BigFatDave

Did I mention Justin beat Leigh in the heats? did him on the first lap - went outside him on turns 1 & 2 - if you know Mildura you'll know that's not easy - then Leigh tried his guts out to pass him for the next three laps! Onya Justin!! Go the SedgHammer!!

Cam in the final on a countback from Justin - What a final, what a night! Troy - 14 Leigh - 13 Darcy 10 Cam 9 Justin 9 Steady, Doyley, Noddy - 8 Ty, Jason Lyons, Ricky Kling - 7 Kozza - 5 Johnno, Cory, Sweets - 4 Jonesy (res) - 2 Jake - 1 Chairs - Mick Headland 1st, Darren Treloar 2nd Wazzza Monson 3rd, o'Rourke 4th - another ripper! PS That's it for Johnno - officially retired tonight.

If you think the BSPA are bad, welcome to the wonderful world of MA - Round One of OzChamps is now OFF - first it was at Parramatta - then it was at Kurri Kurri - now it's a four round comp starting on January 15th - time to change me bookings - AGAIN!! Kind Regards, Not Happy Jan!

It would have been good to contact the riders, especially the ones who hadn't left Pomgolia yet. I caught Davey at Heathrow and Lynette was the first person I contacted when I found out - by pure luck - that Parra was off. I can understand Boydie putting it on the web 'cos that's how most of us find out anything Down Under - only one club consistently updates it's site; the rest is down to mates keeping each other informed.

Fun & Games!! From the Aust.Speedway forums site: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Round 1 of the 2011 Australian Speedway Solo Championships will now be held at KURRI KURRI Speedway Dickson St Kurri Kurri on Wednesday January 12th. Gates will open at 2.30pm Practice from 4.45pm Championship Racing from 7.00pm Please spread the word to EVERYONE you know was going to Parramatta If there is enough demand WE will run BUSES from Sydney to Kurri return on Wednesday. I will update this Website with more details as soon as I can. graeme at suzukiofnewcastle dot com dot au Plan B will have to swing into operation as I'm heading off on me annual Oddysey in a few hours!

A quick update on the LAR Supper tomorrow night from the Gillman site: There will be a unique item up for auction at the much awaited Leigh Adams Coomealla Club Testimonial dinner at the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club at Dareton, near Mildura, tomorrow (Tuesday) night. In typical Leigh Adams' style — “if you are going to do it, it has to be done properly” — he has had a pink race suit made in Poland just for the occasion and will be racing in it on Wednesday night, and this race suit will be auctioned off at the dinner with the proceeds going to National Breast Cancer Research. Many other items will also be auctioned, including two other race suits, Polish and UK farewell meeting race jackets, one of Leigh’s Arena Essex race jackets, LAR Wheel discs, and the 16, plus 2 reserve race jackets (and one blank race jacket to get autographed by the many Champions in attendance) from Wednesday night's race meeting at Olympic Park Speedway. All of the items are a “one off” and can be personally autographed by Leigh, but the Testimonial dinner has been sold out for some time, so those that missed out on tickets for the dinner will need to get someone with tickets to bid on their behalf.

He's due to have a skid during the meeting, but not in the comp. Here's the riding order from the LAR Site: The draw for riding order at the Leigh Adams Testimonial on January 5 has been done and it is the 10 times National Champion that will fittingly lead them away in the Number 1 race jacket. The line up is exceptionally strong and Adams knows he’ll have his work cut out. “There will be no favours in this meeting and if I’m going to win it will be all above board, I don’t expect anyone to get sentimental and let me have it. “I have deliberately made it a strong field and I see 5 or 6 riders capable of shaking me up on their day so I’m going to have be on my game. “I had a practice last week and I feel good, so let’s get it on!” he concluded. The full line up is as follows: 1 Leigh Adams 2 Ty Proctor 3 Steve Johnston 4 Richard Sweetman 5 Simon Stead 6 Ricky Kling 7 Cory Gathercole 8 Chris Holder 9 Justin Sedgmen 10 Jason Doyle 11 Darcy Ward 12 Pontus Aspregen 13 Kozza Smith 14 Cameron Woodward 15 Jason Lyons 16 Troy Batchelor 1st Res Jake Anderson 2nd Res Ryan Sedgmen The eight sidecars, pretty much the top teams in Oz, are Monson/Gates, Gates/O’Loughlin, R. Mitchell/Kurran, Howse/Commons, O’Brien/Maynard, Treloar/Plaisted, M & J Headland, M. Mitchell/Golding. Please note: There will be a Press and Practice morning on Tuesday, January 4 at Olympic Park Speedway from 10am - 12pm. Riders will be doing laps from 10am and there will be a press conference at approximately 11am. There will be merchandise available in the forms of programs, T-shirts, stubby holders, THE BOOK, Caps, a 2011 calendar and a photo book celebrating Leigh’s 15 yrs in Poland. BIG NIGHT APPROACHING FAST!

