News

Accelerating Futures: 2025 SA Junior Cup Expressions of Interest Now Open

November 6, 2024 Filed Under: News, Road Racing, SA Junior Cup

Motorcycling South Australia is calling for expressions of interest for the 2025 SA Junior Cup Series!

Since its inception in 2022, the SA Junior Cup series has been dedicated to fostering the next generation of aspiring professional road racers, guiding them toward state and international success. Many previous riders, including Rikki Henry and Archie Schmidt, have advanced from the series to achieve numerous successes in prestigious competitions such as the FIM Mini GP, Oceania Junior Cup, and Asia Talent Cup.

The SA Junior Cup offers up to 14 young riders, aged 11 to 15, a unique opportunity to enhance their skills in a supportive and inclusive environment. Open to participants from all MSA disciplines, this series serves as a direct pathway to the National Oceania Junior Cup Academy, helping to cultivate the Champions of tomorrow.

To register your interest, click here, or contact Motorcycling SA for more information at roadrace@motorcyclingsa.org.au or call (08) 8332 9000.

Photos thanks to Pit Lane Studio.

Rising to the Challenge: Cooper Sheidow’s Journey at the 2024 FIM ISDE

October 29, 2024 Filed Under: News

South Australia’s Cooper Sheidow recently completed his debut with Team Australia at the 2024 FIM International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) from October 14th to 19th. Competing alongside elite riders like Josh Strang, Jonte Reynolds, and Kyron Bacon in the prestigious World Trophy Challenge, the young South Australian poured everything into tackling the unique demands of the ISDE.

Despite an early day 1 crash that slowed his initial momentum, Cooper fought back, advancing 18 positions on Days 2 and 3. With his teammates keeping pace, Team Australia held onto 4th place against fierce competition from France, Spain, and defending Champions, the USA.

As the rain intensified, Day 3 tested the riders with a gruelling 106km loop, initially scheduled for Day 4. The team completed the loop twice, rounding out the day 17 minutes behind leaders France, with Spain and America in second and third.

Cooper continued to push through slick conditions on Days 4 and 5, finishing 54th and 62nd individually, as Team Australia held onto 4th place overall. The final day brought torrential rain and mud during the Day 6 motocross test, but the team locked in their 4th-place finish.

Reflecting on his ISDE experience, Cooper shared, “It’s been a dream of mine to race for Australia in this event…I never backed down and am happy to have finished. After six days, 29 special tests, and over 1300km, I moved from 123rd to 65th in the world. It’s not where I wanted to be, but I’m fired up to come back with better results.”

In other results, Team Australia’s Women’s World Trophy team took 2nd behind the USA, while the Junior World Trophy Team placed 4th behind Sweden, France, and the United States.

NEW ANNUAL AWARDS LAUNCHED – TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MSA NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS

October 15, 2024 Filed Under: News

Motorcycling SA is excited to launch five new awards, to be presented at the 2024 MSA Night of Champions. These new accolades will complement the existing awards and will bring some new excitement to MSA’s annual ‘Night of Nights’, being held at the Festival Function Centre at Findon on 1 February 2025.

The best part about these new awards is that the Motorcycling SA community get to nominate the finalists. The finalists from each discipline with the most nominations will be presented to the MSA Board who will make the final decision on who the winner will be.

Read more about our new awards below, with details on how to make a nomination:

EVENT OF THE YEAR

Nominations open Monday 9 September and close 30 September 2024

This award recognises an exceptional event that has provided positive engagement for our community and participants. The recipient (organisers) will have delivered a well-run event, that encompasses positive promotion of the sport and exceptional on-track action, along with engaging their local community and the greater participation among the motorcycling community.

Eligibility for this award is as follows:

All SA Championship status events, Open, Special, Major, or Club events run by an affiliated Club or a Promotor at a South Australian venue between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024.
Must be a competitive event.
Australian Championship & International events – that are run in their entirety by an MSA affiliated Club/Promotor will be eligible (ineligible events are Pro-MX, AORC or ASBK rounds, or the Senior Solo Speedway Championship round).

RIDERS OF THE YEAR

Nominations open Monday 9 September and close 30 November 2024

All SA Championship status events, Open, Special, Major, or Club events run by an affiliated Club or a Promotor at a South Australian venue between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024.
Must be a competitive event.
Australian Championship & International events – that are run in their entirety by an MSA affiliated Club/Promotor will be eligible (ineligible events are Pro-MX, AORC or ASBK rounds, or the Senior Solo Speedway Championship round).

