Speedway

It all came down to the wire with a thrilling display of skill last Saturday night, the 27th of January, at the 2024 FIM Oceania Speedway Championship at Gillman Speedway, with the Speedway Riders Association of SA proudly playing host. With an impressive crowd in attendance, perfect weather, and world-class speedway stars coming together, it was surely a night to remember.

Adding to the night’s anticipation saw an 11th-hour rider withdrawal of former Australian Champion Sam Masters, with Victorias Declan Knowles called up as the replacement.

It would be the talent of former U21 World Champion Jaimon Lidsey to charge home as the 2024 Oceania Speedway Championship winner after a run of first-place finishes in all his races, securing the Semi-final 1 victory and holding off 3-time World Champion Tai Woffinden for a hard-charging finals finish. Rounding out the final 4 in third place would be former Australian Championship Title holder Brady Kurtz, edging out Justin Sedgmen in fourth.

Coming into the night, the original winner of the 2024 FIM Oceania Championship was set to receive Australia’s final spot in the GP Qualifying rounds. However, Jaimon Lidsey had already secured his place through his top-four National Championship finish. This opened up an opportunity for the third-place holder, Brady Kurtz, to secure the chance to join the remainder of the Australian contingent at the  FIM SGP Challenge in Pardubice on October 4. The top 4 riders from Pardubice will then secure spots in the 2025 Speedway GP series.

On the South Australian front, Fraser Bowes put up a hard fight against the favourites, securing second place in his first and fifth heats. He also claimed victory in his heat 3, narrowly missing the semi-finals and finishing with an overall 7th place. Sam Martin gave it his all in his heats, concluding the event in 11th place overall. Unfortunately, Jake Turner’s night took a turn for the worse when he was involved in a high-speed crash with Victoria’s Jack Morrison, leading to the end of the race for both riders. Fortunately, neither rider suffered any broken bones, but both walked away feeling quite sore. Check out the full scoreboard of results below, including all the support categories of the night.

If you missed the night of action and want to catch up, Judy Mackay, Terrysproshots Photography, and Derick Thomas Photography were trackside to capture all the action. Find all the photo albums below:

Judy Mackay

Terrysproshots Photography

Derick Thomas Photography

2024 FIM Oceania Speedway Championships Full Results:

Support Class Results of the Night:

250cc Solo – Harry Sadler

Under 16 125cc Junior Solo Scratch Races:

This coming Saturday the 27th of January, Australia’s finest speedway riders will showcase their skills against World Championship talent at Speedway Riders Association of SA, Gillman, for the 2024 CBS Bins FIM Oceania Championships. In a historic move, the FIM Track Commission will be awarding an SGP qualifying spot to the first-placed Australian-licensed rider of the night.

This deserving rider will subsequently compete in one of the four qualifying rounds in Europe in 2024. The top four riders of those rounds will then face the ultimate test in the Speedway Grand Prix Challenge meeting, where the first three will secure spots on the 2025 SGP roster.

Returning to Gillman to join the stellar lineup of riders is the three-time World Champion, Tai Woffinden. He will face off against the former U21 World Champion, Jaimon Lidsey, and the formidable competition of England’s Sam Hagon, along with former Australian Champions Brady Kurtz and Sam Masters. Additionally, there’s a whole lineup of Australian talent on the roster, including South Australia’s Fraser Bowes and Jake Turner. With plenty of home track knowledge and Gillman expertise, both are key riders to keep an eye on through the night.

Originally, Victoria’s Max Fricke and NSW’s James Pearson were set to join the field, but unfortunately, both recently withdrew. They have been replaced in the program by WA’s Matthew Marson and Victoria’s Dayle Wood.

Support events for the 2024 Oceania Speedway Championships will see 500cc Solo Support Races, U16 250cc Solos, and U16 125cc Solos, all taking to the track throughout the night. 

2024 Bins FIM Oceania Championships Rider Lineup:

• Fraser Bowes (SA)
• Jake Turner (SA)
• Tai Woffinden (ENG)
• Sam Hagon (ENG)
• Sam Masters (NSW)
• Brady Kurtz (NSW)
• Justin Sedgmen (VIC)
• Zane Keleher (QLD)
• Jaimon Lidsey (VIC)
• Josh Pickering (NSW)
• Jack Morrison (VIC)
• Patrick Hamilton (VIC)
• James Pearson (NSW)
• Jacob Hook (QLD)
• Michael West (NSW)
• Matthew Marson (WA) *(Replacing Max Fricke)
• Dayle Wood (VIC) *(Replacing James Pearson)

Reserve

• Sam Martin (SA)
• Riley Plum (VIC)

All the Nights Key Info:

Over the 12th and 13th of January, South Australia witnessed the crowning of the next generation speedway stars and the current cream of the crop Australian Champions with the running of the 2024 South Australian Under 16 125cc Solo Championships at Sidewinders U16 Speedway Club and the 2024 Australian 500cc Solo Championships at Gillman the following night.

