Motorcycling SA

Ride, Race, Enjoy

Featured

PROVISIONAL RESULTS – 2024 SA RELIABILITY TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 1 COMES DOWN TO THE LINE AT TARLEE

Filed Under: News, Reliability, State Championship

Last Saturday, May 4th, the town of Tarlee came alive with the buzz of reliability trials once again for 2024 as Championship Round 1, The Phillip Haydon Trial, proudly presented by the Gawler MCC, kicked off. Fans settled in for a full day of competition as a great turnout of past and new emerging reliability trial talent took on the dry, dusty conditions of the day and night 6-hour format, with a course fully designed to keep racers on their toes. 

Showing they haven’t slowed down in their time away from reliability trials competitions, brothers Nicholas and Tristan Throup took the early lead at the end of lap 1, with Nicholas gaining the slight 81-second edge over the tight competition of Tristan, Samuel Nenasheff, 2023 outright Champion Rowan Pumpa, and runner-up Clinton Voigt. Even with Tristan narrowing down an 11-second gap after lap 2, the hard work had already been done to crown Nicholas as the open solo and outright round 1 Championship winner. Rounding out third place, Samuel Nenasheff held off Rowan Pumpa in 4th by just a gap of 5 seconds.

It was a tough start to the Sidecars Round 1 Championship for defending champions Max Hutchesson & Sam Hutchesson when they blew a head gasket on the opening lap, putting a premature end to their Round 1 endeavours. This left the powerhouse duo of Bradley Hunter/Bradley Manuel to put in the work and get a leg up to take the Sidecar win ahead of Shane Schiller & Steven Doecke. The competition between second and third places would be fierce and come down to the final lap of the day to decide. With a gap of just 26 seconds at the halfway point after lap 1, Shane Schiller & Steven Doecke put in the hard yards to establish a 1:23 buffer between them.

Provisional open solo and sidecar results are below, with details and results by class available on the SART website HERE.

(Note competitors have until midnight on Sunday, May 12th to challenge or query any results).

Round 2 of the SA Reliability Trials Championship comes to the Barossa Valley on the 25th of May as Keyneton MCC proudly presents the Mike Connors Trial. As Championship leaders have made a firm stand, the competition is only going to heat up. 

Photo thanks to SandPlow Photography. Full Album – HERE.

Both Damian Cravero & JKR Photographs were also trackside to capture all the action of the weekend. Check out their pages for photographs and reach out to them to purchase moments of the weekend.

 

