Australian Solo Championship at Gillman Friday night
Gillman Media 31 December 2024
Australia’s best available riders return to the Gillman Speedway in Adelaide this Friday night, 3 January, to race in the Australian 500cc Solo Speedway Championship CBS Bins Round 1.
The line-up includes the top eight from last season’s Championship series, who all competed in league racing in Britain or Poland during 2024, and includes five previous National Champions - defending champion Rohan Tungate, Jack Holder, Max Fricke, Brady Kurtz and Chris Holder.
As well as competing for the 2025 national crown, the riders are also endeavouring to finish in the top two to earn a place in the Speedway Grand Prix (World Championship) qualifying rounds in Europe.
Three of the riders - Jack Holder, Max Fricke and Brady Kurtz - have already been selected to contest the 2025 World Championship, and the qualifying rounds are to compete in the 2026 Championship.
With so many Grand Prix riders, and previous Australian Champions, there can be no clear-cut favourite to win the opening round on Friday night, but the top two in-form riders from last weekend were Jack Holder and Brady Kurtz. Holder was unbeaten in the International Speedway Masters at Gillman on Saturday night, while Kurtz almost matched that feat, dropping just one point on his way to victory in the Phil Crump Classic in Mildura.
Five-time national champion, and former World champion, Chris Holder, gave younger brother Jack his toughest race at Gillman and showed, after battling some severe injuries in recent years, he is still more than capable of winning another national championship.
The overall biggest challenger to both Jack Holder and Kurtz at the weekend, however, was former World Under 21 Champion Jaimon Lidsey, who only dropped three points across both meetings before finish fourth in the final at Gillman and second in Mildura. Lidsey finished fourth in last season’s championship, after a run-off with Jack Holder for third place, and only two weeks later was unbeaten in seven rides to win the FIM Oceania Championship at Gillman ahead of multiple world champion Tai Woffinden and Kurtz.
The most successful riders in the championship in recent seasons have been the defending champion Rohan Tungate, and Max Fricke. Tungate won the title in 2018 as well as last season, while Fricke won in 2019, 20 and 22 (with no title in 21). Last season they finished 1-2, with Fricke taking a lead into the final round only to be overhauled by Tungate who won by 3 points, with 70 points to Fricke’s 67.
The other riders from last season’s top eight competing are New South Wales riders Ben Cook and Josh Pickering, while Zach Cook, Keynan Rew, James Pearson and Michael West all finished in the top fourteen last season. Ben Cook reached the semi-final stage at Gillman last season, while Pickering and Rew have been finalists at Gillman in past championships.
Rounding out the sixteen riders are Justin Sedgmen, Mitchell Cluff, Mitchell McDiarmid and Harrison Ryan. Sedgmen is returning after he chose not to contest the full series last season and has been a five-time finalist in the Gillman rounds, while Cluff, who recently won the South Australian Championship at Gillman, Mitchell McDiarmid, the 16-year-old rising star from Western Australia, and 21-year-old Harrison Ryan (NSW) are making their first appearances in the national series.
The Championship rounds are being staged over the 2024 Grand Prix format of 20 heats, 2 Semi-Finals and a Final, with the first and second placegetters in the semi-finals contesting the final.
There is also a small support programme of 500cc and 250cc Solos.
Gates open at 3pm and racing starts at 7pm.
For those that can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv] for a cost of $30. Please note this is the only official livestreaming link, any others touted on facebook sites are scams and should be ignored.
Travelling interstate supporters following the series, can take in two nights of speedway with the Sidewinders Under 16 Junior Speedway club staging the 125cc state championship at their nearby track (at the end of Eighth Street, Wingfield) at 7.30pm on Thursday night.
UPDATE 1/1/25: Justin Sedgmen has had to pull out of the series. He suffered hand and knee injuries in England in July, and then another heavy crash when he made a return in the SA Championship. He has tried to keep riding but has decided he simply isn't fit enough for the rigours of an Australian Championship series. He has been replaced in the Gillman round by fellow Mildura rider Patrick Hamilton.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Friday, 3 January 2025
Venue: Gillman Speedway Stadium, 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.
Parking and entrance: Patrons can enter via gates at the western and eastern ends of the venue. There are free off-street parking areas near both gates.
Gates open: at 3 pm.
Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until 5.30 pm.
Practice: at 5.30pm
Racing starts: at 7 pm.
