Bryn 413 Posted December 4, 2007 Courtesy of Seane Chapman to whom I'm indebted - Only wish I was going to all the flipping meetings - damn, poop and blast! (for want of a better expression!) Haven't fully checked BUT am as certain as can be that, at an 'ancient' 26 years of age, Travis is the "old man" of the Aussies taking part - anyway here's what Seane has disclosed: The riders for the 2008 Linddales Labour Hire Australian Motorcycle Speedway Championship Series have been announced as: Troy Batchelor (Qld) Jason Doyle (NSW) Cory Gathercole (Vic) Josh Grajczonek (Qld) Trevor Harding (WA) Tom Hedley (Vic) Lee Herne (NSW) Chris Holder (NSW) Robert Ksiezak (SA) Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) Travis McGowan (Vic) Tyron Proctor (Vic) Joe Screen (England) Filip Sitera (Czech Republic) Aaron Summers (SA) Cameron Woodward (Vic) Reserves: Richard Sweetman (NSW) Mitchell Davey (Qld) James Holder (NSW) Kozza Smith (NSW) The championship will be decided over five rounds as below: Round 1: Olympic Park, Mildura, Vic - Saturday, 29 December Round 2: Gillman Speedway, Adelaide, SA- Wednesday, 2 January Round 3: Borderline Speedway, Mt Gambier, SA - Saturday, 5 January Round 4: Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow NSW - Wednesday, 9 January Round 5: Sydney Showground, Homebush Bay, NSW - Friday, 11 January Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted December 4, 2007 Has a European ever won the Australian Championships before? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sotonian 603 Posted December 4, 2007 Has a European ever won the Australian Championships before? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Pretty sure Ole Olsen won it in the 1970's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sotonian 603 Posted December 4, 2007 (edited) The championship will be decided over five rounds as below: Round 1: Olympic Park, Mildura, Vic - Saturday, 29 December Round 2: Gillman Speedway, Adelaide, SA- Wednesday, 2 January Round 3: Borderline Speedway, Mt Gambier, SA - Saturday, 5 January Round 4: Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow NSW - Wednesday, 9 January Round 5: Sydney Showground, Homebush Bay, NSW - Friday, 11 January <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Good to see speedway at Sydney Showground again. Is it a one-off or will there be more meetings staged there? Edited December 4, 2007 by Sotonian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,848 Posted December 4, 2007 Has a European ever won the Australian Championships before? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> A few British winners Auatralian Championship Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blazeaway 1,501 Posted December 4, 2007 Does anyone know if this can be watched online using streaming software? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Sir Lunchalot Posted December 4, 2007 Good to see speedway at Sydney Showground again. Is it a one-off or will there be more meetings staged there? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There was a round of the Australian titles there last year. Worth noting is that it's the new Sydney Showground, not the famous old one that has been gone for over 10 years now. It's where they held the baseball at the Sydney Olympics and is part of the Olympic complex. Super venue for spectators but the track can only be termed as different and the riders reaction was amusement when they rode there last year. The best description I saw of the track shape was "like a teardrop", it's like a circle with one sharp bend. As for the future I have no idea if it will become a regular venue as a round of the Oz championships. Does anyone know if this can be watched online using streaming software? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No. The best anyone can hope for is if Radio Fremantle does a live webcast again the same as they did last year (of the Gillman and Mt Gambier rounds from memory). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Sir Lunchalot Posted December 4, 2007 That line up is certainly a "changing of the guard" and to me the title looks to be between McGowan, Lindgren and Holder. Interesting to list the Australians who are not riding, it's nearly as big as the list of those that are. I know there are reasons for people not riding but if you note down who rode in the UK in 2007 and have also competed at Australian titles before the list includes names like Crump, Adams, Sullivan, Schlein, Johnston, Doolan, Watt, Shields, Lemon, Lyons, Parker, Wethers, and Leverington. I wonder how many of them would be ranked in the top Australian sixteen ? I'll be intrigued to see how the crowd numbers are this year compared to last year to judge if the younger brigade has the same sort of appeal as the line up in previous years Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Delgado 0 Posted December 4, 2007 Interesting to list the Australians who are not riding, it's nearly as big as the list of those that are. I know there are reasons for people not riding but if you note down who rode in the UK in 2007 and have also competed at Australian titles before the list includes names like Crump, Adams, Sullivan, Schlein, Johnston, Doolan, Watt, Shields, Lemon, Lyons, Parker, Wethers, and Leverington. I wonder how many of them would be ranked in the top Australian sixteen ? Shame that riders aren't interested in competing for their own national title, isn't it? Yes they have their own reason and you can understand that the big guns like Crump, Adams and Sullivan want rest after busy season. Same with the oldies like Johnno, Paker and Lynos, they probably aren't interested so much anymore, but this should be only the opportunity for Schlein, Doolan, Watt, Shields ... to try and snap some national medals. I think all are in top sixteen exept for Lemon, Wethers and Leverington. Well wish it will be interesting events anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,848 Posted December 4, 2007 Reading the recent interview on WWoS with Davey Watt he said the Australian Championship was the qualification for the GP quali's.So given that the likes of Ryan and Rory are not in the Oz Championship does that mean they won't be going for GP qualification next year? Pity for the fans down under.When you look at that line-up compared to the Polish or Danish Championship there is a distinct lack of top riders Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ficklefan 0 Posted December 4, 2007 The best anyone can hope for is if Radio Fremantle does a live webcast again the same as they did last year (of the Gillman and Mt Gambier rounds from memory). <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Nev Riseley at Radio Fremantle is currently finalising plans to cover some or possibly all the rounds of this years title. Listen in on Saturday on the live stream, or on archive for further details at www.radiofremantle.com. Last years coverage was excellent with lots of special guests, fingers crossed this year will be even better! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Mitch 2 Posted December 4, 2007 Makes you wonder why there are so many top riders not entering their own National championship ??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sward 0 Posted December 4, 2007 Nev Riseley at Radio Fremantle is currently finalising plans to cover some or possibly all the rounds of this years title. Listen in on Saturday on the live stream, or on archive for further details at www.radiofremantle.com. Last years coverage was excellent with lots of special guests, fingers crossed this year will be even better! Hopefully all Nev's plans will come off, although the lack of phone line at Gillman could make it a touch interesting to do an outside broadcast! Every other venue has all the vital equipment so watch this space...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommy 0 Posted December 4, 2007 Reading the recent interview on WWoS with Davey Watt he said the Australian Championship was the qualification for the GP quali's.So given that the likes of Ryan and Rory are not in the Oz Championship does that mean they won't be going for GP qualification next year? Pity for the fans down under.When you look at that line-up compared to the Polish or Danish Championship there is a distinct lack of top riders <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This reminds me...a few months back I had a brief chat with Watt's father (unfortunately can't remember his name)and he mentioned that a big reason why Davey is not riding in the Australian final (qualifying for the gp's) is for economical reasons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trees 2,814 Posted December 4, 2007 Costs a small fortune to take all your racing gear back to Aus surely??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites