Motorcycling SA

Ride, Race, Enjoy

News

CALLING ALL RACE SECRETARIES!

Filed Under: All disciplines, News

Motorcycling SA’s Officials’ Seminars for 2024 start at MSA Hall, 251 The Parade, Beulah Park, TOMORROW NIGHT, Wednesday, May 29th and the following night, Thursday, May 30th, with these first two dates being specifically for RACE SECRETARIES.

OVERVIEW

With the continued evolving of the sport, and more so now from paper reporting to online reporting for ALL events, it is now more imperative than ever for our officials to be upskilled to the latest requirements needed. It is also important that these new procedures are followed, specifically in regard all the ‘boxes having been ticked’ to ensure the sport continues to be covered by insurance, and that the sport can still run.

Race Secretaries are most definitely the priority this week, as they are the one person responsible for ensuring that all of the relevant ‘paperwork’ is up to date and ready for each event – and with ALL of the old style paperwork and reports forms that have been used now destined for the rubbish bin, it is more than important that all Race Secretaries get all of the new information and where they can find the most up to date forms so they can ensure that all events are reported correctly – and these seminars are for ALL level of official, from level 1 to Level 4.

BOOK NOW!

Officials can book into one of the seminars, which all start at 7.00pm sharp, by heading to www.motorcyclingsa.org.au/coaches-and-officials/officials and register for their preferred date.

** likewise, if you are planning to become an official in 2024, by all means attend a seminar, the information being shared at these seminars is now required learning, and will more than assist you in becoming an official.

Event Preview – 2024 SA Road Race Championships Round 3 Drops The Chequered Flag At Mallala

Filed Under: News, Road Racing, State Championship

Returning this weekend after a brief hiatus, the SA Road Race Championships, presented by Cafnix, are set to bring Mallala back to life as Round 3 takes to the grid. Marking the championship’s halfway point, class outright positions are still completely up for grabs as South Australia’s fastest road racers put it all on the line over two huge days of racing. Joining the SA Championship class lineup this weekend are the Steve Martin/Peter Kerr Cup and the Reece Bancell Cup.

Entry List:

As anticipation builds for the upcoming Mallala Superbike Championship weekend, all eyes are poised on Charles Holding, the current leader of the 2024 Superbike Championship, edging ahead by just a single point over his closest rival, Brad Raethel. Meanwhile, Michael Kemp remains a potent contender, trailing a mere 17 points behind Raethel. The burning question on everyone’s mind: will we witness a new Championship leader emerge from the thrilling battles of this weekend, or will Charles Holding continue to tighten his grip on the overall standings?

#8 Charles Holding. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

Turning our attention to the Supersport class, where the championship race remains tantalizingly open, the spotlight falls on current leader, Sam Pezzetta of Unitech Racing. With Charles Holding nipping at his heels, trailing by a mere 3 points, Pezzetta faces the challenge of maintaining his lead. With just 29 points separating the top contender from sixth place, the Mallala circuit is primed for a potential shakeup of the leaderboard. Keep a keen eye on contenders like Ryder Gilbert, newcomer Callum Morrison, and Mitch Radford, as they inject an extra dose of excitement into the competition.

Unitech Racing #51 Sam Pezzetta. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

In the realm of the Supersport 300 Championship, Ghage Plowman returns to defend his lead with a slender 18-point advantage over the burgeoning talent of Ryder Gilbert. Alongside Plowman, stalwarts of the SS300 class, including Jordan Simpson and Cooper Pitt, prepare to show off their skills on the track. Adding to the intrigue is the return of “Tornado” Tara Morrison, making a comeback to the SA Championship start grid after recovering from an injury sustained in SA’s Road Race Championship Round 1. With recent appearances in the ASBK Championships and the Pirelli Motul Victorian Road Racing Championship under her belt, Morrison appears poised to challenge the frontrunners and inject fresh energy into the competition.

#27 Ghage Plowman. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

Meanwhile, the junior riders return to showcase the future of SA road race talent. With current Championship leader Judd Plaisted absent from this round, Ethan Dellow seizes the opportunity to narrow the 27-point gap. However, the competitive landscape intensifies with the return of Seth Dellow and Ghage Plowman, promising a fierce battle for supremacy in round 3 at Mallala.

#144 Ethan Dellow. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

Where:

Heading back to a beloved series fixture, Mallala Motorsport Park is poised to offer the perfect setting for the unfolding drama of Round 3 of the Championship. Nestled just a brief drive from Adelaide along Port Wakefield Road, Mallala Motorsport Park boasts abundant on-site parking and unparalleled vantage points for witnessing South Australia’s speed demons tear up the tarmac. Bring along the whole family and pack into the car for a weekend brimming with excitement. Plus, there’s no admission fee for spectators!

Plan your trip – HERE. 

Spectator Info:

With practice kicking off Friday, the Mallala Canteen will be stocked for a full weekend so don’t worry about cooking lunch. There will be plenty of on-site convenient parking and great viewing of the weekend’s racing action across the spectator hill. 

Live Timing:

Head over to Computime to keep up to date with all the results and of course, live-timing action.

Socials:

Keep up to date on the Cafnix Facebook and Instagram pages for all the information as it happens. 

Preview – Gawler Motorcycle Centre 2024 SART Championship Round 2 Keyneton Gears Up For The Mike Connors Trial

Filed Under: News, Reliability, State Championship

As the SA Reliability Trials Championship continues its thrilling 2024 season, the Mike Connors Trial is set to return to Keyneton on Saturday, May 25th. Building on the excitement from the highly successful Phillip Haydon Trial, which saw registrations close early due to hitting maximum capacity, the Mike Connors Trial is looking to be a huge day for riders and spectators. 

Returning for 2024, Riders will start at Keyneton Oval before they head over the hills towards the Barossa. With the lack of rain coming into the event, competitors will be kept on their toes through dust and loam as they face off the 2-lap format, riding for about 6 – 8 hours. 

Entry List:

Feeling a bit of déjà vu? Entries hit capacity and closed early as 208 competitors gear up to take on the course for 2024. Following an exceptional round 1, the Reliability Trials have truly bounced back from the lull caused by COVID-19.

This weekend, all eyes will be on Nick Throup, the current 2024 Expert Solo Champion and winner of round 1. Nick aims to solidify his lead in the points standings, leveraging the absence of his closest competitor and brother, Tristan Throup, who secured the runner-up position in the first round but won’t be competing this weekend. Current third-place Expert Open rider Samuel Nenasheff is set to join the stacked field and challenge Nicholas. Coming off last weekend’s AORC wins, Rowan Pumpa will also be looking to close the Championship lead gap.

Nicholas Throup. Image by Jack Hogan.

The competition is set to heat up in the Sidecar field as the top three teams—Bradley Hunter/Bradley Manuel, Shane Schiller/Steven Doecke, and Shane Beckmann/Adam Brook—are all back for a round two rematch. After an unfortunate premature exit in round one, the 2023 Sidecar Champion team of Max Hutchesson and Sam Hutchesson will be eager to get their 2024 Championship back on track.

Brad Hunter & Brad Manuel. Image by SandPlow Photography.

Adding to all the excitement, round 1 class heavy hitters set to take on this weekend include Jake Henderson in ‘Clubman Open 2-Stroke,’ Noah Riebke in ‘Clubman Up to 405cc 4-Stroke,’ and Tyson Schumacher in ‘406cc & Over Four Stroke.’ Coming off her round 1 Ladies All Powers win, Chloe Barton is fired up to make it 2 for 2, but with exceptionally fast ladies joining her, this weekend could be anyone’s to take.

Check out the full entry list – HERE.

Where:

Returning to the Barossa District, Keyneton remains a fan favourite round for families of all ages to enjoy South Australia’s reliability trial talents. This year, the event will kick off at the Keyneton Oval, where all the main information and control start will be located. The Keyneton Progress Association will be on hand, offering a variety of hot food and cold drinks, while a coffee van ensures riders and spectators are energized for a full day of action.

Start planning your trip – HERE.

When:

Drop by the main control at Keyneton Oval early for all the excitement of the Round 2 Mike Connors Trial kick-off as the first rider is due out at 8:44 am.

First Rider Times and Distance:

Spectator Areas:

Once you’ve stocked up on food and drink at the main control point at Keyneton Oval, be sure to catch some of the action at the nearby spectator area. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the spectator maps, which will guide you to the best spots to experience all the excitement of the Mike Connors Trial.

Live Timing:

Provisional Live results will be published on my.raceresult.com.

To access live timing…

  • Go to sartchampionship.au and follow the “LIVE TIMING” links.
  • Scan the QR code in the program or at Main Control.
  • Live timing viewing will be available on screen at Main Control.

Final results published on the SART Championship Series website.

