Chris Holder chasing Aussie Championship number six starting at Gillman Saturday night - December 2014

December 30, 2014 by Gillman Media

2012 World Champion Chris Holder heads the list of riders who will contest this year’s Matt Jones Motorcycles Australian Solo Speedway Championship which begins at Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway this Saturday night (3 January).

Holder is the defending champion, and a five-times champion, so he naturally goes into this year’s series as the favourite, with most predicting Jason Doyle as his most serious threat.

Holder, however, admits it is not just his fellow Grand Prix rider who will test him.

He said: “On their day some of these guys can beat anyone. They feel comfortable being back home in Australia and it’s never a sure thing that you can beat them. You want to be going there with decent gear to be able to race with them properly and not be too below-par.”

In response, Doyle, who is chasing his first national crown, said: “I want to go for it after such a disappointing end to the 2014 series. If I can go one step better and become Australian champion, I’ll achieve a goal I haven’t reached in my career yet. It would be awesome.”

The disappointing end Doyle refers to is the final of last year’s championship. Doyle and Holder went into the meeting equal on points and Doyle led the final only to crash, handing the championship to Holder.

The line-up this year is a real mixture of experienced internationals like Chris Holder, Jason Doyle, Dakota North, Sam Masters, Justin Sedgmen, Rohan Tungate, Josh Grajczonek and Max Fricke, and young stars at the start of their careers which should result in some exciting and unpredictable racing.

In a good hit-out for the national championship, Doyle won the CBS Bins South Australian Solo Championship at Gillman on Sunday night, but there was nothing to choose between him and the other internationals who rode – Fricke, North, Sedgmen and Tungate. All five won races in times less than 1 second outside Leigh Adams’ track record, so they are certainly on the pace.

Tungate finished second to Doyle in the SA Championship, and won the Gillman round of last season’s Australian Championship; but Sedgmen beat both Doyle and Tungate in the heats on Sunday night; and then Fricke beat Sedgmen in their heat. North also beat Sedgmen when they met, in the fastest time of the time, and also beat Tungate in a later heat to show there really was nothing between the top group.

And Masters and Grajczonek will mix it with that group. Masters recently won the Victorian Championship – ahead of Sedgmen, Fricke and North – and Grajczonek finished third in the 2014 Australian Championship after an amazing race-off with Tungate.

The remaining riders – Jake Allen, Josh Coyne, Jack Fallon, Jack Holder, Tyson Nelson, Joey Ringwood, Kieran Sproule and Brodie Waters – may be hard-pushed to edge any of the international riders out of the semi-final and final places, but they are also very evenly matched and should produce some very close racing amongst themselves while also possibly taking some points from the more favoured riders.

As well as the glory of a national crown, this year’s championship winner will also receive a brand new JAWA 500cc speedway bike valued at $10,490 courtesy of Matt Jones Motorcycles. Matt has been the JAWA Speedway motorcycle distributor for Australia for over ten years now under the name of MJM Speedway Spares.

The Czech Republic based JAWA company was purchased by new owners in 2012 and since then, after a company restructure and re-branding, has been striving behind the scenes to bring the JAWA name back to its former glory days in the Speedway World, and Jones says “the 2015 Australian Championship has come at a great time to be able to promote that JAWA is back better than ever and that Matt Jones Motorcycles & MJM Speedway Spares are your one stop Motorcycle shop”.

There will be a limited number of support events for Sidecars, and 250cc Junior Solos.

Practice for the Championship riders will be on Friday night at 7.30pm, with 125cc Junior Solo racing on the infield track. Admission to the practice night is free and bar and canteen facilities will be available.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday night, 3 January 2015.

Venue: Gillman Speedway Stadium, 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.

Gates open: at 4 pm.

Racing starts: at 7.30 pm. Free spectator access to the pits for a close look at the bikes until approximately 6.30 pm.

Riders:

Matt Jones Motorcycles Australian Solo Championship (CBS Bins Round 1): Jake Allen (Qld), Josh Coyne (Qld), Jason Doyle (NSW), Jack Fallon (Vic), Max Fricke (Vic), Josh Grajczonek (Qld), Chris Holder (NSW), Jack Holder (NSW), Sam Masters (NSW), Tyson Nelson (Qld), Dakota North (Vic), Joey Ringwood (NSW), Justin Sedgmen (Vic), Kieran Sproule (NSW), Rohan Tungate (NSW), Brodie Waters (Vic). Reserves: Jordan Stewart (Vic), Brady Webb (WA).

Format: 16 riders x 20 heats plus a last chance semi-final and a final. The 4th to 7th highest scorers go into the semi-final; and the winner of the semi-final and the three highest scorers from the 20 heats go into the final.