RIDERS OF THE YEAR

Nominations open Monday 9 September and close 30 November 2024

These four awards recognise riders who consistently display, outstanding personal attributes within our motorcycling community, coupled with brilliant performances on track within their chosen discipline. The awards are given to both males and females in senior and junior classes.

Male Senior Rider of the Year
Female Senior Rider of the Year
Male Junior Rider of the Year
Female Junior Rider of the Year

The criteria for these awards are as follows:

To be deemed eligible for the above awards, the rider must be able to prove at least two (2) of the following criteria:

Reside in South Australia.
Hold a current MA licence in 2024.
If an international competitor, provide proof of a South Australian residential address.
Based on events ridden between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024.
Senior is classed as those aged 16 years and over as of 1 January 2024. Junior is classed as those aged 9 to 15 years as of 1 January 2024.

Nominations for all other MSA awards are currently open. Please take note of the closing dates for the nominations, as each differs to allow for the appropriate consideration and selection process. Please see below for the list of other awards along with their closing dates:

The Frank Franklin Trophy – Friday 1 November 2024

Regional Volunteer Awards – Friday 1 November 2024

MSA Rising Star Awards – Tuesday 19 November 2024

Click HERE to make a nomination for any of the awards listed above.

Finalists for the Frank Franklin Trophy, Regional Volunteer Awards, and MSA Rising Star Award will be announced in December, with the MSA Hall of Fame and the Life Member recipients being announced during the Night of Champions.

DECIDING THE RECIPIENTS

Once nominations have been received, the MSA staff will collate a shortlist of the nominations and provide recommendations to the MSA Board for their consideration. From the shortlist, the MSA Board will create a list of ‘finalists’ for each award category, with the ‘winners’ to be announced at the Night of Champions.

The final decision will be made by the MSA Board based on the information given to them. This decision will be FINAL and no discussion will be entered into.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday 1 November and will be available to purchase until Friday 17 January 2025.

NINE NEW COACHES TRAINED TO SUPPORT RIDERS IN THE SOUTH EAST!

October 14, 2024 Filed Under: Coaches, News

Andy Caldecott Park, home to the Keith & Districts MCC, hosted a Level 1 Coaches Course on October 12 & 13, with nine new coaches participating. This two-day course is recognized by AusSport and the Australian Institute of Sport.

Course Highlights:

Day 1: Focused on theory, covering Administration & Legal Responsibilities, the Role of the Coach, Coaching Sessions, Coaching in Action, and Skills and Equipment. Participants developed lesson plans for the practical sessions on the second day.
Day 2: Coaches worked in groups with riders of various ages and skill levels.

Of the nine coaches, seven belong to the Keith & Districts MCC, specializing in off-road riding, particularly enduro and motocross. The remaining two are from Mount Gambier MCC, focusing on road racing. Notably, two of the new coaches are women, doubling the number of accredited female coaches in South Australia.

Cornering practice and skill development in riding ruts.

Thanks to the new coaches for investing their time, and to the Keith & Districts MCC for being excellent hosts, providing their venue along with meals throughout the weekend. A shout-out also goes to the young participants, aged 5 to 14, who enjoyed being coached and learning new skills during the course.

Upcoming Courses: Motorcycling SA is excited to expand coaching opportunities and will offer two more Level 1 Coaches Courses in 2024:

November 2-3 in Port Lincoln
November 23-24 in the metro area.

For more details and enrollment information, visit: Motorcycling SA Coaches Page.

Australia Set for 2024 FIM International 6 Days of Enduro: Cooper Sheidow Leads South Australia’s Charge

October 11, 2024 Filed Under: News

In less than a week, Australia will compete alongside top enduro talents from over 30 nations at the 2024 FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) in Silleda, Spain from the 14th to 19th of October. Among the team is SA’s Cooper Sheidow ready to don the green and gold against the world’s elite.

Known as the ‘Olympics of Motorcycling’ the ISDE is a true test of endurance, as teams cover approximately 1300km as the difficulty ramps up each day, culminating in the traditional motocross test finale.

Cooper’s track record speaks volumes about his talent, including:

Claiming the E1 Championship in the 2024 Australian Off-Road Championship.
Finishing 4th outright and 2nd in class at the 2023 Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE).
Securing 6th outright in the 2023 Hattah Desert Race.
Taking 1st place in the SA Off Road Championship Pro Field.
Winning the 2023 Hardi 24 Hour on his first attempt, with an unprecedented 20-minute lead.

