The Eagles Have Landed - March 2016

March 14, 2016 by Gillman Media

The American riders and passengers have arrived in Australia ready to compete in the FIM Speedway Sidecar World Cup, and the Oceania Championship, at Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway over the Easter weekend, and the accompanying photographs show they will be amongst the best presented teams competing.

Both bikes are decked out with the red, white and blue of the American flag, with the American Eagle on the front cowling, and carry the numbers 1 and 2 as the teams Joe Jones/Tom Summers and Bryan Motis/Cody Brant are the current USA 1 and 2.

36-year-old Jones is a legend of American Sidecar racing. He is an eight-times National Champion and has given literally thousands of hours to the sport, and the growth of the Sidecar division in America in recent times is in a large part down to his leadership and passion.

Australian fans have seen Jones in action before, as he raced in last season’s Oceania Championship, and he impressed everyone with his ability to quickly adapt to the Australian tracks which are almost double the size of his home track in America, the legendary Costa Mesa Speedway in California which is only 169 metres compared, for example, to Gillman’s 300 metres.

This will be Motis’ first appearance in Australia but he also comes with a good record in America, including victory in the 2014 National Championship – ahead of Jones. He was runner-up to Jones in 2013 and 2015.

Both riders, as well as riders from New Zealand and England, will be riding at Gillman this Saturday night (19 March) to prepare for the World Cup the following Saturday night.

Photos:  (above) The Americans’ bikes after they were cleared through Australian Customs today and (below) Cody Brant, Bryan Motis, Tom Summers and Joe Jones in matching kevlars.