Grand Prix rider at Gillman Thursday night

Gillman Media 26 December 2023

The top six riders from the recent National Karate South Australian Solo Championship — Justin Sedgmen, Fraser Bowes, Jake Turner, Jack Morrison, Brayden McGuinness and Michael West — are all back to contest the Gillman Solo Championship in Adelaide on Thursday night (28 December).

However they will face a tough contest to match, or improve, their results in the state championship with the inclusion of three-time Australian Champion, and 2023 Speedway Grand Prix rider Max Fricke in the line-up.

Fricke is using the event to get track time at Gillman before the upcoming Australian and Oceania Championship meetings, both of which are qualifying rounds for the GP series.

Other additions to the line-up this week are English rider Sam Hagon, and former Gillman Champion Sam Martin.

Although he has been in retirement for many years Sam Martin is actually the most successful rider in the line-up in terms of the Gillman Championship as he is a former two-time winner. Justin Sedgmen and Jake Turner, with one win each, are the only other former winners in the line-up. Max Fricke has yet to win the title, with two third placings his best results.

Sedgmen and Brayden McGuinness have been the most consistent, both reaching the final four times. Sedgmen was runner-up (to Jaimon Lidsey) last season while McGuinness was runner-up to Dakota Ballantyne in 2019 and 2020.

Thursday night will be the first appearance of 19-year-old English rider Sam Hagon at Gillman, but he is not the first family member to ride in Adelaide — his grandfather, Alf Hagon, rode at Rowley Park Speedway as a member of a touring British Lions Test team, and finished fourth in the 1959 SA Championship behind Jack Young, Gerry Hussey and Roger Forsberg.

The Championship will be decided over 20 heats, a last chance semi-final and a final and the full line-up (in alphabetical order) is Fraser Bowes, Max Fricke (Vic), Sam Hagon (Eng), Steven Hutchinson (NT), Sam Martin, Brayden McGuinness, Jack Morrison (Vic), Riley Plum (Vic), Shaun Sampson, Justin Sedgmen (Vic), Roy Stout, Jake Turner, Michael West (NSW), Dayle Wood (Vic)

Support events will consist of an evenly matched line-up of Sidecars, plus Flat Track Solos, 250cc Junior Solos and 125cc Junior Solos.

In the Sidecars, Brian Silvy and Glen Zaworski are back after a five-ride maximum at the last meeting, but this week will be harder with Gillman number two Rick Stephens/Nick O’Brien (NSW/SA) in the line-up. Others are Thomas Adams/Jason Mordaunt, Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood, Kane Golding/Steven Hutchinson, Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low, Josh Pascoe/Greg Black and Darryll Woods/tba

The Flat Track Solos will be spearheaded by NSW rider Michael West, who is doubling up with his rides in the Solo Championship, Seane Chapman and David Footner.

For those that can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv] for a cost of $25. Please note this is the only official livestreaming link, any others touted on facebook sites are scams and should be ignored.

This is the last Gillman meeting before the final of the Australian Solo Championship on 13 January.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Thursday, 28 December 2023

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 4.00pm.

Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.15pm.

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Riders:

Solos Gillman 500cc Championship: Fraser Bowes, Max Fricke (Vic), Sam Hagon (Eng), Steven Hutchinson (NT), Sam Martin, Brayden McGuinness, Jack Morrison (Vic), Riley Plum (Vic), Shaun Sampson, Justin Sedgmen (Vic), Roy Stout, Jake Turner, Michael West (NSW), Dayle Wood (Vic)

Sidecars: Thomas Adams/Jason Mordaunt, Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood, Kane Golding/Steven Hutchinson, Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low, Josh Pascoe/Greg Black, Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, Rick Stephens/Nick O’Brien (NSW/SA), Darryll Woods/tba

Solos Flat Track: Richard Bunting, Seane Chapman, David Footner, Dale Knights, Troy Knights, Greg Laanekorb, Stuart McKenzie, Matt Paterson, Kristy Schultz, Simon Sweeney, Con Twist, Michael West (NSW), Adrian Zerna, Mingyu Zhao. Substitute: Riley Plum (Vic)-IN, replacing Simon Sweeney.

250cc Junior Solos: Ashley Jansen-Batchelor, Darcey Timmis

125cc Junior Solos: Kobi Canning, Owen Chapman, Ruby Chapman, Blake Hocking, Hayden Kuchel, William Nicol, Hayden Pascoe, Blake Schlein (Vic), Riley Stout

6pm pre-meeting Junior Races: 125cc Junior Solo Novices: Cooper Coats, Cooper Karpinski, Izabelle Murtagh, Axel Smith; 50cc Junior Solos: Hope Coats, Oliver Coats, Kolby Schultz; Pee Wee Junior Solos: Kolby Schultz

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. 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 $25 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 26 December: Maximum 27, minimum 15. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers (0 to1 mm).

[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.