For Supp Regs, Rule Book, latest news & more, please visit sartchampionship.au

Results:

All the Mike Connors Trial final results will be published on the SART Championship Series website after the event. Results are provisional for 5 days after publication to allow competitors to review. After the 5 day period they are locked in and final.  For Supp Regs, latest news & more, please visit sartchampionship.com

Socials*

Stay updated with all the action from the Gawler Motorcycle Centre 2024 SA Reliability Trials Championship! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our Official Website. for the latest news, photos, and event updates. Don’t miss a moment of the excitement!

 

Lock In The Date:

2024 SAMX Championship Round 2 Results – Points Battle Rivalries Heat Up At Riverland

Filed Under: Motocross, News, SAMX Championship

Riders and motocross fans returned to the Riverland Junior Motorcycle Club last weekend for Round 2 of the SA Motocross Championships. Anticipation was high as early points leads started to form, with ever-changing front runners emerging. The Riverland stage was set for a huge throwdown. The hard work of the Riverland Junior Motorcycle Club’s volunteers was evident throughout the weekend, providing a great stage for all the championship battles to continue. We must extend our gratitude to Three 3s Apparel and Merch and Great Southern Security for their invaluable support in the 2024 SAMX Championships. Now, before diving into the weekend heat results, let’s take a quick look at the class podiums.

Full results of the weekend:

  • Saturday’s Juniors – HERE
  • Sunday’s Seniors – HERE

Both Eric McConnochie & KJM Media were trackside over the weekend, so make sure you reach out to either if you want to purchase those action shots.

Sunday 19 May

MX 1

With Round 1’s top three overall racers absent, 2024’s King of the Gulf winner and ProMX star Siegah Ward took control, winning the first two heats. Mitch Norris challenged early in the final heat, putting Siegah in second, but Siegah clinched the overall victory and took the championship lead. As Matt Clark and Seth Carpenter jousted back and forth across all three heats, they both ended up with 50 points, with Matt being awarded 3rd for the round after his 3rd place finish ahead of Seth in the final heat.

MX 2

Mitch Norris faced challenges in MX 2, with a heat 1 DNF. He made a strong comeback with a second place in heat 2 but dropped to 7th in heat 3. Noah Fergusson dominated with a clean sweep, maintaining his Championship lead from a flawless Round 1. Will Carpenter secured second place, followed by Wade Thompson in third.

Women All-Powers

Charli Cannon, the Round 1 overall winner, did not compete, leaving 2023 Champion Amy Bartsch to fend off Emma “Holeshot” Haylock. Bartsch won heat 1, but Haylock took heat 2. Bartsch reclaimed control with a heat 3 win, securing the overall victory. Jessica Bennett, aiming to improve her standings, finished third in heat 1 but a DNF in heat 2 ended her weekend, with Lexy Hayes taking over third place in heats 2 and 3.

Expert All Powers

Aaron Van Zetten, Round 1 winner, started strong with a third and first place finish in the first two heats. A chaotic heat 3 saw him drop to ninth, but he still secured third overall. Cody Loffler’s consistent performance earned him the top podium spot, with Travis Wells closely trailing by just one point.

150/250cc 13-U16Yrs

Noah Rochow moved to the Championship lead with a clean sweep of wins. Cambell Cadd and Kyle Little had a fierce battle, with Cambell taking second place for the weekend after winning the final heat.

Clubman

Ian Ellis displayed exceptional skill, with finishes of 2nd, 1st, and 2nd, securing first place for the round. Jayden Hank, despite winning the first heat, had to settle for the round second after finishing 4th and 5th in the remaining heats. Jordan Gabbitas rounded out the podium, edging out Cody Harrison by just one point.

Vets 35-44Yrs & Vets 45+

In the Vets 35-44 Years class, Warren Carroll achieved a clean sweep of wins, followed by Bradleigh Thompson in second and Craig Hepburn in third. In the Vets 45+ class, Charlie Hollis consistently won all heats, with Darren Avaeray in second and Anthony Slade rounding out the podium.

Saturday 18 May

100-125cc 13-U16Yrs

Jayke Hansen maintained his Championship lead with first place in two races and second in another. Joshua Whitehorn finished second overall, with Noah James taking third place after consistent finishes.

GREAT SOUTHERN SECURITY

150/250cc 12-U16Yrs GIRLS

Emily Lambert maintained her Championship lead with a complete clean sweep, ahead of Teagan Wilkin-Thom in second. Charlize Waldhuter secured third place in the final moto.

85/150cc Std&B/W 12-U16Yrs

Dylan Gromball and Declan Smart continued their Round 1 rivalry, each winning a heat. Dylan took the final race win by just 0.993 seconds, maintaining his Championship lead. Xavier Freeborn finished third after Mason White’s heat 2 crash.

