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.

This weekend, the South Australian speedway scene roars to life as the Sidewinders U16 Speedway Club hosts the highly anticipated Mick Hargreaves Memorial, brought forward to Friday, December 15th. This will be followed by the National Karate South Australian Solo Championships presented by the Speedway Riders Association of SA on Saturday night, originally scheduled for last week but postponed due to weather conditions. With riders locked in for 2 big days of racing ahead, let’s take a look at just some of the action in store.

Mick Hargreaves Memorial: Showcasing Rising Speedway Stars

Friday’s Mick Hargreaves Memorial holds a special place in the hearts of the junior speedway community, paying tribute to a great man of the sport. It’s a night not to be missed, with gates opening at 6 pm and racing kicking off at 7:30 pm. This year’s event promises an electric showcase of skill and determination as young riders vie for victory on the track. The official lineup of riders for the 2023 Mick Hargreaves Memorial is all set and locked in, with participants eager to leave their mark on the special night.

Among the emerging talents of the night is Kobi Canning, fresh off winning the Motorcycling SA Rising Star award for 2023. He’ll be eager to showcase his skills against a stellar lineup of SA’s next-generation speedway talents, including fellow MSA Rising Star Nominee Blake Hocking and other incredibly fast riders like Blake Schlein. It’s shaping up to be a night full of on-track battles, kicking off the weekend’s excitement, with many riders set to compete again at Gillman on Saturday.

2023 Mick Hargreaves Rider Lineup:

National Karate South Australian Solo Championships: Thrills & Triumphs

Following stormy weather that forced a reschedule, the Gillman Speedway is poised to roar to life on Saturday night for the National Karate South Australian Solo Championships. Riders from across Australia, including international talents, are set to converge, vying for supremacy in a night filled with intensity and skill.

Riders to Watch: A Clash of Titans

The weekend promises fierce racing with a star-studded lineup. Victoria’s Justin Sedgmen, a podium regular, returns, hungry for a third Championship top spot after a narrow miss last year. Meanwhile, local hero Fraser Bowes, riding a wave of recent victories, eyes a podium finish, determined to make his mark after narrowly missing out last year.

Unfortunately, injuries have sidelined SA’s Teagan Pedler and Liam May, leaving two positions open in the fiercely contested Solos 500cc Championship Class.

Stay tuned as the Gillman Speedway prepares to host an array of exceptional riders, showcasing their skills and battling it out for the Championship title. Witness the intensity, drama, and sheer skill as these talented individuals push their limits for victory.

Stay updated with the complete press release, including the timetable and details about support categories, provided by the Speedway Riders Association of SA ahead of Saturday night. Find the information HERE.

2023 National Karate South Australian Solo Championships Rider Lineup:

Gillman Speedway was the place to be Saturday, 25th March, with the Speedway Riders Association of SA presenting the 2023 Paintmaster SA Sidecar Cup. Spectators were in for a huge final meeting of the season, with a stacked field of sidecars battling it out for both the main race and also one lap, $500 dash for cash. Adding this with solo racing, flat track solos and packed support categories, resulted in a massive night for one and all.

With cold hard cash on the line, riders were giving it their absolute all to take home the biscuits. After exceptionally tight lap times being thrown down, Shane Rudloff and Scott Morris took home the cash prize with a stellar time of 14.53. Well done lads!!

Nate Headland / Byron Mordaunt had a clean, fast night. After a second-place finish in the first race, they made up for time lost to power through the remaining heats with firsts, to get into the finals and take the top spot. Followed closely in second after a great night of racing, Shane Rudloff / Scott Morris held off Dean Hobbs / Daniel Low, who had to settle for third. After a night of fighting through the packs and qualifying through the Semifinals, Nathan Fleet and Eric Melton rounded out the podium in fourth place.

A full breakdown of night heats – HERE

Photos courtesy of Derick Thomas Photography. 

