Australian Championship Dates Confirmed

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Pending a final track inspection, the Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park will host the grand final of the 2007 500cc Australian Speedway Motorcycle Championships, which also encompasses rounds in Mildura, Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Newcastle.

 

 

 

The announcement was made today by the Coordinators of the 2007 Championship – Power Productions in conjunction with Motorcycling Australia. This is the fourth time the Championship will be conducted as a Series.

 

 

 

“To finish the series at the Sydney Showground will be a superb spectacle,” said Power Productions Managing Director, David Tapp. “With seating for 20,000 people and a public transport infrastructure second to none, the venue will be a great way to showcase the sport. It also gives us an opportunity to entertain our corporate partners with the extensive corporate facilities at the venue.”

 

 

 

Tapp confirmed that organisers are in negotiations for current runaway World Championship leader - Jason Crump - to appear, which they are hoping will result in a positive outcome. In addition, two international Speedway Grand Prix competitors – one American, one European – are likely to be among the 16-rider line-up.

 

 

 

Organisers have been involved in lengthy discussions with defending and nine-time Australian Champion – Leigh Adams – who currently sits fifth in the World Championship. Tapp says the discussions have been very positive to date. Coming home to Australia is something that Adams rates highly on his list of priorities every season:

 

 

 

“Coming home to compete is very important to me and I’m certainly interested in taking part,” Adams said. “It would be a way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the year. Hopefully Jason will see it the same way and we can put on a memorable show; it will be a fitting way for both he and I to end what has been an excellent European campaign.”

 

 

 

“The 2007 Championship looks fantastic,” Adams continued. “To start off at home in Mildura and finish at a World Class facility like the Sydney Showground, prepared specifically for motorcycle Speedway, will be brilliant. It would really give us the opportunity to take the sport to the people.”

 

 

 

Adams’ adversary from last summer, Todd Wiltshire is expected to compete after making a full-time return to the British Elite League this year.

 

 

 

The Championship will feature expanded television coverage for season 2007 – with coverage confirmed for Fox Sports. Organisers are currently negotiating with a free-to-air partner.

 

 

 

The Sydney Showground event also brings Phil Christensen of Spokes Promotions back into the Speedway sphere – working with a promoter of that calibre is something Tapp is excited about.

 

 

 

“Phil is arguably Australia’s best private motorsport promoter through his efforts over the years with the Supercross Masters. He will do an exceptional job of presenting the Showground for motorcycle Speedway and the event will provide a showpiece for the sport.”

 

 

 

The Series dates and venues are as follows:

 

 

 

Round 1: Olympic Park, Mildura Wednesday January 3

 

Round 2: Gillman Speedway, Adelaide Friday January 5

 

Round 3: Borderline Speedway, Mount Gambier Saturday, January 6

 

Round 4: Newcastle Showground, Newcastle Wednesday January 10

 

Round 5: Sydney Showground, Homebush Friday, January 12*+

 

 

 

(*Note: This event will go ahead pending a final track inspection from Motorcycling Australia. +The promoter is considering a switch to Saturday, January 13 – the event will go ahead on either January 12 or 13)

 

 

 

“There’s a great mix of traditional Speedway venues and venues that are new to Australian Championship competition,” Tapp continued. “It will be the first time that Borderline Speedway has hosted an Australian Motorcycle Speedway Championship event and (pending the track inspection) the first time that an Australian Championship event has been held in Sydney since 1980 when the late great Billy Sanders took the Championship at the old Sydney Showground.”

 

 

 

Power Productions has a long history in the sport of Speedway – having conceptualised and promoted the wildly successful International Speedway Masters Series in the late 90’s and is the publisher of Speedway Racing News Magazine, in addition to being one of Australia’s leading Sports Television producers with the company’s flagship program – Chequered Flag.

 

 

 

Announcements regarding the rider line-up, sponsorship and the complete television schedule are expected shortly.

[Bavarian 769]

Sounds good, especially with the final round coming to Sydney Showgrounds !

 

Good luck to the promoters