Brothers help Travis keep clear of carnage

AFTER a slow start, Gisborne’s Travis Gooch picked up his first win of the speedway season at the Bay of Plenty streetstock champs.
Gooch, 21, finished first, second and sixth in three races to take first place overall with 54 points — three ahead of Napier’s Ewen Powell and four in front of his brother Brenden Gooch, 29.
“I blew a couple of diffs (differentials) in my first two meetings — here and in Huntly — then got a third in another meet,” Gooch said.
“So it was good to get in three good races, well maybe two, when I placed first and second in the first two races at the Bay.”
Gooch went into the third and final race with a five-point lead but knowing he would be targeted by his rivals.
With help from “big brother” Brenden and another brother, 24-year-old Sean, Travis “stayed relatively clear” to seal the win by finishing sixth.
“There was a bit of carnage and I took a few hits but did enough to come first overall.”
The Gooches were joined by David Hampton and Joe McMillan in a five-strong local assault.
“It’s everybody for themselves when we’re on the track until we need to work for each other . . . that’s when tactics come in,” Travis said.
Brenden Gooch was next best of the locals, coming third overall, with Hampton fourth.
“It’s a good build-up towards the New Zealand streetstock champs here in early January,” said Travis, who, along with Brenden, is a former North Island No. 3.
“The nationals here will be huge, with around 90 cars. We’ve got another two local meets before the nationals, which will be good to get in more racing.
“Bay of Plenty had only 14 cars but in the three years I’ve been racing streetstocks the quality of the cars has definitely got better, which is great for the sport.”