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Solos, sidecars to rock Olympic Park

Posted on November 4, 2011

ON THE SLIDE: Warren Monson and Deven Gates, seen here at last season’s Sidecar Spectacular, are expected to be among the quicker Sunraysia-based combinations this weekend. Photo: BEN PISCIONERI

By BRENDON GLEDHILL

A TOP field of solo stars will be on the cards at Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway tomorrow night, marking the official start of the Mildura Speedway season.

A great field of sidecars will also explode onto the track, set to start this season’s hostilities in the right vein in a meeting which will be of great interest to Sunraysia speedway fans.

Both solos and sidecars will be very competitive, with the format to be used designed to showcase that competitiveness.

A ‘new look’ race track – boasting freshly painted fence panels – will greet competitors, with the night sure to prove a fascinating start to the Mildura season.

The turnout tomorrow will include 12 sidecar riders – including a top line-up from Mildura – with Byren Gates, Jason Bradshaw and Warren Monson heading the bill.

This top three will be combined with Chris Holmes, Clint Mayes, Dale Milner and Simon Cohrs, with visitors to include Broken Hill’s Ricky Stephens, Albury’s Lindsay McGregor, Adelaide’s Tim Bichard and Aaron Silvy, and former local Rob Patterson.

The three-wheeled brigade will line up in a round-robin test, where each team will be trying to gain as many points as possible to get them through to the all-important semi-final, and then the cut-throat final – all to be held on the same night.

Passengers will be swapped temporarily in some cases – most notably Mick Powell, who is replacing Byren Gates’ regular swinger, Mick O’Loughlin, and Dale Knights, who will swing with Tim Bichard.

Amongst the more settled combinations are Jason Bradshaw/Steve Behsmann, Chris Holmes/Neale Hancock, Warren Monson/Deven Gates, Dale Milner/Jamie Knudsen, Clint Mayes/Andrew Summerhayes, and the Cohrs brothers, Simon and Mark.

A sharp and colourful design will attract even more attention to the usually humble Simon Cohrs, who since his success with Adelaide’s Chris Pascoe at last year’s Australian Championships at Gillman, has realised he is a serious contender, regardless of whether he is steering his machine locally, or swinging with Pascoe as part of the Sidecar Grand Slam circus – which will come to Mildura on Saturday, January 14.

Solo action will feature an even field, with the Sedgmen brothers, Ryan and Justin, Brenton Barnfield, Brock Gates and Chris Ferguson to ride against each other.

Justin Sedgmen, who returned home from England four weeks ago, has settled into his local work, and will be looking to sharpen his skills after his ‘freshen-up.’

Justin will also be aiming to do well in the 2012 Australian Championship series, which will be held during the second half of January.

It’s pleasing from the Club’s perspective to see such a competitive field of solos in action so early in the season, with more locals expected to front the tapes at the Victorian Solo Titles – which will be held in Mildura on December 3.

It’s believed that those locals yet to return will ride in the Victorian Title meeting, an event Sunraysia patrons will be looking forward to.

The biggest news for Sunraysia speedway patrons however is that the next meeting to be held at Olympic Park will be a fully-fledged International Sidecar Challenge, which will take the form of a four-team tournament.

Four teams of sidecars – each with four machines apiece – will contest the Mildura Sidecar Four Team Challenge on Wednesday, November 16. The meeting is being staged just four days after the 2012 World Sidecar Speedway Championship, which will be held in Murray Bridge.

The Wednesday meeting allows International riders to travel to Mildura, and get a second meeting in the week.

Club President, Gavin Sedgmen, said he was confident Mildura fans would turn out in force for the event.

“Even though it is a mid-week event,” he said. “Locals understand that the Club is always looking to be innovative and opportune with its promotions.

“Sunraysia speedway folk know that the Club will always try to put on a show at the best available time, and this is the only time an International Sidecar meeting could be held.

“I’m sure patrons will be excited to see how the Mildura boys go against such talented competition from overseas.”

The four teams to contest the Challenge will be representing England and New Zealand, with a team representing Australia to also be in the field against a team made up of strictly Mildura riders.

All four teams who will ride for NZ and England will be engaged in the Murray Bridge meeting, with the Mildura Motor Cycle Club grateful for the assistance from both Mick Headland and Mark Mitchell, who have been working with Mildura Club officials to make the meeting a reality.

The four team tournament format will give Sunraysia fans a great look at all the International stars – and the guys who will represent both Australia and Mildura.

This week Mildura’s gates will open at 5pm, with a full-catering service available to patrons. BYO is not permitted by law, with some grandstand seating still available.

A junior program will precede the senior meeting, with a new timetable for all meetings to come into effect this week. More information is available over the phone at 5027 4225 or 0419 174 225.

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