I'll hafta have a doggie bag; flamin' diet! Anyhow, here's the local chipwrapper getting in on things: ..........from the Sunraysia Daily: Last hurrah: Adams ‘family’ pay tribute to one of Australia’s legends A NEW year and a new decade truly signal the end of an era, the retirement speedway legend Leigh Adams, who is determined to go out with a bang. After 23 years of high intensity, week in, week out speedway bike racing in Australia and internationally, the 10-time Australian champion will hang up the helmet. A huge night is planned on Wednesday for the Leigh Adams Testimonial, with many current and former world-class riders appearing. Adams has been organising this night for some time, and for the momentous occasion, the 39 year-old will don a racing suit with a pink trim, instead of his usual red trim. Adams will sign the suit and auction it off to a lucky bidder, raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. “Recently we have had a death in the family to breast cancer so I thought it would be cool to do something like this,” he said. Adams plans to give the full racing experience to the fans with the card he has planned for the night. There will be a full solo bike field with 16 riders including the man himself, plus a full card of eight sidecar riders. A top junior field will also be in action. A match race will be held between Australian superbike racing champions Josh Waters and Jamie Stauffer, while former Australian speedway champion and local hero Phil Crump and American rider Steve Baker will parade around the track on their old bikes. One of the big drawcards is the return to the track of Swedish living legend Tony Rickardsson.

More like AWAFC - Absent Without A Clue! Yeah mate - big month coming up, flying out next Tuesday - LAR Supper; Under-21s; Ozchamps & Under-16s - home again on the 31st - the things we do! Lord Mayor's Cup this arvo at Gosford - I'm tipping She's Sirius! Scored nicely yesterday on Gloria's Peak by a nose hair at Yarra Valley - paid $16.30!!

From Aust.Speedway Forum - Line-up (TBC): Adams, Batchelor, Doyle, Johnston, Kling, Gathercole, Holder, Lyons, Proctor, J Sedgmen, Ward, Smith, Stead, Sweetman, Woodward, plus 1 other. The reserves are Anderson & R Sedgmen.

Long term forecast for Mildura next Wednesday is slightly chilly at 19 - 32C - memo to self - don't forget your thermals! Oh, continuing the Shakespearian theme, I've just received another email from our anonymous Track Announcer, and I quote: "Not partaking is such sweet sorrow" J. Hampel. Disturbing news from Milly is that Ryan Sedgmen had to have the top of one of his fingers surgically re-attached following a practise skid yesterday - reports that it's his ring finger will not stop him picking his nose, however another part of his anatomy might be left unattended for a while, until he can get up to scratch! Onya sEDgY2!! "But soft, what light from yonder window breaks - it is the Sunrise in the East, time to go down the beach! See ya!"

