BSL Racing’s Michael Pickens has taken his fourth New Zealand Grand Prix title after a dominant display at Western Springs Speedway, the result also wrapping up the inaugural Triple Crown Midget series in Pickens’ favour. However it wasn’t all plain sailing for the BSL Racing team with both Scott Buckley and Graham Standring retiring in the feature race.
Buckley was the first of the BSL Racing cars to hit the track in the second heat. Starting from grid two, Buckley pressured Australia’s Nathan Smee the whole way but was unable to find a way past and had to settle for second in the #25 Iscar Spike/Esslinger.
In heat three, both Pickens and Standring came out onto the track, Standring having joined the team for the three round Triple Crown series. Pickens lined the #1NZ Auckland SsangYong Breka/Esslinger on grid five, while Standring had the #99 Lucas Oils Spike/Esslinger on grid seven. Pickens powered through to the lead early and never relinquished it, while Standring bought his car home in a strong fifth.
All three of the BSL Racing drivers lined up for the final heat race, Standring from grid four, Pickens off six and Buckley having to come from the rear. Pickens moved up to second early, however when Standring spun and Buckley was left with nowhere to go, both cars were forced to the infield. On the restart, Pickens moved into the lead and took his second heat win to be top qualifier for the feature.
After their second heat collision, both Buckley and Standring were forced into the B-main to qualify for the feature race, doing so comfortably with a one-two finish to put them on grids 17 and 18 respectively for the feature.
Starting from the front, Pickens held off an early challenge from American Jerry Coons Jr. before pulling out to a comfortable lead. Behind him, Standring was the big mover of the race as he worked his way up to eighth place from 18th early in the race, until a drivetrain failure meant Standring’s race was over. Then it was the turn of Buckley, who had also worked his way into the top ten, to strike trouble when one of the con-rod’s in his engine came out through the side of the block, forcing him into retirement as well.
But nothing could stop Pickens, the four-time New Zealand champion lapping the field as far up as sixth place to take a half lap victory. It was Pickens’ fourth NZ Midget Grand Prix victory, giving him a total now of 10 Speedway New Zealand titles (four NZ championships, four GP’s and two North Island titles.) The result also gave Pickens outright victory in the three-round Triple Crown series.
