South Australian Solo Championship at Gillman Speedway

by Gillman Media 14 January 2021

After a chaotic last couple of weeks, with the number of riders and the format uncertain until Wednesday night because of the Covid-19 border closures, all roads lead to Gillman Speedway this Saturday night for the 74th running of the South Australian Solo Championship.

Despite the championship’s long history, only one former winner, Merbein’s Justin Sedgmen, comes to the tapes on Saturday night, but he has been in top form this season so may well make it win number two.

He’ll face strong opposition, however, particularly from Queensland’s Ryan Douglas who has won the last two meetings at Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway. Douglas also looked a possible winner at the last Gillman meeting but two falls cost him a place in the final.

Two other interstate riders, Jordan Stewart (Mildura) and Matthew Gilmore (NSW), are both former championship placegetters, in fact the only former placegetters apart from Sedgmen in the line-up, so they will both be contenders, while local hopes rest with Dakota Ballantyne and Fraser Bowes who have both been in career best form at Gillman this season.

Bowes was the top scorer in the Gillman track championship before Ballantyne won the final; Sedgmen, Ballantyne and Bowes then finished 1-2-3 in the Jack Young Cup in the following meeting; and last meeting Ballantyne was second in the final of the Gillman Solo Spectacular, beating Sedgmen and Jason Crump in the process.

The championship will be decided over 20 heats, a last chance semi-final, and a final for the top three point scorers and the winner of the semi-final.

Sidecars, Flat Track Solos and Juniors will make up the support programme, with Shane Rudloff and Nathan Fleet returning to the Sidecar ranks for the first time since the Gillman Sidecar championship on the opening night of the season.

Gates open at 4pm and racing will start at 7pm. The mandatory QR code check-in will again be in operation.

Top photo: Local hopes Dakota Ballantyne (blue) and Fraser Bowes (red) in action with Jason Crump at the last Gillman meeting. Photo by Judy Mackay.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 16 January 2021.

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

Covid restrictions: COVID Plan in place. The QR code system will be operating. Everyone entering the venue will be required to check-in by scanning the QR code or filling in the alternative paper record sheet with a name and contact phone number. Family members who have the same address can sit together but others must adhere to the social distancing rules for outdoor sport and recreation activities of 1 person per 2 square metres. Hand sanitiser will be placed at the gate, toilets and all sales areas. COVID Marshals will be in place.

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.

Racing starts: at 7 pm. Free spectator access to the pits for a close look at the bikes and cars until approximately 6.30 pm.

Nominations:

Solos 500cc: 2-Justin Sedgmen (Vic), 10-Declan Knowles (Vic), 12-Jordan Stewart (Vic), 13-Jack Morrison (Vic), 18-Jake Mitchell (SA), 24-Aden Clare (NSW), 39-Steven Graetz (SA), 46-Matthew Gilmore (NSW), 47-Nicholas Possingham (SA), 51-Fraser Bowes (SA), 56-Arlo Bugeja (SA), 82-Dakota Ballantyne (SA), 88-Blake Ridley (SA), 99-Dayle Wood (NSW), 171-Ryan Douglas (Qld), 211-Teagan Pedler (SA).

Sidecars: 12-Brian Silvy/Damian Egan, 14-Kym Menadue/Eric Melton, 15-Shane Rudloff/Scott Morris, 21-Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy, 22-Stephen Fowler/Corey Palmer, 57-Chris Bichard/Michael Bell, 89-Nathan Fleet/Kaidyn Silvy, 115-Kane Golding/Isaac Amos, 970-Dean Hobbs/Glen Zaworski

Solo Flat Track: 11-Nigel Sadler, 12-Roy Stout, 46-Sean Chapman, 50-John White, 55-Sean Curtis, 75-Steve Batchelor, 75-Mark Plaisted, 96-Mark Stevens, 98-Anthony Stevens, 210-Dave Baker, 231-Ryan Baker, 329-Daniel Low, 571-Brock Gates (Vic), 672-Dale Knights

Junior Solo Under 16 125cc (on the infield junior track during track grades) : 27-Travis Clarke, 33-Jake Fleet K48-Kobi Canning, 81-Darcey Timmis, 524-Harry Sadler

Junior Solo Under 16 125cc novices (03-Blake Schlein, 10-Darcy Bennett, 13-Jackson McPherson, 37-William Nicol), 50cc (03-Blake Schlein, 4-Riley Stout, 75-Jett Plaisted) and Pee Wee (1-Lila Canning, 4-Riley Stout, 11-Nate Sadler, 46-Owen Chapman) on the infield track at 6pm.

Formats: Solo Championship, 20 heats, semi-final and final; Sidecars, 8 heats, consolation and final; Flat Track Solos, 8 heats and a final.

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Souvenir programme $5. Grandstand seating free. Parking free.

Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only. Eftpos available at both gates and in the canteen.

Seating: Grandstand seating is free for this meeting and there are large grassed viewing mounds and terracing suitable for deck chairs.

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] Eftpos available at the main canteen.

Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue.

Pets: No pets, other than guide dogs, are allowed into the venue.

Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop, including the new season shirts, hoodies and caps [see A Night At Gillman tab on Gillman Speedway website].

Weather Forecast: Maximum 23, minimum 12. Partly cloudy. Forecast as at 14 January. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/Adelaide]

Directions:

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.

Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378 or email contact@gillmanspeedway.com