here this season and have had to rethink my driving a little” said Pickens “tonight I let the car do the work, I knew I had plenty of speed and a little bit of patience paid off big time.”

New Zealand champ Carl Worboys fought hard for his second spot after a hard charging Mosen nearly took both cars out with a late passing attempt that saw Mosen nosedive into the back of Worboys in a desparate move to take second. Mosen had a superb drive through the field from 13th place on the start.

USA driver Scott Hatton, who had followed Mosen through the field from 12 place on the start grid, had to get off the gas to avoid Mosen but stayed ahead of hard charging Steven Currie who finished fifth just ahead of team mates Shaun Insley and Scott Buckley.

Michael Kendall had a nightmare early start to the night and started off the back of the feature start grid but stood on the gas pedal to finish 9th behind NZ Masters team member Graham Standring.

Although the Australians had proved tough to beat in the test series the first Australian home in the 30-lap feature was an unusually off form Adam Clarke in 10th spot just ahead of US driver Danny Stratton.

In the Sprint Car feature Allan Wakeling stormed away from pole to record a convincing win over Greg Pickerill, who moved from 3rd on the grid to eventually overtake Kerry Jones for second.

The TQ’s (Three-Quarter Midgets) feature was won by Shane O’Conner with Chris Hewitt second and Shane Turner third.

The New Zealanders, Australians and Americans have no rest day before the International 50 lapper at Western Springs Speedway this Saturday (21st January). Then there is a three day break before the drivers travel south to the Powerbuilt Speedway in Christchurch for rounds 3 and 4 of the series which take place on Thursday (January 26) and Saturday (January 28).

Results:

First Test – International Series

NZ Young Guns         25 points
USA                              20 points
Australia                      18 points
NZ Masters                15 points 

Second Test – International Series

Australia                      26 points
NZ Masters                 24 points
NZ Young Guns         15 points
USA                              13 points

Interim Standings – Six Test International Series

Australia                      44 points
NZ Young Guns         40 points
NZ Masters                39 points 
USA                             33 points

Top 10 finishers - International 30 Lap World Feature Race (the first of the series)

Finish              Name                          Country          

1.         Michael Pickens                    NZ
2.         Carl Worboys                        NZ                  
3.         Brad Mosen                           NZ                  
4.         Scott Hatton                           USA
5.         Steven Currie                        NZ
6.         Shaun Insley                          NZ
7.         Scott Buckley                         NZ                  
8.         Graham Standring                NZ                  
9.         Michael Kendall                     NZ                  
10.       Adam Clarke                         AUS

The top 10  – International Feature Race Series (Overall Standings)

Rank               Name                          Country           Points

1.         Michael Pickens                    NZ                   20
2.         Carl Worboys                        NZ                    19
3.         Brad Mosen                           NZ                   18
4.         Scott Hatton                           USA                 17
5.         Steven Currie                        NZ                   16
6.         Shaun Insley                         NZ                   15
7.         Scott Buckley                         NZ                   14
8.         Graham Standring                NZ                  13
9.         Michael Kendall                    NZ                  12
10.       Adam Clarke                         AUS                11

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