Open Solo

Pos No Name Class Lap 1 Lap 2 Stages Total Gap
1 2 Nicholas Throup A 3390 3415 16 6805 +0
2 3 Tristan Throup A 3471 3426 16 6897 +92
3 8 Samuel Nenasheff A 3472 3540 16 7012 +207
4 1 Rowan Pumpa A 3533 3484 16 7017 +212
5 7 Clinton Voigt A 3474 3553 16 7027 +222
6 5 Daniel Prior A 3608 3567 16 7175 +370
7 95 Shane Diener V 3437 3742 16 7179 +374
8 6 Benjamin Prior A 3582 3647 16 7229 +424
9 13 Haydon Ahrens A 3622 3642 16 7264 +459
10 14 Todd Muster A 3582 3705 16 7287 +482
11 127 Tyson Schumacher G 3555 3803 16 7358 +553
12 68 Noah Riebke F 3571 3808 16 7379 +574
13 114 Jake Henderson D 3568 3843 16 7411 +606
14 11 Ben Mayne A 3715 3731 16 7446 +641
15 15 Christopher Shields A 3697 3760 16 7457 +652
16 144 Rhys Jenke G 3606 3901 16 7507 +702
17 125 Liam McConnell D 3630 3919 16 7549 +744
18 123 Cody Schiller D 3609 3949 16 7558 +753
19 137 Mackenzie Camp G 3614 3986 16 7600 +795
20 139 Henry Blenkiron G 3675 3932 16 7607 +802
21 12 Tate Plummer A 3764 3848 16 7612 +807
22 10 Kyan Haydon A 3836 3819 16 7655 +850
23 54 Dwayne Rumsey F 3694 3982 16 7676 +871
24 131 Nathan Freeman G 3689 4020 16 7709 +904
25 129 Liam Sander G 3709 4015 16 7724 +919
26 58 Mert Saegenschnitter F 3727 4043 16 7770 +965
27 119 Todd Knight D 3722 4064 16 7786 +981
28 61 Zane Gerlach F 3788 4001 16 7789 +984
29 130 Nick Stevens G 3780 4021 16 7801 +996
30 55 Charley Kerin F 3771 4055 16 7826 +1021
31 112 Eadin Krieg D 3720 4120 16 7840 +1035
32 67 Matt Harkness F 3810 4117 16 7927 +1122
33 146 Shane Dearlove G 3660 4303 16 7963 +1158
34 78 Duane Woolford M 3759 4220 16 7979 +1174
35 69 Greg Slattery M 3861 4145 16 8006 +1201
36 121 Matthew Taylor D 3783 4223 16 8006 +1201
37 147 Tyson Clarke G 3847 4172 16 8019 +1214
38 140 Joshua Kleemann G 3790 4238 16 8028 +1223
39 111 Jack Wormald D 3876 4184 16 8060 +1255
40 97 Paul Grosser V 3897 4201 16 8098 +1293
41 57 Ryan Waldhuter F 3755 4356 16 8111 +1306
42 148 Tom Couzner G 3803 4322 16 8125 +1320
43 96 Simon Twartz V 3835 4300 16 8135 +1330
44 128 Jared Plush G 3872 4284 16 8156 +1351
45 64 Saxon Kearns F 3927 4244 16 8171 +1366
46 136 Louis Kerin G 3908 4311 16 8219 +1414
47 151 Bailey Caire G 3845 4384 16 8229 +1424
48 143 Chris Thomas G 3936 4295 16 8231 +1426
49 60 Max Cowham F 3978 4262 16 8240 +1435
50 63 Nicholas Schulz F 4032 4216 16 8248 +1443
51 117 William Moore D 3966 4303 16 8269 +1464
52 134 Robert Poole G 4007 4276 16 8283 +1478
53 100 Stephen Needham V 3932 4358 16 8290 +1485
54 98 Grant Stephen V 3928 4365 16 8293 +1488
55 107 Andrew Dillon V 3827 4468 16 8295 +1490
56 115 Simon Haydon D 3917 4419 16 8336 +1531
57 66 Keegan May F 4018 4328 16 8346 +1541
58 126 Tony Read G 4012 4359 16 8371 +1566
59 70 Brett Hall M 4059 4411 16 8470 +1665
60 122 Ryan Wood D 3918 4554 16 8472 +1667
61 150 Peter Mclaren G 4086 4453 16 8539 +1734
62 142 Cameron Caruso G 4087 4462 16 8549 +1744
63 124 Henry Sever D 4008 4596 16 8604 +1799
64 108 Shayne Bain V 3986 4636 16 8622 +1817
65 91 Hector Evans P1 4140 4587 16 8727 +1922
66 77 Dominic Burman M 4040 4730 16 8770 +1965
67 56 Riley Diener F 4203 4601 16 8804 +1999
68 101 Brett Farr V 4051 4779 16 8830 +2025
69 149 Josh Moyle G 4220 4634 16 8854 +2049
70 80 Nicholas Fetherstonhaugh M 4185 4679 16 8864 +2059
71 99 Justin French V 4268 4680 16 8948 +2143
72 153 Chey Dahlitz G 4393 4586 16 8979 +2174
73 109 Shane Absolom V 4223 4787 16 9010 +2205
74 83 Jeffrey Sparks M 4104 4916 16 9020 +2215
75 75 Stephen Tomlinson M 4298 4789 16 9087 +2282
76 155 Greg Greenham G 4019 5130 16 9149 +2344
77 105 Stuart Mackenzie V 4337 4829 16 9166 +2361
78 157 Dion McPherson G 4389 4846 16 9235 +2430
79 135 Samuel Russack G 4174 5083 16 9257 +2452
80 118 Mikel Nies D 4446 4875 16 9321 +2516
81 85 Chloe Barton L1 4394 5002 16 9396 +2591
82 90 Paul Collins P1 4480 4988 16 9468 +2663
83 62 Cooper Pitt F 4492 4983 16 9475 +2670
84 76 Steve Sparkes M 4349 5385 16 9734 +2929
85 92 Adam Toolan P1 4461 5301 16 9762 +2957
86 73 Allan Briscoe M 4674 5246 16 9920 +3115
87 145 Deklan Coppen G 4394 5572 16 9966 +3161
88 79 David DeLaine M 4612 5455 16 10067 +3262
89 88 Heidi Giersch L1 4822 5283 16 10105 +3300
90 74 Mark Taylor M 4665 5503 16 10168 +3363
91 84 Jonathan Moore M 4798 5389 16 10187 +3382
92 87 Natasha Sky L1 4995 5520 16 10515 +3710
93 156 Mitch Scott G 4846 5761 16 10607 +3802
94 103 Paul Schupelius V 5116 5702 16 10818 +4013
95 89 Kevin Steinert P1 4898 6254 16 11152 +4347
96 86 Jasmine McPherson L1 5446 6379 16 11825 +5020
97 82 Phillip Altschwager M 5510 6841 16 12351 +5546
98 106 Richard Prusa V 6966 5757 16 12723 +5918
99 81 Colin Jenke M 5559 7335 16 12894 +6089
DSQ 133 Daniel Fraser G 3528 5569 16 9097
DNF 93 Gregory Noel P1 924 0 1 924
DNF 9 Nathan Newell A 1801 0 3 1801
DNF 4 Toby Lewis A 2169 0 4 2169
DNF 102 Gavin Russack V 3176 0 4 3176
DNF 116 Jordan Ball D 3828 0 8 3828
DNF 141 Curtis Russack G 4418 0 8 4418
DNF 65 Charlie Semmler F 3627 1367 10 4994
DNF 132 Jamie Starick G 3882 1711 10 5593
DNF 59 Kurtis Riebke F 3601 2285 12 5886
DNF 120 Sam Walter D 3737 2449 11 6186
DNF 71 Lauren Freeman L1 6675 0 8 6675
DNF 138 Nick Lamont G 5045 2133 9 7178
DNF 72 Paul Rumsey M 5083 3599 12 8682
DNS 104 Matthew Harris V 0 0 0 0
DNS 113 William Tassell D 0 0 0 0
DNS 152 Wade Braun G 0 0 0 0
DNS 154 Jaimon Biggs G 0 0 0 0

