Both barrels for veteran rider

Two factors are motivating veteran Greytown motorcyclist Doug Fairbrother as he prepares for the Barry Sheene Memorial meet in Sydney on April 1 and 2.
Firstly, he is a huge admirer of Sheene, the Englishman who had 23 Grand Prix wins and a world championship in a marvellous career that lasted from 1970 to 1984.
Secondly, it will be the first time 60-year-old Fairbrother has raced in Australia, a remarkable statistic as his own successful international career has seen him race in places such as the Isle of Man, Italy, Holland, Wales and Ireland.
Competing under the Greytown Racing Team banner, Fairbrother will be in the pre-1989 class and will be aboard the Ducati 857 which he bought from a factory in Italy in 1988 and raced overseas before bringing it back to New Zealand in 1993.
For years the machine sat idle, but in more recent times it has had the benefit of expert "tinkering" work from Fairbrother and his support team.
A third placing in the pre-1989 class at Paeroa earlier this month indicated everything was tip-top for the trip across the Tasman.
"I think we have the bike where we want it," Fairbrother said yesterday.
"Everything seems to be in order and we've got the fingers crossed it will stay that way."
Fairbrother has few details about who his opposition will be in Sydney but with the meet attracting riders from many countries he is anticipating it will be of high quality.
"It will be serious stuff, everybody will be out there to win," he said.
There will be 11 Kiwi entrants in both the motorcycle and sidecar classes.