The ground pounding Sidecars set to unleash fury
Power Production Media Release 21 December 2024
Night one of the Ikon Suspension International Speedway Masters, presented by Ray White Gawler, features the best line-up of sidecars Australia has seen for two decades.
Race teams from three nations will converge upon Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway, to contest the richest race on this summer’s Australian speedway calendar, to honour the greatest rider the sport, worldwide, has ever produced.
The Darrin Treloar Cup brings together the best of the best from Australia, New Zealand and the United States in an event which promises to produce white-knuckle action from the get-go!
Darrin Treloar thoroughly deserves an international meeting that recognises his incredible accomplishments in a career spanning more than four decades. His record of twelve Australian Championship victories, the most by a competitor in any class of national speedway, is unlikely to be equalled, let alone eclipsed.
Next weekend’s event, honouring the great man, has captured the public’s imagination, and rallied unprecedented support from the who’s who of international sidecar racing, in what will be a fitting tribute to a man known as the GOAT.
In reality, no one wants to win the Darrin Treloar Cup more than the man himself. Darrin combines with his brilliant passenger, Blake Cox, to spearhead what is a highly impressive rider line-up. But winning this meeting will be no “walk in the park” – even for the dynamic duo.
The field is stacked with talent and Treloar and Cox will face heavy competition from the likes of Justin Plaisted and Brian Anthony (replacing Damian Egan), who are genuine contenders for outright victory.
Justin Plaisted rode as Darrin Treloar’s passenger for many years, combining to win numerous Australian Championships, and the former team-mates have unwavering respect for each other. Justin has made no secret of the fact he wants to win the Darrin Treloar Cup as his priority this season, and he is more than capable of doing so.
Despite sustaining ligament damage, in a crash two weeks ago, Justin is very confident he’ll be fit to take his place in the field.
Triple Australian Champions, Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt, are very much major contenders too. The familiar orange livery of this super team has become “synonymous with success” in the sport of sidecar speedway and Mark and Ben are genuinely amongst the favourites for outright victory.
There are three teams at Gillman from Queensland and all of them warrant serious consideration. Firstly, from Townsville, there is the crack combination of Tyler Moon and Adam Lovell. The two combined to win the Australian Speedway Centenary last December and their form ever since has been nothing short of outstanding. They can win it, no doubt!
Also from Townsville is the highly charismatic Brodie Cohen and his ultra-reliable passenger Josh Murray. The multi-Queensland Champions are electrifying on their night, and they lack nothing in preparation and team presentation. In fact, they do it better than most! The duo has lacked consistency in the sports’ major meetings, in recent times, but if it all comes together, they will most certainly be at the pointy end.
Brisbane’s Stuart Firth is a veteran of the sport and always demands respect. His passenger, Jason Martin, who has also enjoyed success in road racing, knows only too well what it takes to deliver on big occasions. Keep a close eye on them.
Trent Headland and Jaxon Rayner are certain to win their share of races and make a charge towards the A Final. Headland, a former national champion, is a balls-out-racer and young Rayner will be in for the ride of his life! Their recent form has been good, and they cannot be overlooked as genuine contenders for victory.
The two New Zealand entries, comprising, Mike Zachan and Ben Franklin, along with Dylan Moohan and Sean Mason will give the top Aussie teams a plethora of headaches as they storm through the program.
Mike Zachan, is an engineering genius, and is well respected as one of the sports’ great “perfectionists,” being the constructor of the all-conquering Stinger Race Frame chassis, which has won numerous national titles. Speedway sidecar racing has developed significantly in “the Land of the Long White Cloud” and it would therefore be foolish to write off either of the Kiwi teams in this contest.
America’s greatest ever sidecar rider, Joe Jones, returns to Australia to pay tribute to Darrin Treloar and the Californian has left no stone unturned in his quest to be as competitive as possible. The seventeen-time AMA Champion combines with Jaron Silvy, riding locally built equipment and the duo will make their presence felt in a highly competitive field.
Western Australia’s Joshua Wells (an ex-pat Kiwi), and his passenger Corey Blackman, thoroughly deserve their place in the field and they will be wanting to dent some big reputations, in what is, a huge meeting for the team.
Mick Headland and Brenton Kerr were of course automatic inclusions in the invitational field and, as always, warrant strong respect from their peers. Headland, a former two-time World Champion, is something of a “Gillman specialist” and he and Brenton will most assuredly find the fastest way around.
The second generation pairing of Max Howse and Riley Commons, from Broken Hill, are not to be disregarded as they continue their rise toward the top of the sport.
Mildura’s Byren Gates and Mick O’Loughlin are a welcome addition to the field, and, based on their early season form, which has demonstrated genuine speed, this long-time partnership is certainly capable of qualifying for the semi-finals and beyond.
Damien Niesche has been a regular hard charger around Gillman for many seasons and lacks nothing in speed and bravery. This summer, Damien once again teams up with the ever-reliable Mitchell Spear.
Shane Hudson and Jack Spear is a genuinely fast combination that are good enough to make it all way the through to the meeting’s final race. The former Australia #4 possesses a “no nonsense approach” to their racing and they have speed to burn.
So, the scene is set for an epic night of international sidecar speedway at the #ISM24, incorporating the Darrin Treloar Cup, on December 27 at Gillman Speedway.
The Darrin Treloar Cup will feature the CBS Bins Sidecar Stampede as support.
Night two (December 28) features an incredible international field of solos, from five countries, contesting the Leigh Adams Medal.
The Australian Motors Solo Young Guns is also scheduled for night two.
Discounted online tickets are now available at www.ticketebo.com.au/speedwaymasters
Livestream Subscriptions can be purchased at – https://www.clayperview.com/ikon-international-speedway