 

Open Sidecar

Pos No Name Class Lap 1 Lap 2 Stages Total Gap
1 22 Bradley Hunter / Bradley Manuel C 3829 3968 16 7797 +0
2 19 Shane Schiller / Steven Doecke C 3849 4022 16 7871 +74
3 24 Shane Beckmann / Adam Brook C 3958 3996 16 7954 +157
4 27 Matthew Neldner / Aiden Wilksch C 3998 4255 16 8253 +456
5 21 Daniel Plowman / Bradley Brook C 4079 4180 16 8259 +462
6 26 Shaun Blenkiron / Nathan Saegenschnitter C 4037 4235 16 8272 +475
7 25 Mark Launer / Tyson Rohrlach C 4046 4247 16 8293 +496
8 35 Aaron Saegenschnitter / Brian Anthony K 3984 4340 16 8324 +527
9 32 Kristy Schultz / Ayla Plowman K 4261 4431 16 8692 +895
10 29 Gary Waldhuter / James Waldhuter J 4283 4455 16 8738 +941
11 30 Michael Kerin / Joshua Schutz K 4275 4493 16 8768 +971
12 34 David Pratt / Adrian Rohrlach J 4319 4516 16 8835 +1038
13 28 Darren Winter / Lachlan Greenhalgh C 4415 4604 16 9019 +1222
14 37 John Davies / Kym Menadue J 4543 5011 16 9554 +1757
15 36 Michael Fechner / Stuart Gerhardy J 4647 4915 16 9562 +1765
16 38 Barry Buckley / Todd Blackwell J 4605 5044 16 9649 +1852
17 33 James Rowe / Christopher Rowe K 4618 5043 16 9661 +1864
18 41 Shane Noble / Alison Fuller J 4575 5258 16 9833 +2036
19 42 Elouise Dohse / Tianna Dohse L2 4738 5165 16 9903 +2106
20 39 Colin Simpson / Matthew Schutz J 4881 5178 16 10059 +2262
21 40 Harley Nicholls / Blake Tucker K 5037 5035 16 10072 +2275
22 48 Alex Turner / Melissa Paunola P2 5299 5013 16 10312 +2515
23 44 Lara Wedge / Eliza Wedge L2 4826 5649 16 10475 +2678
24 47 Jason Whitfield / Jamie O’Brian P2 5259 5857 16 11116 +3319
25 43 Ethan Pickstock / Lisi Pickstock K 4859 6943 16 11802 +4005
DNF 18 Max Hutchesson / Sam Hutchesson C 3910 0 8 3910
DNF 20 Ross Watson / Cooper Winter C 3992 0 8 3992
DNF 23 Shaun Buckley / Samuel Weichert C 4159 911 9 5070
DNF 46 Bruce Heath / Samuel Nicholson J 5448 0 8 5448
DNF 31 Zak Smith / Brett Harding K 5786 0 8 5786
DNF 49 Jayden Coleby / Samuel Coleby K 4860 1012 9 5872
DNS 45 Antony Shanks / Duncan Greenhalgh J 0 0 0 0

Results – 2024 SA Road Racing Championships Round 2 Bring The Easter Treats To Mac Park

Filed Under: News, Road Racing, State Championship

Round 2 of the SA Road Race Championships, featuring the traditional Easter Cup and Oz Bears Championship opener, was run and won last weekend at Mac Park, presented by the Mount Gambier Motorcycle Club. Tarmac racing fans, young and old, made the traditional long weekend road trip to be trackside for a full weekend of action and were certainly not disappointed.