Friday kicked off with top-tier racing talents, including Mildura’s Blake Schlein and our very own world number 4, Kobi Canning, all set to light up the track. It was sure to be a cracking start to initiate the two days of action.

After a night of exceptionally tight racing, a massive congratulations go out to Cooper Antone, who has now etched his name as the South Australian Under 16 125cc state champion. He was closely followed by Kobi Canning in second place, Blake Schlein in third, and Hayden Pascoe rounding out the podium for the night.

Many of these young speedway talents would return the following night as support classes for the fifth and final round of the 2024 Australian 500cc Solo Championships.

Coming in with a 5-point advantage over Rohan Tungate, Max Frick was seen as the championship favourite; however, it wasn’t meant to be when Tungate found the edge, gaining the upper hand to claim the overall 2024 Australian Championship after securing the Round 5 second-place finish behind NSW’s Brady Kurtz, who took the round win.

Catch up on a full breakdown of Saturday night’s Round 5 Championship action – HERE.

2024 Australian 500cc Solo Championships Results (including support categories) – HERE.

All the action across both nights was captured perfectly by Judy Mackay, Terry Scriven Photography, Paris Charles, and Derick Thomas Photography. Find all the photos below –

Judy Mackay

Terrysproshots Photography

Paris Charles

Derick Thomas Photography

Final:               Kurtz (W 55.364), Tungate (R 56.742, Lidsey (B 56.892), J. Holder (Y 57.287)

Run Off              J. Holder (B), Lidsey (R) [run-off for overall third in the series]

After a weather-induced delay of the original date, Gillman Speedway witnessed an electrifying showdown at the National Karate South Australian Solo Championships. Riders from all corners of Australia converged on Gillman Speedway to see who would close out the year with the SA Championship title next to their name.

In the end, it was Victoria’s Justin Sedgmen who emerged as the star of the night, reclaiming the South Australian Solo Championship with a finals win after a clean sweep of firsts across all his races and leaving him with a perfect 15 points. SA’s Fraser Bowes put on a strong performance throughout the night, taking second place ahead of Jake Turner in third, after securing his final spot with a B final win. Victorias Jack Morrison rounded out the finals in fourth place after a strong performance throughout the night, avoiding B finals and lining straight up on the gate for the main event.

Taking the lead in the sidecar support category, Brian Silvy and Glen Zaworski had a fantastic night with nothing but firsts, despite fierce challenges from Josh Pascoe/Greg Black, Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood, and Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low. In the end, Team Pascoe/Black would take second place, with Fowler/Sherwood in third and Team Nathan Fleet/Cameron Diwell in fourth overall for the night.

Catch up on a full breakdown of the action from Saturday’s National Karate South Australian Solo Championships and support classes in the Gillman Speedway Press Release – HERE.

Find the full results breakdown across all the night’s races – HERE.

The night was captured perfectly by Judy Mackay, Terry Scriven Photography, and Derick Thomas Photography. Find all the photos below:

Judy Mackay

Terry Scriven Photography

Derick Thomas Photography

National Karate South Australian Solo Championship – 

Sidecar Scratch Races –

Flat Track Solo  Scratch Races –

Junior 125cc Scratch Races –

Pre-Meeting Demonstrations –

Junior 125cc Novice 

50cc

Pee Wee

Buckle up for a high-octane ride as the 2023 Australian Speedway Championships switch into high gear for an electrifying weekend in Tamworth, all set to unfold over the 17th and 18th of November. Nine of South Australia’s finest riders are en route, geared up to challenge the Nation’s top junior and senior speedway talents. With Sheer talent, no brakes and engines firing at full capacity, this weekend promises an adrenaline-fueled spectacle and a standout for all speedway enthusiasts.

This year, six talented riders, led by the exceptional Kobi Canning fresh from his SGP4 World Cup triumph, are set to take on Australia’s finest junior speedway racers, in the 2023 Australian U16 125 Individual Speedway Championship this coming Friday the 17th of Now. Joining Kobi to light up the track will be our team of formidable talents, including Ruby Chapman, Owen Chapman, Hayden Pascoe, Blake Hocking and Ryleigh McGregor, all in with a shot and vying for Championship glory.