Support Events:

Sidecars: Tim Bichard/Dale Knights, Jason Hardy/Adam Pascoe, Arron Hartwig/Teagan Hartwig, Mark Mitchell/Tom Golding, Rob Patterson/Brenton Kerr (Vic)

250cc Solo (Under 16): Dakota Ballantyne (SA), Aden Clare (NSW), Matt Marson (WA – replacing Jaimon Lidsey), Brayden McGuinness (SA), Jack Sylvia (Vic).

Australian Championship Series Sponsor: Matt Jones Motorcycles

Matt Jones Motorcycles, the Australian distributor for JAWA speedway bikes, is the series sponsor for the Championship. As part of the sponsorship, the winner of the Championship will take home a brand new 2015 JAWA Speedway bike valued at $10490.

Matt Jones said “Matt Jones Motorcycles and JAWA are really excited to be the naming rights sponsor. Three years ago JAWA was purchased by new owners who have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to redesign engines, and totally revamp the entire bike. We believe there are exciting times ahead for JAWA, and also Australian Speedway in 2015 with the Australian Grand Prix at Etihad Stadium in October.”

As well as being the JAWA Speedway motorcycle distributor in Australia, Matt Jones Motorcycles are also a leading Kawasaki Motorcycle dealer located at Melton in Victoria. To find out more about Matt Jones Motorcycles visit the website <www.mattjonesmotorcycles.com.au>

Australian Championship Round 1 Sponsor: CBS Bins

CBS Bins is a family owned and operated businesses which commenced in 1975 when Graham and Marion Baker started in business 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. Sadly Graham passed away in January 2013, but his family continue to support Gillman Speedway and Graham’s past support has been remembered by the western end terraced area being named The Graham Baker Terrace. Website [www.cbsbins.com.au]

Fireworks: There will be a major Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics fireworks display just before the final race of the Championship, presented by Sailun Tyres

Parking and entrance: Patrons can enter via two gates, the main entrance at the western end, and the competitors’ gate at the eastern end near the pits. There are parking areas near both gates. The eastern gate will close at 8.30pm.

Admission prices: Adults $30, Age Pension and Student Concession $25 (*), Children aged 12-15 $10, Under 12 FREE, Family Tickets $70. Parking free. Souvenir programme $5.

(*) Concession is limited Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession Card holders only. A family ticket covers 2 adults and children under 16.

Programme: 32 page souvenir programme with colour action and portrait photographs of the 16 championship riders (and the 3 reserves) and a history of the Championship from 1926 to 2014.

Weather Forecast: Maximum 41, minimum 29. Very hot. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/Adelaide]

Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop including the latest Blackchrome manufactured shirts and jackets. Eftpos available only in the souvenir shop. Event T-Shirts by Speedway Star Racewear (Wayne Meyer NSW) will also be available.

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. Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue. Also note no pets, other than guide dogs, are allowed into the venue.

Seating: There are large terraced and grassed viewing mounds and but no grandstand seating, so bring deck chairs or blankets if you do not want to sit on the grass.

VIP Area: The V.I.P. area is available to anyone who would like to treat their business colleagues, family or friends to the best view of motorcycle speedway action in Australia. Any number from one up to fifty spectators can enjoy the elevated view overlooking the track, either from inside the temperature controlled room, on the timber decks, or the enclosed lawn area, for a very reasonable price per person. A fully stocked bar and a variety of food to suit all budgets is available and you can book the whole room or part thereof. Ring Gillman Speedway Manager David Parker on 0403 364 658 or e-mail dave@gillmanspeedway.com for more details.

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 new 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, 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 airports grounds and turn right onto Tapleys Hill Road. Once you are on Tapleys Hill Road you can’t really go wrong. You only have to make three or four turns and most of those are simple. Just 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, you can’t go straight ahead or turn right, so pretty easy to this point. Continue down Port Road for about 1 km to the first intersection which is Grand Junction road and turn right. You only 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 (there is a slight detour along Gray Terrace at the moment – just follow the detour signs) and turn right (you can’t go straight ahead) onto Bedford Street. Just keep going on that Road until you get to the speedway. About 2 kms.

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. The Pavlos Motel on Main North Road, Pooraka; and the Mawson Lakes Hotel and Function Centre, Main Street, Mawson Lakes, are offering a discount to speedway fans but you must ring the venues direct and ask for the Gillman Speedway discount. Full details are on the Gillman website under the information/accommodation tab.

Contact for this meeting: Speedway Manager, David Parker 0403 364 658