From the Gillman Site: A meeting today with the shareholders of the Tyrepower Sydney Speedway has confirmed that Round 1 of the Australian Solo Speedway Championship will go ahead at Parramatta on Wednesday night, 12 January. There has been much speculation about the event since David Tapp announced his departure as the speedway manager, but the new Sydney Speedway Manager, David Lander, today confirmed all will be set to showcase Motorcycle Speedway in Australia’s biggest city on January 12. “It’s great news”, said 10 times National Champion Leigh Adams, “all looks sweet and we will make it happen. We just need everyone to get behind this event in Sydney as we are hoping to take Australian Speedway forward and what better place than in the largest city in Australia”. Gillman Speedway Manager David Parker, who liaised with Sydney officials today, said,” I am really happy that all is going to plan and as with Leigh I really want this meeting to work. With Dave Lander at the helm I have a lot of faith that this meeting will run in the true tradition that Lander has done at all of his venues, the man is a genius”. One other comment that Parker put forward was that he was "quite adamant that this meeting may not have gone ahead without the intervention of Motorcycling Australia’s David White”. Thank Yog-Sothoth for that! Otherwise I'd have been stuck in me little hotel in Sydderney - lovely place, they change the sheets every hour - with nothing much to do except guzzle a year's supply of Viagra - stiff! Dave Lander, who promotes the 4 wheel type of Speedway at Lismore, will be well-known to older forum members; he promoted the ill-fated Sydney GP back in the day.

I've just received an email from our anonymous Track Announcer: "Alas poor Jarek, Leigh knew him well!" Just goes to show you can't make a Hamlet without breaking heads.

A bit of bad news with the event less than a week away, but here's the latest info from Rocket Rod Colquhoun: Mildura’s Leigh Adams has expressed his dismay at the eleventh hour decision by World No 2 Jarek Hampel to withdraw from his Testimonial to be staged at Mildura next week. Adams has been left dismayed by the circumstances surrounding Hampel’s decision and is clearly unhappy. “I’m really not sure what has happened”, says Adams . “He (Hampel) was all systems go and we have forked out some serious money on flights and accommodation etc but he’s let me and everyone else down big time. “I’m not going to make excuses for the guy – we have ridden together for the last five years and he said he’d be here, so I’m just very let down by the whole scenario”. I don't know if Leigh can get a refund on the dollar$ laid out for airfares etc; could be a golden opportunity for someone else to use the tickets otherwise - any volunteers?

No reason given officially. I know he's putting a lot of effort into OzChamps but, with limited edition T shirts available from his Mum. Good to see Robert Branford getting a ride in his place tho' as MA had originally lost his application form. Sadly I won't be able to see how much he's come on this past year as his only other planned ride is in the SA Solos. From the sounds of it he had a good one: Redcar will do well with him & Spud, I might just hafta watch him over your way!

Event Poster

Dunno yet, Wanna, but I'll attempt to find out when my source sobers up - he was on the turps with SCOTLAND 1314 last I heard. (Edit) He's awake!! Mark finished a creditable 5th despite one fall - he'll be OK for the mighty WASPS mate! J Sedgmen 3,3,3,3,3 = 15 + Fx = 4th C Gathercole 1,2,3,3,3 = 12 + 2 = 2nd T Proctor 3,3,2,3,R = 11 + 3 = 1st (did a chain in Ht 18) J Anderson 2,1,3,3,2 = 11 + 3 +1 = 3rd J Ringwood 2,2,3,2,2 = 11 + Fx = 7th R Branford 2,3,0,2,3 = 10 + F = 6th Mark Jones 3,3,1,F,1 = 8 + 2 = 5th R Medson 1,0,1,2,3 = 7 J Stewart 0,2,2,0,2 = 6 R Sedgmen 1,0,2,1,2 = 6 B Barnfield 3,1,0,1,0 = 5 J Milne 2,1,0,1,1 = 5 D North Ex,2,0,2,Ex = 4 N Rowe 0,1,2,0,1 = 4 Matt Jones 1,0,1,0,R = 2 Brock Gates 0,0,1,1,0 = 2 Heat 1 Mark Jones, Milne, R Sedgmen, Rowe Heat 2 J Sedgmen, Ringwood, Matt Jones, Gates Heat 3 Proctor, Anderson, Gathercole, Stewart Heat 4 Barnfield, Branford, Medson, North (Ex) Heat 5 Proctor, North, Milne, Gates Heat 6 Branford, Ringwood, Anderson, R Sedgmen Heat 7 Mark Jones, Stewart, Barnfield, Matt Jones Heat 8 J Sedgmen, Gathercole, Rowe, Medson Heat 9 Ringwood, Stewart, Medson, Milne Heat 10 Gathercole, R Sedgmen, Gates, Barnfield Heat 11 J Sedgmen, Proctor, Mark Jones, Branford Heat 12 Anderson, Rowe, Matt Jones, North Heat 13 Gathercole, Branford, Milne, Matt Jones Heat 14 J Sedgmen, North, R Sedgmen, Stewart Heat 15 Anderson, Medson, Gates, Mark Jones (F) Heat 16 Proctor. Ringwood, Barnfield, Rowe Heat 17 J Sedgmen, Anderson, Milne, Barnfield Heat 18 Medson, R Sedgmen, Matt Jones (Ret), Proctor (Ret) Heat 19 Gathercole, Ringwood, Mark Jones, North (Ex) Heat 20 Branford, Stewart, Rowe, Gates B Final Anderson, Mark Jones, Branford (F), Ringwood (Fx) A Final Proctor, Gathercole. Anderson, J Sedgmen (Fx)