Rankings for the night:

$500 Dash for cash:

Shane Rudloff / Scott Morris 14.53

Paintmaster Sidecar Cup:

9th Adam Pascoe / Axel Brereton 0 Points.

Celebrations and mile stones of this magnitude certainly don’t come around every day and the conditions could not have been better last Saturday night to commemorate 100 years of Speedway Racing. This combined with the Sidecar Gold Cup provided a night of memories at Speedway Riders Association of SA.

Crowds flocking to Gillman Speedway to be part of history and celebration, was warmly welcomed by thrills, spills and of course an explosive firework show. All bringing together past, present and welcoming the future of Speedway racing.

The Sidecar Gold Cup was center stage for the night with Tyler Moon / Adam Lovell taking a well deserved, undefeated win. Support categories continued the flow of action with Solos taken out by Brayden McGuinness, Classic Solos won by Steven Graetz, Classic sidecars saw Chris Rae / Jamie Flood finish on top. Dynamic duo Chris Rae / Jamie Flood took out the British Sidecars with Evolution Sidecars Jim Irwin / Jeremy Sherwood finishing the night leading the pack. Young Ryleigh McGregor showed how Junior 125cc Solo’s are ridden coming in First and the 250cc sidecars had Lachlan Coppin and Haydon Kuchel bring home the chocolates for the night.

The night was captured perfectly by Terry Scriven Photography and Derick Thomas Photography, with all the photos below:

Terry Scriven Photography Part 1

Terry Scriven Photography Part 2

Derick Thomas Photography

Full results of the night :-

Gillman lit up Saturday 25th February at Gillman with sidecars taking to the track for the 2023 Safe Fire Electrical SA Speedway Sidecar Championship. Racing was tight as ever with the heat wave relief not cooling down the scorching action on the track. 

After a near perfect night with only a second place in the first heat, SA / Vic pair Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt kept their focus on the prize and held off advances in the final from QLD Tyler Moon and Adam Lovell to take out the night and the Championship. Trailing Moon/ Lovell with  just a gap of 0.573 seconds, SA’s  Nate Headland and Jaxon Rayner settled for third place after a strong night filled with firsts and one second place. Rounding out the podium in fourth place and making sure the home state held majority standings on it Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter finished only 0.823 off third place.

Derrick Thomas Photography caught all the shots of the night. See the album HERE. 

Full results standing below and check out the whole night break down HERE.  

9th Daniel Puddy / Byron Mordaunt 5 Points.

Flat Track

This coming Saturday night, February 18, will see the running of the 2023 Graham Baker Shield, one of the most iconic of the Sidewinders Club’s annual events – and 2023 seems to be a changing of the guard somewhat at this year’s event!

With no previous winners in the field, Harry Sadler & Ashley Jansen-Batchelor now on 250cc machines, and being joined there by the likes of Darcey Timmis and Jordan Hargreaves, it means one of the new generations of sideways stars will have their name engraved on the shield this year!

Slight favourite going into the meet will be Kobi Canning,  who is having a cracking summer so far, but look to the 2023 Silver Helmet winner, Blake Schlein to be right in the mix, along with Ryleigh McGregor, Seth Pascoe and Blake Hocking.

And with a total of 22 entries – there are a number of ‘future-future’ stars in the making to watch out for as well – in both, the Novice and Pee Wee classes!

$5.00 at the gate for adults, kids under 16 free entry! Programs $3.00
Sidewinders awesome canteen open all night
Gates open at 5.00pm, tapes up at 7.00pm – so get down to 8^th Street, Wingfield and get a spot on Graham Baker Hill and watch the speedway stars of the future battle for his Shield.

                                                                                             (Below: Kobi Canning)

Rider Line Up:

10 solo riders for the Graham Baker Shield and support classes. A total of 22 riders and 42 events. Its going to be a massive night!!

(Below: Blake Schlein)                                                                                                                                       (Below: Ruby Chapman)

         – Pics by Derick Thomas Photography –