Saturday saw the weekend kick off with exceptionally tight racing, gearing crowds up for a huge weekend ahead, and despite the Sunday race program experiencing a delay due to heavy fog early on, crowds braved it out to witness the schedule getting back underway and the racing heating back up as last-minute points dashes finished the weekend. As the class results tightened up and new leaders emerged, let’s take a look at some of the weekend highlights before we get onto the round results –

Heating up the SA Superbike Championship class, Brad Raethel and Charles Holding kept crowds guessing who could take the round overall as they played musical chairs with podium first and second throughout the weekend races. Raethel ended up with the upper hand, taking both the Championship round overall win and Easter Cup ahead of Charles Holding.  He now trails Holding on the Championship table by just one point. 

Brad Raethel wheelie-ing to Easter Cup victory for 2024 – Photo by Pit Lane Studio.

We now have a new Supersport 600 Championship leader after holding his own in some pretty heated top 5 position battles. Unitech Racing’s Sam Pezzetta progressed from a 5th and 4th over his first 2 races to claiming his first SS600 race win in race 3, giving him the round win for the weekend, and now sits 3 points ahead of Ryder Gilbert.

Claiming his first SS600 Championship podium with 2nd in race 3, Championship newcomer & current 4th place overall, Callum Morrison showed that he will be one to challenge the leaderboard if he can keep this momentum firing.

Sam Pezzetta all smiles ready for the track – Photo by Pit Lane Studio.
Callum Morrison pushing hard to the line – Photo by Pit Lane Studio.

Declan Carberry showed off what a Honda 450 Motard can do, and after borrowing it for the weekend, he took it right to the top step of the Lightweight Easter Cup with a convincing 30-second win over 10 laps in front of Ghage Plowman. He also doubled up to secure second place in the Limited Championship class after a back-and-forth tit-for-tat battle with the round winner, Kev (Anthony) Stephens.

Declan Carberry shares the excitement of the Motard. Photo by Pit Lane Studio.

Increasing his Junior Championship lead with a clean sweep of wins, Judd Plaisted is showing he is a force to be reckoned with and will give plenty of senior riders a run for their money in the near future. Keeping himself busy over the weekend, he not only broke the Junior Class lap record of 1:24.750 set by Rikki Henry in 2022 with a flying 1:24.457 in race 1. He then went on to break his own record-setting the bar even lower with a 1:23.692 in the third Juniors race.

In the end, Judd charged on to claim both the Junior Easter Cup and the Junior Championship round 2 win ahead of brothers Seth and Ethan Dellow. All eyes are firmly set on Judd to see if he can continue his top-step run for a perfect 2024.

Judd Plaisted charging hard and not letting anyone stand in his way of that top step for the weekend – Photo by Pit Lane Studio.

Riders and teams can enjoy a well-earned short break before the Championship Round 3 moves to the Mallala Motorsport Park for the first time this year over the 24th to the 26th of May with CAFNIX. Entries are currently open through Ridernet with entries closing on the 15th of May and final late entries locking off on the 18th of May 2024.

The 2024 SA Road Race Championship round 2 class results are below and for a full breakdown of individual race results including the Easter Classic & Oz Bears Championship opener, head to Computime.

Superbike SA Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 47 Brad RAETHEL 25 20 – 25 70
2 8 Charles HOLDING 20 25 – 20 65
3 39a Dwayne TOSEN 18 18 – 18 54
4 64 Michael KEMP 16 17 – 17 50
5 54 Andrew TENISON-WOODS 17 16 – 16 49
6 79 Aaron RIGBY 12 14 – 14 40
7 88 Shane CAULFIELD 11 13 – 15 39
8 193 Kiri WELSH 9 11 – 12 32
9 101 Ron CRANE 15 15 – – 30
10 27 Charlie TOUMA 7 9 – 13 29
11 13 Robert SALVIA 8 10 – 11 29
12 19 Richard MARKHAM-BARRETT 10 12 – – 22
13 12a Steve TOZER 14 – – 14
14 268 John PRICE 13 – – 13

Supersport SA Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 51 Sam PEZZETTA 16 17 25 – 58
2 72 Ryder GILBERT 20 20 15 – 55
3 94 Mitchell RADFORD 18 18 18 – 54
4 55 Callum MORRISON 17 13 20 – 50
5 8a Charles HOLDING 25 25 DNF – 50
6 135 John FANNIN 15 15 17 – 47
7 176 Daniel SPENDLOVE 13 14 16 – 43
8 28 Tayla RELPH DNF 16 DNF – 16
9 171 Steve MATULIN 14 DNF DNS – 14

