AFTER hosting a very successful 2015 FIM Under-21 Speedway World Cup Final in October, Mildura Motorcycle Club’s president Gavin Sedgmen is revved-up that his club will be hosting a Victorian Speedway Solo Championship this weekend.
“It’ll be a very exciting weekend,” Gavin said. “We’re very pleased that we’re able to host a state title which follows on from a very big year of hosting big events,” he added.
“After we hosted the FIM World Under-21 Speedway World Cup Final the FIM were super impressed in the way we ran our meeting and the facilities we provided,” Gavin continued.
“They were astounded that a little country track could do such a good job. It was great for Mildura, great for Victoria and great for Australian speedway.
“All that flows into the Victorian Championship because riders like Max Fricke and Justin Sedgmen will be vying for qualifying positions for the Australian Speedway Solo Championships and the qualifiers for the World Speedway Solo Championships,” Gavin added.
A strong field of riders have been named for the Victorian Speedway Solo Championships where the top four place-getters earn a UK work visa to be able to compete in speedway in Britain next season.
They riders are: 1.Ty Proctor 2. Jack Morrison 3. Bill Tillett 4. Brad Tillett 5. Cooper Riordan 6. Max Fricke 7. Brodie Waters 8.Jordan Stewart 9. Jason Stewart 10. Jaimon Lidsey 11.Brock Gates 12. Chris Ferguson 13. Justin Sedgmen 14. Dakota Ballantyne 15.Luke Bacskai 16. Jack Fallon First Reserve: 17. Gary Fischer.
Brodie Waters is just one local rider who would love to get his hands on a UK work visa. “It should be a good weekend. For me, Max Fricke will be the one to beat, as well as Justin Sedgmen – he’s quite quick around his home track as well,” Brodie said.
“I’ll just put my head down and try as hard as I can and, hopefully, aim to be in a final,” the 23-year-old said.
Having only just started racing speedway a little over two years ago after coming from road racing where he won an Australian 250GP Mono Championship in 2008, Brodie is still trying to claim his first podium finish in the sport. “I came pretty close to making a final at last year’s South Australian Speedway Solo Championship but I ended-up DNF’ing in that,” Brodie said.
“This weekend I’ll just have to up my game and keep learning,” he added.
“Personally, I want to be able to make the podium but these guys that I’m up against have been doing it their whole lives so I’ll just try my hardest to make the A Final and see where I end up because anything can happen in racing,” Brodie said.
On the Olympic Park venue, Gavin added: “We’ve put a lot of effort into our facilities over the last two and a half years so now it’s just a matter of throwing the gates open, watering the track and getting everything ready, which will be all good.
“Mildura has hosted the Victorian Speedway Solo Championships and Sidecar Championships on a regular basis for the last 50 years. The sport is very highly regarded in the Sunraysia region and the Victorian Championships always get a good healthy crowd,” Gavin added.
The president would also like to thank his team of volunteers who have worked so tirelessly over the last to get everything ready. “The place looks an absolute picture. It couldn’t have been done without a healthy club with lots of volunteers.
“I’m really pleased and proud to be part of a great club with such a good, healthy culture,” Gavin praised.
The 2015 Victorian Speedway Solo Championships takes place at Mildura Motorcycle Club’s Olympic Park in Mildura from December 5-6. For more information please visit www.milduramotorcycleclub.org.au.