The Americans are coming . . . and the Brits . . . and the Kiwis - February 2016

February 26, 2016 by Gillman Media

The inaugural FIM Speedway Sidecar 1000cc World Cup on 26 March will see the top placed riders available from last season’s Australian Championship taking on riders from North America, Great Britain and New Zealand, and all the overseas riders have indicated they want to get some track time during the President’s Cup meeting on Gillman Speedway on 19 March.

America’s representatives, pictured above, will be the past two National Champions, Bryan Motis (2014) and Joe Jones (2015) and media interest has already been shown in Motis because amazingly he is able to compete at the highest level despite suffering spinal injuries in a dune buggy accident.

“It’s thrilling,” says Motis, who has been riding since 2005. “There’s excitement, a rush — just being able to ride. I used to go to the speedway when I was 12 years old. I loved the sidecars when I was young. When I saw these guys doing it again in ’04, I started hanging out with them and meeting them and thought I could do it too. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Motis’ bike has a sticker that reads: “Just pick me up and put me back on my bike.”

Jones is a legend of American Sidecar racing. He is a multiple 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.

In the meantime, there will be another major Sidecar event at the next Gillman meeting, on 5 March, with the Paintmaster SA Gillman Sidecar Championship including Kiwi Andrew Buchanan, Brit Mick Cave, and Aussies Darrin Treloar (NSW), Warren Monson (Vic) and Russell Mitchell (WA). Nominations for that meeting close on Sunday night.