Supersport 300 SA Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 27 Ghage PLOWMAN 20 25 25 – 70
2 872 Nicholas PRIMMER 17 20 20 – 57
3 995 Lucas WARREN 18 18 18 – 54
4 323 Flynn JACOBS 16 16 17 – 49
5 72 Ryder GILBERT 25 14 8 – 47
6 75 Darren TROTTER 15 15 16 – 46
7 660 Ryder SWEET 13 17 15 – 45
8 160 Gordon HENSLEY 14 13 14 – 41
9 50 Stephen FUSS 11 12 13 – 36
10 141 Cooper PITT 12 11 12 – 35
11 18 Phoenix AGAR 9 10 11 – 30
12 69 Sean COTTERILL 8 8 10 – 26
13 155 Keith LAI 7 6 7 – 20
14 11b Alice POHLMANN 10 9 DNS – 19
15 7 Payton KEMP DNF 7 9 – 16

Juniors SA Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 11 Judd PLAISTED 25 25 25 – 75
2 340 Seth DELLOW 18 20 20 – 58
3 144 Ethan DELLOW 20 18 18 – 56
4 333 Xayvion AMOY 17 17 17 – 51
5 27 Ghage PLOWMAN 16 16 16 – 48
6 77 Charli STEPHENS 15 15 15 – 45

Limited SA Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 212 Kev (Anthony) STEPHENS 25 20 25 – 70
2 55 Declan CARBERRY 20 25 20 – 65
3 82 Andy PITMAN 18 18 18 – 54
4 28 Tayla RELPH 17 17 17 – 51
5 11a Daniel PARKER 15 16 14 – 45
6 872 Nicholas PRIMMER 14 15 13 – 42
7 323 Flynn JACOBS 12 13 12 – 37
8 75 Darren TROTTER 13 12 11 – 36
9 72 Ryder GILBERT 16 DNF 16 – 32
10 995 Lucas WARREN DNF 14 15 – 29
11 50 Stephen FUSS 10 10 8 – 28
12 160 Gordon HENSLEY 11 7 9 – 27
13 140 Cor JONGENEEL 5 11 7 – 23
14 11b Alice POHLMANN 9 8 5 – 22
15 69 Sean COTTERILL 8 9 4 – 21
16 18 Phoenix AGAR 6 6 6 – 18
17 141 Cooper PITT 4 DNF 10 – 14
18 7 Payton KEMP 7 DNF 3 – 10
19 155 Keith LAI 3 5 2 – 10

Pre-Modern 00 Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 62a Francis DILLON 25 25 25 25 100

Pre-Modern 08 Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 72 Ryder GILBERT 14 25 25 25 89
2 88 Marc BALESTRO 20 20 20 20 80
3 176 Daniel SPENDLOVE 17 16 18 18 69
4 55 Richard RAETHEL 16 15 17 17 65
5 150 Glen MARCHIORI 25 18 DNS DNS 43
6 171 Steve MATULIN 18 17 DNS DNS 35
7 77 Josh HARRIS 15 14 DNS DNS 29

Pre-Modern 13 Championship – Round 2

Pos No Name Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4  Total
1 54 Andrew TENISON-WOODS 25 25 25 25 100
2 70 Chris GILBEE 20 20 20 20 80

PRESS RELEASE: SAORC – LOOKING FORWARD TO 2024, AND BEYOND!

Filed Under: Enduro, News, SAORC

After a tough couple of years where the SA Off Road Championship (SAORC) has struggled to keep pace with the rest of the sport of motorcycling here in South Australia, with host clubs struggling to find venues big enough to suitably host the growth of the sport, 2024 is seeing a much-needed resurgence, with an injection of new faces stepping up to ensure the discipline of Enduro doesn’t get left behind.

In conjunction with the MSA Office, the charge for SAORC is now being led by the Throup brothers, Sean and Tristan, and they have landed very much on the front foot and are already breaking through barriers to ensure the Championship not only survives but starts to grow and get better and more viable as each season goes by.

So far they have been talking to a number of Clubs and land owners, both old and new, about a return to the proven SAORC formula, used for so many years of a rotating Championship, so Clubs aren’t expected to run rounds each year, so their members don’t burn out, and also to give their land owners and their properties time to recover after their use, which would ensure their use for many years to come.

The brothers have also been talking to potential sponsors, again, both old and new, to, not only support the Championship, but also the organising clubs to assist with the costs associated with running these events. Top this, they have a fantastic sponsorship package, that can be made available for any potential sponsors who may be keen to come onboard.

Of course, they can’t get it all done by themselves, so if you are keen to jump on the ‘Throup Train’, hit the lads up by email and let them know what you can offer!

SO – to 2024! 2024 sees the 2024 Championship jump from four (4) rounds in 2023, to a confirmed six (6) rounds in 2024, with the possibility of an extra two (2) rounds still to be confirmed, with 2 rounds also hosting rounds of the 2024 Australian Off Road Championship (AORC).