Championship Round 1 Sponsor: CBS Bins — a family owned and operated business which commenced in 1975 when Graham and Marion Baker started with the purchase of a model 610 Bobcat. As the years progressed they were joined by their sons Steven, Mark and Darren, and today CBS Bins has grown into one of South Australia’s leading waste and rubbish removal companies. The western end terracing at Gillman is named The Graham Baker Terrace in memory of Graham, and in recognition of the family’s long and valued support of Gillman Speedway. Website [www.cbsbins.com.au]
Competitors:
Australian 500cc Solo Championship riders (in alphabetical order): Mitch Cluff (NSW) . . Ben Cook (NSW) . . Zach Cook (NSW) . . Max Fricke (Vic) . . Patrick Hamilton (Vic) . . Chris Holder (NSW) . . Jack Holder (NSW) . . Brady Kurtz (NSW) . . Jaimon Lidsey (Vic) . . Mitchell McDiarmid (WA) . . James Pearson (NSW) . . Josh Pickering (NSW) . . Keynan Rew (Qld) . . Harrison Ryan (NSW) . . Justin Sedgmen (Vic) . . Rohan Tungate (NSW) . . Michael West (NSW). Series Reserve: Dayle Wood (Vic).
500cc Solo Support riders: Alex Adamson (NSW), Sam Hagon (Eng), Patrick Hamilton (Vic), Ashley Jansen-Batchelor (SA), Harry Sadler (SA)
Under 16 250cc Solo Support riders: Koby Canning (SA), Ruby Chapman (SA), Xavier Hawtin (Vic), Angus Hume (Vic), Nate Shortt (Vic)
Admission: Adults $30, Age Pension and Student Concession $25, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. 32 page souvenir programme, with championship history since 1926, $5-includes two chances to win $50 fuel vouchers. EFTPOS available at both entrances, the canteen, bar and souvenir shop.
Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only.
Livestreaming: This meeting will be livestreamed on [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv]. The cost is $30 Australian. Any other claimed links to livestreaming are scams and should be ignored.
Seating: Free grandstand seating, terracing suitable for deck chairs, and large grassed viewing mounds.
VIP Area: The Bob White VIP area is available to anyone who would like to treat their business colleagues, family or friends to the best view in the stadium. Enjoy the elevated view overlooking the track, either from inside the temperature controlled rooms, on the timber deck, or on the enclosed lawn area. The VIP area also has its own bar and toilet. Ring Ivan Golding on 0417 138 378 for more details.
Food and drink: Full bar and catering available. Food includes hot chips, hamburgers, chicken burgers, pies, pasties, sausage rolls, Chiko Rolls, dim sims, hot dogs, doughnuts, coffee, cold drinks, sweets. “Gillman has far and away the best speedway tucker” [Peter White’s Speedway World]
Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue.
Smoking, Vaping: by Government legislation, no smoking or vaping allowed at this venue.
Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop. See the “A Night At Gillman” tab.
Pets: No animals are allowed into the venue except assistance animals, eg guide dogs.
Weather Forecast as at 31 December: Maximum 35, minimum 15. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml]
Directions:
The best way to get to Gillman Speedway is off Hanson Road.
If you are coming from the eastern and southern suburbs, get on to Hanson road off Torrens Road or Grand Junction Road, travel north on Hanson road over the train line then take the first road on the left, which is Wilkins road.
From the northern suburbs, travel down the Port Adelaide expressway and take the Hanson Road exit. Once on Hanson Road, take the first exit on your right, this is Wilkins road.
From the western suburbs, Wilkins Road is the continuation of Bedford Street, north of Eastern Parade.
For interstate visitors flying into Adelaide and getting a hire car, Gillman is about 20kms, and 30 minutes’ drive (depending on traffic lights) from the airport.
The easiest and most direct way from the airport, if not going to your accommodation first is:
On leaving the airport, turn left onto Sir Donald Bradman Drive. Continue along Sir Donald Bradman Drive until you reach the end of the airport grounds and turn right onto Tapleys Hill Road. Keep going on Tapleys Hill Road until you can’t go any further. That’s Port Road. Turn left onto Port Road (you can only turn left). Continue down Port Road for about 1 km to the first intersection which is Grand Junction road and turn right. Go 700 metres along Grand Junction Road, over a bridge over a railway line. Stay in the left lane because at the bottom of the bridge you turn left into Gray Terrace. Go to the end of Gray Terrace and turn right onto Bedford Street. Keep going on that road until you get to the speedway. About 2km.
Accommodation: There is plenty of accommodation in Adelaide and suburbs, within 20-30 minutes of the Speedway, ranging from five star hotels to caravan parks and backpacker hostels.
Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378.