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Frank Arnerich and Aaron Anderson (39a) are the new Auckland Champions.

After a slow start in round 1 the pair strung together 3 impressive wins to join the three other top points scorers in the Grand Final. With 19 bikes and only four spots in the final it was always going to be tough.

After three rounds Nick Edmonds and Paul James (37a) were the only unbeaten team on 9 points, John Hannan and Jason Wallis (19v) were only 1 point back on 8. The two teams met in round four with Edmonds/James taking the win securing them a place in the final on a maximum of 12 points.

Second place in that race took Handbag and Sallys points tally up to 10 which turned out to be the cut-off for the final. That left two places open for the final with only two heats to go and four teams all equal on 7 points, all needing a win to proceed to the final. Arnerich/Anderson and Mike Zachan & Darrin Edmonds (97b) both on 7 points met in round 19 with the 97b bike getting off to the best start, however the 39a was able to make the pass and gain a spot in the final. Heat 20 saw Derek Ramsay & Tony Hislop (3nz) and Russell Stuart & Andy Parker (46b), also both on 7 points, battle it out for the last spot in the final with Ramsay/Hislop holding out last years runners-up for the win.

Lining up in the Karl Barritt Memorial Auckland Champs Grand Final were defending champs Nick Edmonds & Paul James (37a) on 1, Frank Arnerich & Aaron Anderson (39a) on 2, NZ #3 Derek Ramsay & Tony Hislop on 3 and North Island Champs John Hannan & Jason Wallis (19v) on 4. Edmonds/James got away to the best start, but a tight squeeze going into the first corner saw Arnerich/Anderson and Ramsay/Hislop tangle with the reds coming out for the 3nz pair who were left on the track. The 3nz was deemed cause of the stoppage and sent infield leaving 3 bikes to line up for the restart. The controversy continued when the 19v bike touched the tapes and was excluded leaving just two for the second re-run. However after a technical defect was found with the starting tapes Hannan/Wallis were put back in the race. Then after a long heated debate between officials and the Ramsay/Hislop pairing, the 3nz riding under protest also lined up. However it was Arnerich/Anderson who got the flyer off the start in take 3 of the final. Edmonds/James after wheel standing off the line got through to second coming out of the first corner but were unable to reel in the 39a pair who were setting a blistering pace out front. Hannan/Wallis (19v) came in 3rd from Ramsay/Hislop (3nz).

1. 39a Frank Arnerich/ Aaron Anderson 1333 10
2. 37a Nick Edmonds/ Paul James 3333 12
3. 19v John Hannan/ Jason Wallis 3232 10
4. 3nz Derek Ramsay/ Tony Hislop 2323 10
5. 97b Mike Zachan/ Darrin Edmonds 3132 9
6. 46b Russell Stuart/ Andy Parker 2322 9
7. 0a Kevin Moohan/ Glen Bagshaw 33X1 7
8. 21b Dave Black/ Pete Steigenberger 3103 7
9. 9g Deane Miller/ Calvin Fogarty 1213 7
10. 21k Glen Murray/ Jason Hercock 2212 7
11. 28a Greig Chiplin/ Dave Adam 1221 6
12. 11a Peter Lowe/ Shane Mason 0031 4
13. 66a Leon Patchett/ Owen Clark 1111 4
14. 18g Kent Gilbert/ Steven Frame 12X- 3
15. 88a Ron Reid/ Kevin Bailey 01X2 3
16. 5p Keiren Payne/ Sam Carter 2X– 2
17. 56g Clive Ireland/ Bredan Weber 2XX- 2
18. 84a Tim Plummer/ Wayne Hooper 0001 1
19. 48a Dean Longman/ Daryl Pearce 00X0 0

Heat 1: 37a, 3nz, 39a. Heat 2: 0a, 21k, 28a. Heat 3: 97b, 5p, 9g. Heat 4: 19v, 46b, 66a. Heat 5: 21b, 56g, 18g.

Heat 6: 46b, 28a, 88a. Heat 7: 39a, 19v,-. Heat 8: 0a, 18g, 66a. Heat 9: 3nz, 9g, 21b. Heat 10: 37a, 21k, 97b.

Heat 11: 11a, -,-. Heat 12: 97b, 3nz, 66a. Heat 13: 39a, 46b, 21k, Heat 14: 37a,-,-. Heat 15: 19v, 28a, 9g.

Heat 16: 9g, 21k, 66a. Heat 17: 21b, 88a, 84a. Heat 18: 37a, 19v, 11a. Heat 19: 39a, 97b, 28a. Heat 20: 3nz, 46b, 0a.

Final: 39a, 37a, 19v, 3nz