GREAT SOUTHERN SECURITY

85cc 11-U16Yrs GIRLS

Lacey Thompson continued her Championship reign with a round win, followed by Maddi Bahnisch, who won the final heat. Matilda Ryan remains in the Championship chase with consistent second-place finishes.

85/150cc S/W 9-U12Yrs

Mason Ezergailia took the round win and overall Championship lead, finishing ahead of Riley Mullen. Bodhi Austin came in third after Brax Chittleborough couldn’t secure points in the final heat.

Photo by Eric McConnochie

65cc 10-12Yrs

Mason Ezergailis held onto the overall Championship lead with a Round 2 win, despite finishing 4th in the final heat. Riley Mullen took second place overall, narrowly ahead of Bodhi Austin.

65cc 7-9Yrs

Rory Walter secured the Round 2 victory with two second-place finishes and a final heat win, ahead of David Bamford. Bailey Thompson’s consistent performance earned him third place overall.

50cc 7-U9Yrs

The juniors showcased their growing skill set, with Carter Williamson taking a clean sweep of firsts across the heats.  Oliver Thredgold narrowly took second place overall with his 2,11,2 scorecard, ahead of Hudson Hitch in third for the round.

 

The 2024 SA Motocross Championship show is packing up for its next stop at the Limestone Coast in Robe over June 29-30, 2024. Stay updated on the SA Motocross socials for all updates and news.

2024 MSA NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 1ST 2025!

Filed Under: All disciplines, News

After much deliberation by the MSA Board of Directors, and in conjunction with the MSA Staff, the 2024 MSA Night of Champions, originally scheduled for Saturday December 7th 2024, has had a date change, and will now be held on Saturday, February 1st, 2025.

It was felt that by moving the event away from the mad rush that is December and the run into Christmas, along with several major events, like ASBK at The Bend now being run later in the year, MSA’s ‘Night of Nights’ would be able to receive the promotion and spotlight that it certainly deserves with a move to early February.

Now, with this move, it has more opened the night up to our local competitors who will be home from overseas for the summer, and the MSA staff are now tasked to put together an extended programme, due, in part, to the amazing results and efforts already being put on show throughout this year by, not only SA’s talented competitors, but also by the hard-working officials, coaches, administrators and volunteers, many of whom will be celebrated on the night in some way.

The MSA Office are now working hard to source a new, or different venue to the past 3 years, are keen to take the event back to a formal dress code, up from the semi-formal code of recent years, with a number of special guests and guest speakers to be invited to the evening, across all disciplines and even from outside the sport.

One thing that is unlikely to change, is that Club’s will be able to book a table of 10, for a 3 course meal for adults and 2 course meal for children, with the venue being sourced able to seat 250+ people.

The highlight of the evening MAY be another induction into the Motorcycling SA Hall of Fame, and quite possibly, the awarding of Life Membership to Motorcycling SA.

The question is though – who would be the person(s) most likely to join the 10 inductees already residing in the MSA Hall of Fame? Who will it be to join Jack Young, John Boulger, Murray Williams, Andy Caldecott, Jeremy Burgess, Kenny Blake, Bill Horsman, Trevor Diener & Philip Holmes, Gavin Porteous and David Basham in our most prestigious Hall?

For all of the details on how to nominate someone you feel is worthy for consideration, follow the link at the end of this press release to the full list of requirements and the process that is followed to induct someone into the MSA Hall of Fame.

Of course, another feature of the night will be the presenting of Motorcycling SA’s prestigious annual awards, and include,

  • The Frank Franklin Trophy, for an outstanding career serving the sport here in SA.
  • The 2024 Regional Volunteer Awards, recognising our most valuable officials, coaches, and volunteers.
  • The 2024 MSA Rising Star Award, for our most outstanding junior talent under 16 years of age!
  • The 2024 MSA Club of the Year Award, celebrating our Clubs and Promotors who make our sport happen!

And also, to be celebrated on the night,

  • Any, and all, Australian Championship recognitions
  • International Competition recognitions, following on from 2023’s record number!

Nominations for all the Awards are now OPEN, with Hall of Fame and Life Membership open 365 days, but to be considered for 2024, nominations for each award must be received by:

HALL OF FAME: 5.00pm Friday, September 20th, 2024.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP: 5.00pm Friday, September 20th, 2024.
FRANK FRANKLIN TROPHY: 5.00pm Friday, November 1st, 2024.
REGIONAL VOLUNTEER AWARDS: 5.00pm Friday, November 1st, 2024.
MSA RISING STAR AWARD: 5.00pm Tuesday, November 19th, 2024.