 

At present the 2024 SAORC calendar has shaped up like this:

Round 1 Saturday May 11 Black Hill Velocette MCC Sprint
Round 2 Sunday May 12 Black Hill Velocette MCC Sprint
Round 3 Saturday August 24 Kingston SE Green Triangle TBC *AORC
Round 4  Sunday August 25 Kingston SE Green Triangle TBC *AORC
Round 5 Saturday September 21 ACUSA Park Velocette MCC Sprint
Round 6 Sunday September 22 ACUSA Park Velocette MCC Sprint

There is also the possibility of an extra 2 rounds being added – with the weekend of June 22 & 23 slated as the preferred date – so 2 weeks after Finke and 2 weeks before Hattah – and note the change of this date from the original date released last December, which was in July.

SAORC is, at present, the second largest Championship series on the Motorcycling SA calendar, so the need for a united crew putting together an exciting Championship for all who enter is an absolute must.

 

The Track Awaits: Previewing the 2024 Web Plastics SA Road Race Championships Round 1 Opener

Filed Under: News, Road Racing

The first chapter of the 2024 Webb Plastics SA Road Racing Championship story is all set to start from the 15th to 17 of March at theShell V Power Motorsport Park. Proudly presented by CAFNIX, this will run right alongside the opening rounds of the Pirelli Motul Victorian Road Racing Championship & the Australian Sidecar Championships – all thanks to the fantastic work of both CAFNIX and Victoria’s Preston MCC.

Practice is set to kick off on Friday, followed by two scorching days of racing, as fans, young and old, converge on South Australia’s premier motorsport venue. If you’re thinking that anything else could rival SA & Vic’s fastest road racers taking to the fan-favourite circuit, along with 20 of the best sidecar competitors in Australia, you would be one hundred per cent wrong. 

Entry List

With the return of many familiar faces and several class changes for the new year, the Championship could see numerous new frontrunners emerge, with Round 1 offering an ideal start to their charge. Let’s take a closer look at some of the riders to watch out for…

Returning to the forefront of the SA Superbike Championship class, the reigning 2023 Champion, Michael Kemp, and runner-up, Charles Holding, are gearing up to defend their titles against the incoming challengers of Ty Lynch & Olly Simpson. Making their debut in the premier class for 2024, Lynch & Simpson are poised to leave their mark on the competition standings, adding to an already stacked field of competitors.

Michael Kemp #64 looking for that overall top spot again in 2024. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

Embracing a fresh challenge on a new bike, Samuel Pezzetta has made his debut in the SS600 class for the new year, quickly adapting to the demands of his new environment. However, he faces formidable opponents in the likes of 2023 SS600 Champion Charles Holding and the returning talent Olly Simpson. Their presence ensures that Pezzetta’s journey won’t be an easy one. Adding to the excitement of the fresh faces in the SS600 class, Ryder Gilbert will be taking on double duties this weekend, seizing the opportunity to compete in both the SS600 and SS300 classes.

Reigning SA SS600 Champion Charles Holding. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

Still riding high from her first ASBK podium, Tara Morrison, the SS300 runner-up of 2023, returns determined to showcase her skills against a lineup of returning talent, including Ryder Gilbert, Phoenix Agar, and Jordan Simpson. Mixing it with a field of 23 fearless riders, it could be anyone’s SS300 podium dream weekend.

Tara Morrison on the big first ASBK Podium.
#72 Ryder Gilbert is looking fast as ever coming into Rd 1. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

Of course, where would the sport be without the next generation of fearless road racers making their way through the ranks? This weekend will feature both Seth and Ethan Dellow, who secured second and third place respectively in the 2023 Championship, both eager to secure crucial early Championship points. However, they’ll face stiff competition from the talents of Xayvion Amoy, Judd Plaisted, and Ghage Plowman, all ready to throw their hats into the ring.

Seth Dellow #340 looking for those early Championship points. Image by Pit Lane Studio.
Ethan Dellow #144 is ready to bring the heat for the SA Championship. Image by Pit Lane Studio.

Adding to the excitement, fans will be treated to world-class sidecar racing with Round 2 of the Australian Sidecar Championships taking place over the two days. In the formidable 19-competitor field,  the 2023 Australian Sidecar Championship team of Jamie Crass & Lee Menzies will be looking at making the moves early on in the competition. However, don’t overlook the homegrown talent and previous Isle of Man racing expertise of Royce Rowe he joins the field with Leonard Rowe, fresh from testing the new bike at Mallala. 

Team Rowe during some February Mallala testing. Image by Pierre Sport Photography.

Further enriching the packed schedule, spectators can anticipate plenty of bar-to-bar racing as SA/VRRC Limited sport bikes, Naked Bike & Pre-Modern 00/08/13 all take their turn in the spotlight on the track this weekend.

See the full competitor list – HERE.