Victorian Titles - Seniors - courtesy of the Track Announcer and Chief Hobbit. 1st Ty Proctor 2nd Cory Gathercole 3rd Jake Anderson 4th Justin Sedgman (Excl) Sedgmen was unbeaten until the final but fell while leading the final on the back straight on lap one Juniors 1st Max Fricke 2nd Jack Fallon 3rd Cooper Riordan 4th Lindsay Phillips Fricke was excellent and did it fairly easily in the end.

Josh was good value in OzChamps last year and would certainly have put up a decent showing, as would Kyle. No offence to young Brenton whom I've only seen as a junior, or Arlo, a more honest rider than Arlo would be hard to find, but they're out of their depth here, and would probably only pick up points by default. Seems that a few of the Powers-that-be have their own agendas for the sport, and that doesn't include giving the paying public what they deserve and what it used to be - the opportunity to see the best 16 riders currently in Oz going head-to-head, regardless of nationality.

If QLD MA keep acting like pork chops I can see it going to South Oz next year.

Got that right! Seems like the only way GB youngsters are getting any International experience is thanks to Marcus the Pom and his Darren & Sharon Boocock Scholarship.

Latest news from LAR: Retiring 10 times national speedway champion, Leigh Adams, says he’s excited about his Testimonial meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 5, at Mildura’s famed Olympic Park. The former world number 2 and 3 times World Cup winner says whilst it’s been a mountain of work the night itself shapes as an absolute cracker. “Look, we’ve put so much time, money and effort into this that it should be an absolute blast,” he said yesterday. “I’m literally gobsmacked by the rider support I’ve had so far and without doubt it is the best array of bike and sidecar talent ever assembled for one night in this country. “We’ve got Phil Crump, Tony Rickardsson, Jarek Hampel, Darcy Ward, Josh Waters, Chris Holder, Jamie Stauffer, Darrin Treloar, Glenn O’Brien and so many more – it will literally blow the people of Mildura away.

Latest news is with three weeks to go Jake Anderson has pulled out of OzChamps - 1st reserve Arlo Bujega has been promoted into the 16. If there's any more pull out it may be different reserves for different track, but I'm tuning up the Postie Bike just in case; might have trouble finding a racesuit to fit me!

Field for the Victorian Titles at Undera: R Sedgman, J Sedgman, B Barnfield, C Ferguson, B Gates, J Stewart, C Gathercole, C Woodward, D North, J Milne, Mark Jones, T Proctor, J Anderson, N Rowe, Matt Jones, R Medson, Reserves, J Ringwood, W Morrison, A Bond. Cam & Ty to fight this out with Cory & Sedghammer giving them a run for their money I reckon. I expect to see Mark Jones in the B Final, along with Dakota & Jake.

They're both in the Under-21s at Brisvegas - just up the road from the Hunter - but might be giving the 5-round Ozchamps a miss because of the cost of the exercise, Wanna, at least that's my take on it.