For the first time, ALL nominations will be able to be done online through a link on the MSA website, www.motorcyclingsa.org.au/about-us/history/ in mid-June, but, if you still feel that the ‘old style’ is better, then nomination forms and criteria can be downloaded, and emailed to events@motorcyclingsa.org.au, or printed off and then sent by post to: Motorcycling SA, 251 The Parade, Beulah Park, SA 5067 – and labled ‘Night of Champions’.

The MSA Board of Directors and the MSA Office staff look forward to seeing you all on the night, but if you have any questions or queries, call the MSA Office on (08) 8332 9000, Monday to Friday.

**The pre-booking of a table (of 10) can be made from July 1st 2024, by emailing events@motorcyclingsa.org.au and supplying a contact person (name, phone number & email) and the name of the Club/Promotor.

Preview – 2024 SAMX Championship Round 2 – Rivalries Set To Light Up At Riverland Junior Motorcycle Club

Filed Under: Motocross, News, SAMX Championship, State Championship

After an edge-of-the-seat Championship opener, this weekend sees the SA Motocross Championship heat up with on-track rivalries at Riverland Junior Motorcycle Club for round 2.

As the late entries deadline has just closed and the final countdown for gate drop is well underway, Round 2 promises to be an absolute treat for SA motocross fans. With 215 riders and a huge 260 bikes across the classes at Renmark, we are sure to see some new Championship front-runners.

Shoutout and thanks to our series sponsors, Three 3s Apparel and Merch, and Great Southern Security, as they continue their support of the South Australian Motocross Championship journey.

Entry List:

With the top 3 Championship points leaders in Pro MX1 not lining up this weekend, 2024’s King of the Gulf and current 4th-place holder, Siegah Ward, is looking to make his move and solidify his name as a frontrunner in the Championship. He will, of course, be joined by SAMX regulars Mitch Norris, Levi McManus, and the Carpenter Brothers, Seth and Mitch, all looking to secure those crucial Championship points.

Image by Damian Cravero

Continuing their round 1 showdown, 2023’s MX Women’s Champion Amy Bartsch is still in the Championship fight, trailing by just 2 points behind current second-place Emma Haylock. The front-runner, Charli, misses this round. Can she close that gap even further, or will we see a new senior women’s champion crowned?

Not to mention a stacked field of Experts and Clubmen featuring the current Expert Championship leader Aaron Van Zetton and Clubman Cody Harrison, both eager to continue their points lead. With over 20 riders in each field, this weekend will keep them on their toes with plenty of challengers emerging.

This weekend is all set to provide a perfect insight into the exceptional level of riding coming from our future stars in the sport, with over 170 junior riders taking to the track, including a stack of riders beginning their journey in the sport in the 50cc Demo (non-competitive) field.

Image by Eric McConnochie.

Determined to continue her round 1 streak of successes, Emily Lambert is back this weekend in the Great Southern Security 100cc to 150cc 2-stroke and 200cc to 250cc 4-stroke Girls class, with last year’s Champion Charlize Waldhuter looking for any chance to take over the overall lead.

With SAMX young gun regulars including current leaderboard talents like Jayke Hansen, Dylan Gromball, Lacey Thompson, Mason Ezergailis, Koby Smart, and Oliver Thredgold taking on SA and Australia’s top junior fields, it’s going to be an edge-of-the-seat showdown for points leads.

Where:

Situated just outside the picturesque Riverland region, and adjacent to Renmark, there’s no better excuse to make the trip down for the weekend to experience everything the region has to offer and witness SA’s best motocross talent continue their Championship rivalries.

Plan your trip HERE.

Spectator Information:

No need to worry about packing lunch if you prefer to travel light. With a fully stocked canteen offering hot food and cold drinks throughout the weekend, this event will be a one-stop shop for attendees of all ages to refuel between on-track action. Plus, with full facilities including showers and toilets on site, both fans and riders will be well taken care of throughout the event.

Track Map –

Time Schedule:

Saturday Practice and Race Order:

  

Sunday Practice and Race Order:

 

Live Timing:

Keep pace with every moment of the action with live timing updates via the  Mylaps Speedhive Page, or you can download the MYLAPS app via the App Store or Google Play.*

Socials*

Stay in the loop with everything going on in the 2024 SAMX Championship by following SA Motocross on Facebook and Motorcycling SA on Facebook and Instagram.