Where: 

What better venue to test racers and provide spectators with an unforgettable experience than the Shell V Power Motorsport Park?? Following the exhilarating conclusion of last year’s ASBK Championship, this 18-turn international layout circuit offers racers a plethora of challenges, from fast sweeping corners to blind turns, max acceleration straights, and demanding braking zones – ensuring spectators witness the full extent of Championship talent in action.

Access to the circuit is via the Dukes Highway, a convenient 25-minute drive along the freeway from Murray Bridge.

Spectator Info:

With the stacked lineup of racers ahead of the weekend, there is even more to get excited about… Spectator entry is absolutely FREE!!

The Bend offers numerous spectator vantage points trackside, including the premium Level 3 sky deck, providing fans with an eagle-eye view of the racing action as it unfolds. There’s no better place to witness all the thrills and spills of the Championship story as it kicks off.

Forget about packing lunch; all your food and drink needs are taken care of with the well-stocked facilities at The Bend, including the Apex Bar & Dining located on Level 1 in the heart of the main pit building and whilst you’re in the Welcome Centre, make sure you grab a program.

Now all that’s left is to start planning your vantage points, so be sure to check out the spectator map below for all the access details.

Timetable:

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. 

 

RUMBLINGS FROM THE GRAVE AT PORT PIRIE, OR RE-BUILDING THE LEGACY OF A BYGONE ERA!

Filed Under: News, Speedway

Motorcycling SA just spent the weekend of February 24 & 25 in the mid north of the state, running a level 1 Coaching Course at Crystal Brook, but on the Saturday evening, and with the blessing of Neil Burston, MSA took the chance to have a sneaky look at the works being done to an iconic piece of Motorcycling SA history, the Port Pirie Longtrack!

Entering the property (on foot) and walking past the Go-Kart circuit towards the track still circled by light towers long since having shone bright, relics of meetings past appear out of the saltbush, like the old ticket box, now without a roof, open to the elements and with saltbush growing inside and out, the old toilet block in the same state, as well as random machinery, having gone years untouched and now hard to see!

Getting closer, the track can now be seen, almost, now circled by the new rubber fence that has been mounted on the old posts, but before getting to see the track, you are confronted with the old ‘booth’ (bar) and canteen – and like the ticket box, they are both in a state of disrepair.

But – it’s certainly not hard to see the ghosts from the past, leaning on a fence, enjoying a brew while talking racing, during and at the end of the day, or seeing some excited kids race over to grab a pie with sauce or a snag in bread and then race back to the edge of the track to see the next race and not miss a second of the action.

The walk continued, past the original race control tower, already showing signs of re-birth and ready to oversee the action on the track when it returns, to the old pits, with its rusted fences barely keeping out the many rabbits that now call the place home.

Walking through the pits to the track gate, it’s not hard to hear the engines being warmed up and riders donning helmets for their next race around this iconic track, and when you walk through the gate and onto the track proper, you can see the amount of work that has been done and you can only applaud the drive that Neil and his team of volunteers have shown to revive this once great race track.

New surface and new fence, it makes you just feel the speed and the close racing that this track is going to produce once opened – and it’s only then how much you realise that the sport here in SA has, unknowingly, missed this venue, for nearly 30 odd years – and that once it opens, motorcycle racing fans are going the realise the same!

There is still a lot of work to go – but the pivotable part is now done from the walk around – the track and the safety wall – and it’s now just waiting to be raced on – and the signs are there that the back straight will be a place to watch, with dirt being bought in to raise the spectator areas above the new fence, making for prime viewing, plus, a brand new toilet block is now in the pit area.

So, whether its late in 2024, or perhaps early in 2025, when this icon of motorcycle sport in SA does once again ask for entries, and when the locals head deep into their burrows and the ghosts rise up to once again watch the action while sharing a brew, to use an old quote – “get your backside trackside”, rider, passenger or spectator, the trip to Port Pirie will be more than worth it!

For all of the need to know on how the rebirth of the Port Pirie Longtrack is coming along, head to their Facebook page to keep up to date: https://www.facebook.com/groups/248312968887547

The main gate at Port Pirie (left) and the view after passing to go-kart track (right) with the original ticket box looking forlorn to the left of the pic and the new fence hiding the track to the right.

With the new fence still hiding the track, the light towers stand waiting for the restarting of on track action!

The Booth (left) and Canteen, also stand waiting to serve patrons and competitors alike once again.

The original control tower and pit entrance (half rebuilt).

The pit entry on to the track – and the new surface – just waiting ………

The new surface – turn 3-4 for solos above and across the start/finish and into turn 1 for sidecars below.

The scrutineering area in the pits on left and looking through the canteen to the control tower on right.

