Three titles up for grabs at Gillman Speedway

Gillman Media 9 November 2022

Three championship titles will be up for grabs at the opening summer meeting of the Gillman Speedway season on Saturday night (12 November), with track championships for the 500cc Solos, 1000cc Sidecars and the Under 16 250cc Solos.

The Sidecar Championship will be headed by two of Australia’s leading pairs, Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt, and Mick Headland and Brenton Kerr.

Plaisted/Pitt are the current Australian and South Australian champions, while Headland is a former FIM Gold Trophy and Track Racing World Championship winner. Both have been four-time winners of the SA Championship but while they are the obvious favourites, former Australia number 3, Shane Hudson, could be a serious challenger as he and passenger Adam Constable were in good form at the end of last season and have been impressive in recent Gillman practice days.

Other riders who should be amongst the main challengers for a place in the final are former winners Shane Rudloff/Damian Egan (2020), and Rick Stephens/Nick O’Brien (2021), Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan and Kane Golding/Glen Zaworski, while Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low could upset a few more fancied riders if they can reproduce the form they showed in last season Australian championship qualifying meeting when they scored 10 points from only four rides.

Also in the line-up is a former New Zealand Champion Mike Zachan (passenger Ben Franklin), who is making his first appearance at Gillman, Brian Silvy/Dean Cottrell, Stephen Fowler/Ben Goodridge, Tim Bichard/Seth Pascoe, Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, Nathan Fleet/Cameron Diwell, Adam Pascoe/- and Victorians Chris Walker/April Cottrell. Bichard is a former winner (2019), while Silvy and Fleet are former finalists with Fleet a finalist in three of the past four seasons.

Newcomers Josh Pascoe/Matt Crawford, Nate Headland/Jaxon Rayner and Willy Walker/Jarred Nash, and regular classic bike duo Paul Snadden/Greg Black, will compete in support events, and as championship reserves, but will have the chance, in event one, to qualify for the main event should anyone drop out before the event.

The 500cc Solo Championship will be spearheaded by defending champion Jake Turner, with Fraser Bowes and Brayden McGuinness, both back from a season in Europe, and Mildura’s Cooper Riordan (Vic) all sharing equal favouritism with Turner.

Michael West (NSW), Liam May, Patrick Hamilton (Vic), Steven Graetz, Jackson Milner (Vic) and Dayle Wood (Vic) will all be contenders for a semi-final berth, while Seth Hickey, Tom Dixon (Vic), Teagan Pedler, Shaun Sampson and John Doolan (Vic) should provide some close racing against each other but will find it hard to get into the finals.

With opposition meetings interstate the 250cc Junior Solo Championship has only attracted four riders, Riley Plum (Vic), Darcey Timmis, Ashley Jansen-Batchelor and Harry Sadler but there is not a clear cut favourite, while a series of Solo Flat Track races will round out a very packed programme with Kyle Machin, Tony Nagel (Vic), Michael West (NSW) and Seane Chapman likely to fill the major placings in the final.

Gates open at 4pm, racing starts at 7pm, and the meeting will be livestreamed (details below).

Please note the grandstand is not available for this meeting due to refurbishment.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 12 November 2022

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

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.

Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.30 pm.

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Classes and Nominations:

Solo 500cc: 8-Michael West (NSW), 14-Liam May, 18-Patrick Hamilton (Vic), 19-Brayden McGuinness, 19-Jake Turner, 39-Steven Graetz, 41-Jackson Milner (Vic), 42-Seth Hickey, 51-Cooper Riordan (Vic), 51-Fraser Bowes, 57-John Doolan (Vic), 67-Shaun Sampson, 69-Tom Dixon (Vic), 99-Dayle Wood (Vic), 211-Teagan Pedler

Sidecars: 1-Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt, 08-Chris Walker/April Cottrell (Vic), 12-Brian Silvy/Dean Cottrell, 14-Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan, 15-Shane Rudloff/Damian Egan, 19-Josh Pascoe/Matt Crawford, 27-Stephen Fowler/Ben Goodridge, 69-Rick Stephens/Nick O’Brien, 71-Shane Hudson/Adam Constable, 77-Tim Bichard/Seth Pascoe, 82-Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, 89-Nathan Fleet/Cameron Diwell, 97NZ-Mike Zachan/Ben Franklin, 101-Paul Snadden/Greg Black, 107-Mick Headland/Brenton Kerr, 115-Kane Golding/Glen Zaworski, 128-Nate Headland/Jaxon Rayner, 272-Adam Pascoe/tba, 922-Willy Walker/Jarred Nash, 970-Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low

250cc Junior (Under 16) Solos: 5-Riley Plum (Vic), 81-Darcey Timmis, 131-Ashley Jansen-Batchelor, 524-Harry Sadler

Solo Flat Track: 5-Kyle Machin, 5-Tony Nagel, 8-Michael West (NSW), 46-Seane Chapman, 57-Hannah Conradi, 77-Richard Bunting, 181-John White, 273-Dale Knights, 672-Troy Knights, 713-Con Twist, 911-Greg Laanekorb

125cc Junior (Under 16) Solos (infield track): 16-Hayden Pascoe, 37-William Nicol, 42-Ryleigh McGregor, 49-Blake Hocking

6 p.m. pre-meeting junior riders (infield track) — 125cc Novice Junior Solos: 4-Riley Stout, 46-Owen Chapman, 77-Axel Smith, 112-Ruby Chapman, -Cooper Coats. 50cc Junior Solos: 15-Mikayla Morris, 75-Jett Plaisted. Pee Wee Junior Solos: 1-Blair Conradi, 5-Hope Coats, 11-Nate Sadler, 13-Max Headland, 75-Jett Plaisted

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. Souvenir programme $5- includes chances to win $50 fuel vouchers. EFTPOS available at both entrances, canteen, bar and souvenir shop.

Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only.

Livestreaming: This meeting will be livestreamed on http://spacequakerssports.vhx.tv  (cost $25).

Seating: There are large grassed viewing mounds and terracing suitable for deck chairs. The Grandstand is not available for this meeting due to refurbishment.

VIP Area: The Bob White VIP area is available to anyone who would like to treat their business colleagues, family or friends to the best view in the stadium. Enjoy the elevated view overlooking the track, either from inside the temperature controlled rooms, on the timber deck, or on the enclosed lawn area. The VIP area also has its own bar and toilet. Ring Ivan Golding on 0417 138 378 for more details.

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]

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

Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop. See the “A Night At Gillman” tab.

Pets: No animals are allowed into the venue except assistance animals, eg guide dogs.

Weather Forecast as at 9 November: Maximum 28, minimum 16. Very high (95%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

[www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml]

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 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