Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt v Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner part III

Gillman Media 19 February 2025

After two equally epic battles already this season, star duos Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt and Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner will clash for a third time at Gillman Speedway this Saturday night (22 February), this time racing in one of the premier events on the speedway calendar, the Safe Fire Electrical South Australian Sidecar Championship.

Earlier in the season Headland/Rayner led all the way in the final of the International Masters only to be beaten on the line by Plaisted/Pitt, and Plaisted/Pitt made the score 2-0 after another thrilling final between the two former Australian Champions in the $3000 Sidecar Spectacular two weeks later. On that occasion it was the opposite scenario with Plaisted/Pitt leading all the way and having to hold position despite several aggressive passing moves by Headland/Rayner, leaving the crowd cheering both teams as they raced to the line.

Although past history demands they will be the favourites, they can’t ignore the challenges of the other riders however, in particular current, and two-time, Queensland Champions Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell and New South Wales young guns Max Howse/Riley Commons, who finished third and fourth respectively in the Sidecar Spectacular.

Plaisted and Pitt are the current champions and if they can successfully defend their championship they will equal and break a host of records in the process.

Plaisted would be the first rider to win four in a row, and join Darrin Treloar as the most successful rider with 7 wins, while Pitt would become the most successful passenger, and Plaisted/Pitt together the most successful combination.

For this year’s championship Motorcycling South Australia has seeded twelve riders, with another eight riders to take part in time trials to decide the other four riders. All riders/passengers are listed below (in alphabetical order).

The gates will open at the normal time of 4pm, the time trials will start at 6pm, and the championship heats will start at 7pm.

Support events will be Flat Track Solos and 125cc Junior Solos.

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.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 22 February 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 4 pm.

Please not change of times as at 19 February.

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

Practice: 6.30pm

Qualifying starts: at 7 pm.

Racing starts: at 7.30 pm.

Competitors:

Sidecars — SA Championship seeded riders/passengers (12): Thomas Adams/Campbell Stafford, Stuart Firth/Jason Martin, Malcolm German/Cameron White, Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner, Max Howse/Riley Commons, Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell, Byron Mordaunt/Jarrad Katzorke, Josh Pascoe/Greg Black, Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt, Shane Rudloff /Damian Egan, Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy, Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski. Qualifying (8, fastest 4 qualify for the SA Championship): Nathan Fleet/Jason Mordaunt, Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood, Kane Golding/passenger tba, Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, Damien Niesche/Mitchell Spear, Adam Pascoe/Mark-John Papastamatis, William Walker/Liam Sherwood, Brandon Warke/Mitchell Firth.

Flat Track Solos: Dale Knights, Greg Laanekorb, Kristy Schultz, Con Twist

Juniors (on the infield track during the main track grades): 125cc Solos: Owen Chapman, Cooper Karpinski, Ryleigh McGregor, Jett Plaisted, Riley Stout. 250cc Sidecars: Tilo Schultz/Riley Edson.

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. Programme $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 $25 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 19 February: Maximum 38, minimum 22. Possible late shower. [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.