EVENT PREVIEW – 2 PACKED SPEEDWAY NIGHTS AHEAD FOR THE U16 125CC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS & THE AUSTRALIAN SENIOR SOLO SPEEDEWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALE

Filed Under: News, Speedway

TWO BIKE TITLES SET FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Australia, Gillman, Latest News, South Australia, Speedway Solos
Words by Mark Neale
Speedway fans in Adelaide are in for two nights of exciting motorcycle Speedway action on January 12th and 13th with the running of the South Australian Under 16 125cc Solo Championship at Wingfield and the fifth round of the Australian 500cc Solo Championship at Gillman Speedway.
The Speak’n of Spokes, Shark Motorcycle Leathers sponsored Under 16 Title will be held at the Sidewinders track at Wingfield on Friday night, while the CBS Bins sponsored Senior Solo Championship is set down for Gillman on Saturday night.
Thirteen youngsters from South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales will do battle at the purpose-built Wingfield circuit for the SA Under 16 Championship over twenty heats, a semi-final and a final to decide the winner.
The top three point scorers after the heats qualify directly through to the final, while the fourth to seventh highest point scorers qualify for the semi with only the winner progressing through to the final.
The championship is one of the most open events for many years with no outright favourite, but Mildura’s Blake Schlein, who was third in the Victorian Title, has been in hot form at Wingfield this season winning four finals to date which include the Mick Hargreaves Memorial.
Hayden Pascoe from Windsor is the only rider to lower Schlein’s colours in the last meeting as well as winning the final at Gillman the previous week.
Hayden Pascoe. Image – Terrysproshots Photography.
Cooper Antone, from Albury on the New South Wales/Victorian border finished second in the SGP4 World Championship and was runner up in the recent Australian Title at Tamworth and won the Victorian state crown at Undera.
South Australia’s Kobi Canning from Elizabeth is currently the fourth ranked rider in the world and was third in the Australian Title.
Ryleigh McGregor from Renmark, who was fourth in the Victorian Title, is another who could surprise.
Kobi Canning. Image – Derick Thomas Photography.
Twelve year old Thomas More College high school student Ruby Chapman is the only female competitor in the field.
Ruby, like many of the other competitors, began riding a pee wee at the age of three will be joined in the lineup by her younger brother Owen who is 9 years old. Riley Stout, William Nicol, Hayden Kuchel, Connor Machin, Blake Hocking and Hayden Matthews are the remaining riders in the field.
Ruby Chapman. Image – Terrysproshots Photography.
Pee Wee’s, 50cc and Novices will be support events for the Title.
The following night sees the running of the fifth and final round of the 2024 Australian 500cc Solo Championship which is being held over four states in ten days. The five round series kicked off in North Brisbane then moved on to Kurri Kurri, Albury, Mildura and winds up at South Australia’s Gillman venue.
Each meeting is held between 16 riders over 20 heats with the top 8 point scorers competing in two semi-finals with the first two progressing through to the final.
Six previous Australian champions are amongst the sixteen rider lineup.
They include five times National Champion and former World Champ Chris Holder, triple Australian titleholder Max Fricke and former winners Rohan Tungate, Brady Kurtz, Sam Masters and defending titleholder Jack Holder. Ben Cook, Zach Cook, Ryan Douglas, James Pearson, Michael West, Keynan Rew, Josh Pickering former World Under 21 Champion Jaimon Lidsey, local star and crowd favourite Fraser Bowes and wild card Jake Turner make up the sixteen rider line up.
SA’s Fraser Bowes is looking to make his presence known throughout the night.
Fellow South Aussie Jake Turner is looking forward to mix it in the stacked field of talent. Image – Judy Mackay.
Most of the riders in the field started their careers off in the junior ranks and have progressed through to senior level. They are now professional riders who ride in three or more leagues in Europe.
South Australia’s Steven Baker started riding in juniors at Wingfield and went on to be the first Australian win the World European Under 21 Championship. His late father Graham was one of the people behind setting up the Wingfield circuit and his family are the major sponsors of the Australian Solo Championship, namely CBS BINS.
Support events for the title are Senior Solo, under 16 250cc Solos and 125cc Solos.
Timetable and Spectator Info Ahead Of All The Action:

 
Friday 12th January 2024 Saturday 13th January 2024
4:00 pm – Gates Open 2:00 pm – Gates open
5:00 to 5:30 pm – Solo Riders Practice (Pits open until 5 pm)
7:15 pm – Riders Parade  5:00 pm – Practice starts
7:30 pm – Racing Kicks off  7:00 pm – Racing kicks off
$5.00 Programs and FREE off-street parking $5.00 program and FREE off-street parking
Canteen serving hot food and cold drinks into the evening.

(EFTPOS available)

 Canteen, Bar and Souvenirs available to purchase

(EFTPOS available)
Follow Sidewinders U16 Speedway Club on Socials – HERE. Follow Speedway Riders Association of SA on Socials – HERE.
  Event Livestreaming available – HERE. 
  More info and rider list www.gillmanspeedway.com