Australian Solo Championship at Gillman Saturday night

Gillman Media 10 January 2024

Action from the final of round 3 at Albury on Tuesday night — Ryan Douglas (yellow), Rohan Tungate (blue) and Max Fricke (red). Photo by Judy Mackay.

The best available riders in Australia head to Adelaide this weekend to race in the deciding round of the Australian 500cc Solo Speedway Championship at Gillman Speedway on Saturday night (13 January).

As well as competing for the 2024 national crown, the riders are also endeavouring to finish in the top four to earn a place in the Speedway Grand Prix (World Championship) qualifying rounds in Europe.

The line-up for this season’s CBS Bins fifth and final round boasts sixteen riders who competed in league racing in Britain or Poland, or both in some cases, during 2023, and includes defending champion Jack Holder (the current World number 4) and five previous Australian Champions – five-time winner and former World champion Chris Holder, three-time champion Max Fricke, Brady Kurtz, Sam Masters and Rohan Tungate.

Despite the presence of all these former champions there are other riders capable of winning the final round, in particular former World Under 21 Champion Jaimon Lidsey. The other riders are Ryan Douglas and Ben Cook, who finished second and third in round three at Albury, Josh Pickering, Zach Cook, Keynan Rew, James Pearson, Michael West and local favourites Fraser Bowes and Jake Turner.

The leading scorers after the first four rounds are Max Fricke and Rohan Tungate, closely followed by Jaimon Lidsey and Jack Holder.

The Championship rounds are staged over the SGP format of 20 heats, 2 Semi-Finals and a Final.

There is also a small support programme of 500cc, 250cc and 125cc Solos.

Change of opening time

The opening time has been advertised as 4pm but the gates will now open at 2pm as the riders have to attend a compulsory seminar before the meeting.

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) on Friday night.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 13 January 2024

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 2.00pm.

Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 5.30pm.

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Championship riders: Fraser Bowes (SA), Ben Cook (SA), Zach Cook (NSW), Ryan Douglas (Qld), Max Fricke (Vic), Chris Holder (NSW), Jack Holder (NSW), Brady Kurtz (NSW), Jaimon Lidsey (Vic), Sam Masters (NSW), James Pearson (NSW), Josh Pickering (Vic), Keynan Rew (Qld), Rohan Tungate (NSW), Jake Turner (SA), Michael West (NSW)

Championship Round 5 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]

Support riders:

500cc Solo Support (5 races): Sam Hagon (Eng), Anika Loftus (Qld), Matthew Marson (WA), Jack Morrison (Vic), Dayle Wood (Vic)

Under 16 250cc Solos (5 races): Ashley Jansen-Batchelor, Jordy Loftus (Qld), Harry Sadler, Darcey Timmis

Under 16 125cc Junior Solos (on infield track during main track grades): Cooper Antone (NSW), Kobi Canning, Owen Chapman, Ruby Chapman, Blake Hocking, Hayden Kuchel, Ryleigh McGregor, William Nicol, Hayden Pascoe, Blake Schlein (Vic), Riley Stout

Admission: Adults $30, Age Pension and Student Concession $25, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. 32 page souvenir programme $5-includes 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, large grassed viewing mounds, and terracing suitable for deck chairs.

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.

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 10 January: Maximum 30, minimum 21. Partly cloudy.

[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.