Cooper won’t be alone in his quest for success. He’ll be joined by a powerhouse lineup of Australian talent in the Senior World Trophy team, including Josh Strang, Jonte Reynolds, and Kyron Bacon. Adding to Australia’s strong push for ISDE success in 2024, the Junior World Trophy team will feature Korey McMahon, Angus Riordan, and William Dennett, while Jessica Gardiner, Tayla Jones, and Danielle McDonald will represent Australia in the Women’s World Trophy team.

With Australia claiming multiple previous Senior World Trophy victories and Cooper teaming up with proven champion Josh Strang, returning from his 2018 win, Team Australia is primed for a glorious return in 2024. As they finalize preparations, we wish them the best of luck!

To keep up to date with the 2024 ISDE action, follow Motorcycling Australia through their website, Facebook and Instagram.

Historic Wins and Podiums: SA’s Success at the 2024 GASGAS Australian Trial Championship

October 9, 2024 Filed Under: News, Trials

Last weekend, 15 of South Australia’s top trial talents took on the nation’s best at the 2024 GASGAS Australian Trial Championship in Ravenswood, near Bendigo—and our riders certainly made their mark! From crowning the first-ever South Australian Trial 1 Open Australian Champion to securing multiple podium finishes and several top-10 placings, 2024 has been a standout year for our SA contingent. Before diving into the full SA results, let’s highlight a few of the weekend’s standout moments.

Fresh from representing Australia at his seventh Trial des Nations (TdN) and competing against world-class riders in Europe, Connor Hogan returned to Australian soil in sensational form. Tackling the challenging Open Solo/Trial 1 class, Connor barely put a foot wrong over two days, finishing 25 points clear of NSW’s 9-time reigning, Kyle Middleton to be crowned the 2024 Trial 1 Australian Champion and Australian #1 for the first time. Reviewing his historic win, Connor said, “It’s taken a long time and a lot of hard work, but I finally managed to take the win.” He continued, “Congratulations to all the other riders in the field, in particular Kyle Middleton who I have idolised for many years and whose level has always been a goal to strive towards. Biggest thanks need to go to the Turners; without Paul and Harry Turner it would have been extremely difficult to do what I did overseas this year, not to mention all the guidance Harry provided on the bike. This one means a lot!”

*What a team! – Bill Mudge, Brenton Hogan, Tyler Hogan, Connor Hogan & Ella Peacock*

This monumental achievement places Connor among an elite group of South Australians, as only Kym Powell (1981) and Adrian Harry (2002/03) have previously reached the podium in the Trial 1 Australian Championship.

Several other South Australians joined Connor with Championship podium performances after the 2 huge days. Rob White claimed third place in the Veterans 55+ class, Hayden Eardley secured third in the Youth category, and Cadance Long achieved third in the Junior Girls 7 to Under 13 Championship. Special recognition goes to Aaron Long, who set aside his 2024 Championship campaign to support and mind his daughter, Cadance, as she earned her well-deserved podium finish.

Special mention and kudos to Lucinda Cowan and Ashley Barwick, who both stepped up to ride in the Open Women’s class, as there were no Open Junior Girls class featured over the weekend. Their determination to compete at this higher level demonstrates the resilience and talent emerging from our South Australian riders.

In the State Team Championship, the Team SA Wallabies, featuring Connor Hogan, Hayden Eardley, Kody Irrgang, and Lucinda Cowan, delivered a stellar performance, securing third place ahead of Queensland. Meanwhile, the Team SA Taipans—comprising Alisha Harry, Harry Petersen, Cadance Long, and Oliver Schultz—finished in a commendable 7th place. The Taipans were closely matched with Western Australia, narrowly missing out on sixth by just 8 points.

*Team SA Wallabies – Hayden Eardley, Lucinda Cowan, Connor Hogan & Kody Irrgang. Image by Brian Lang.*

*Team SA Taipans – Alisha Harry, Cadance Long, Oliver Schultz & Harry Petersen. Image by Brian Lang.*

With such a high level of trial expertise across all classes, our SA riders have made us incredibly proud. We are confident that many future Australian champions are in the making, ready to leave their mark in the coming years. A massive congratulations to all our South Aussie Trial 2024 Championship competitors!

Team SA – John Cowan, Cadance Long, Connor Hogan, Kody Irrgang, Harry Petersen, Isaac Schultz (reserve), Oliver Schultz, Alisha Harry, Lucinda Cowan, Ashley Barwick (reserve), Matt Petersen (Team Manager). Image by Brian Lang.

SA’s 2024 GASGAS Australian Trial Championship Results –