Champion felt 'pretty good' on his bike

New Zealand speedway great Barry Briggs is not likely to seen on a motorcycle again during this weekend's Burt Munro Challenge.

The challenge's star attraction injured himself after tumbling off his bike during a demonstration performance at the long track on Wednesday evening. He put the pain behind him to get in two runs at the Bluff Hill Climb on Thursday, but an X-ray at Southland Hospital last night confirmed Briggs has a broken left ankle and heavy bruising on much of his body.

The 76-year-old, who won four world individual speedway titles between 1957 and 1966, was disappointed to have hurt himself at his first Burt Munro Challenge but acknowledged injuries were part and parcel of the sport. He knew he had been "bounced around" after the crash and said he could not walk on his ankle but rode the hill climb because it felt "pretty good" on the bike.

Invercargill has been an unhappy hunting ground for Briggs. He injured himself at Oreti Park Speedway during his competitive racing days. "I've been down here before and every time I hurt myself," he said. "I need to stay away from Invercargill."

Injuries aside, Briggs said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time at the challenge and said the event reminded him of a smaller version of Daytona Bike Week in Florida. But he said the challenge had an advantage over Daytona because it had a special theme other than just motorcycling – Burt Munro.

Briggs visited Munro in Southland in the early 1950s before Munro went to the United States to break the speed record, and still remembers visiting Munro's workshop and tagging along to Oreti Beach with him.

"I was really, really scared. He was going to offer me a ride (on his Indian motorcycle).

"I've seen a lot of things in my life and a lot of workshops similar to Burt, but they picked Burt out to make a film about. He was different. He achieved against all the odds. He didn't have a lot of money."

Briggs said Munro would have been smiling down if he knew the challenge had been set up in his honour, and the interest it attracted from not only New Zealand, but the world.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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