Darcy Ward at Gillman Speedway for World Cup Fundraiser - August 2016

August 23, 2016 by Gillman Media

Darcy Ward will be part of a special meeting at Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway on Saturday night, 29 October, a week after the Australian Speedway Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The meeting will feature the best available Australian international riders in a special one night only appearance which will not only be a fantastic show, but a fund raiser for riders competing in the 2017 World Team Cup events.

Grand Prix stars Chris Holder and Jason Doyle, currently placed equal second and fourth respectively in the 2016 World Championship standings, have expressed their interest in riding but can’t fully commit until closer to the event.

British-based Australian Team Manager Mark Lemon has applauded the idea and said, “With the huge funding cuts to Motorcycling because of the Olympics, we have really struggled to fund all the lads racing in the Teams events this season, but fair play to them, they took it on their chins, dug deep and rode with their hearts for our country, reaching the final in both competitions, the World Cup and the Under 21 World Cup.

“The Speedway Riders Association of South Australia (Gillman Speedway promoters) chipped in a few dollars to help this year but when David Parker (Gillman Speedway Manager) made this fantastic offer to help out next season, we could not have been happier.

“We’ll be endeavouring to get as many of Australia’s top riders as we can, so it should be an Australian Championship standard line-up, and Darcy Ward will also be making an appearance along with 10 times National Champion Leigh Adams.

“Darcy was a part of our World Team Cup efforts this year and also wants to come to Gillman to say thanks to the fans for the fundraising they did last season for his rehabilitation, and to have Leigh (Adams) there, it will just top the night off.”

Dave Parker said, “Australia needs to keep our presence on the World stage and these guys did it tough this season, so if we can help in some way, we will. October 29 will be a special night with all these superstars of speedway and we are organising a social event at the track on the Friday night (28 Oct) so fans can meet the riders. It should be a blast, so keep this date, Saturday, 29 October, free.

Photo: 2016 Australian World Cup team, from the left, Max Fricke, Jason Doyle, Chris Holder, Brady Kurtz, Sam Masters, Mark Lemon, Darcy Ward. Photo by Ian Charles.