BigFatDave

Huge weekend in Oz with big meetings in three states; Qld has their senior open as does NSW while down at Gillman it's the Jack Young Trophy. All line-ups etc on the new Speedway Downunder site. For all you fashionistas there's also some beaut piccies of Darcy in a suit!

Could do with a few Under-16s 350 riders as well - only 4 entered so far for Brisvegas!

These Dinners usually turn out OK; just four of our mob can make the nosh so we'll be terrorising some unsuspecting folks - "pass the Fingerbowl please - SWINE! You've eaten 'em all!". Good one in Sydderney a few years back with Joe Screen & Fast Freddie Lindgren on the same table turned into a long night!

We're not blessed with too many helpful sites Downunder; some clubs can't be bothered updating regularly and some consider it a privilege to allow you to read them - http://speedwaybikesdownunder.webs.com/ - hopefully will make finding news & results a bit easier.

Going to watch Zeilona Gora v Tarnow on the Sunday after the Cup unless we get a repeat of Leszno 2009's firt day wash-out - does anyone know of any good day-trips for the Friday? Tour of the local Brewery perhaps? ( LIKE!!) Don't think I could handle anything war-like after visiting Auschwitz last time.

Been running with this one for 4 weeks here - http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=58953 did you vote?

Qld U21 title at Ayr tonight, weather permitting. Line-ups (courtesy of Brynbach): Josh Grajczonek Josh Auty Ashley Cathcart Adam Wrathall Clinton Dennis Mitchell Davey Dylan Blain Mitchell Weismantel Brendan Johnson Tyler Moon Kyle Howarth Kyle Newman Riders withdrawn due to work commitments, illnesses, injury. Nick Morris, Ryan Douglas, Guy Mallet, Tyson Nelson Qld 350 cc Title Jayden O'malley, Hayden Barr, Robert Gottardi, Harley Brigden, Michael Detenon, Dalton Nilsen. Jake Moore, Jake Allen & Tyson Snow have all withdrawn to different reason.

You're Spot On, Mateusz!! Congratulations are in order for FIM Rookie of the Year, Under 21 World Champion Darcy Ward and World Champion Tomasz Gollob, FIM Personality of the Year. We can all stop voting now!!

EmCee for the Dinner and Guest Announcer for the Meeting will be David Tapp. Bit of a who's who of Aussie Speedway attending so far with many familiar names coming out of the woodwork.

I certainly had no problems booking my return to Poznan for SWC. I'd best remember to take an empty water bottle just in case I have to pay a pound to spend a penny on Ryanair.

Tickets are now on sale for 'A Night with the Stars' the Leigh Adams Testimonial Dinner, 4th Jan 2011 at Coomealla Club, NSW. www.coomeallaclub.com.au. The event is 6.30pm for 7.00pm start. Dress semi-formal. Tickets $50 each.

Some doubt about the winner here, spiderweb, with one message saying Ty took it out. Big night up on Has-beens Hill?

I can confirm one rider for sure, with Darwin's own ROOBOY, Rory Schlein confirming he'll be a starter following speculation on Aussie Forums that he'd pulled out.

Big field of Solos at Gillman this week with a busload going down from Mildura plus the Swedish pair of Kling & Aspgren and returning Wolf Ty Proctor - Field (from the Gillman Site): Division 1: Tyron Proctor (Vic), Ricky Kling (Sweden), Justin Sedgmen (Vic), Tom Hedley (Vic), Pontus Aspgren (Sweden), Ben Turner, Brenton Barnfield (Vic), Ryan Sedgmen, Robert Medson. Division 2: Luke Mitchell, Adam Briggs, Damon Whelan, Kane Turner Junior (Under 16) Speedway (on the infield track) - 125cc Solos Division 1: Arthur Sissis, Seth Hickey, Jake Mitchell, Dakota Ballantyne Division 2: Jack Norman, Brayden McGuinness, William Coombes All this plus a great sidecar field - Darrin Treloar/Justin Plaisted (NSW/SA), Glenn O'Brien/Aaron Maynard (WA), Mark Mitchell/Tom Golding, Mark Plaisted/Jamie Banks, Warren Monson/Deven Gates (Vic), Trent Headland/Jesse Headland, Daniel Puddy/Matt Morgan, Byren Gates/Michael O'Loughlin (Vic), Chris Pascoe/Adam Pascoe, Chris Holmes/Neale Hancock (Vic), Michael Hoogland/Michael Bell - should make it a great night out for all Croweaters! I'd imagine spiderweb'll be up on Has-beens Hill with recently-re-retired birthday boy Ronny Parker partying on like there's no 90 minute drive home!

The joys of 350s.

Its gonna be pretty difficult scheduling a qualifier this year what with Xmas; Leigh's Cheerio and the Under-21s etc - the programme is very crowded. If there are any qualifiers I can only see them coming from the Under-21s, but who knows? MA moves in mysterious ways. It is a long schedule this year: five meetings well spread out including Broken Hill and the travel costs will be up there in the Stratosphere for sure: I know of at least one rider who won't be doing it this January - bit of a shame for his Downunder fans as we won't see how much he's progressed, but he's dead set on improving his equipment for next year's European season and that means he's had to get a Real Job, like the rest of us!

(From the Gillman Site) Victorian rider Max Fricke denied Red Bull MotoGP Rookies' Cup rider Arthur Sissis a record-breaking fourth win in the South Australian Under 16 125cc Solo Championship at the Sidewinders' Junior Speedway track in Adelaide last night (20 November). Sissis look a class above the rest as he raced through his five heats unbeaten, and recorded the three fastest times despite a sometimes temperamental bike, but he was beaten out of the start by Fricke in final, and despite riding on Fricke's back wheel for the full four laps he could not find a way past the cool, calm and collected youngster from Mansfield in Victoria. Fricke only dropped the one point to Sissis in the heats and was always regarded as the biggest threat to Sissis. Another rider regarded as a possible threat, Western Australian number two Blake Russell, however was never in the picture and finished with just seven points, six of which came from wins against the much less experienced riders in his last two rides. Third in the final was local rider Seth Hickey, with the other qualifier, Mildura's Cooper Riordan falling on the first lap. Hickey, Riordan and Jake Mitchell all scored 12 points, with Hickey winning the countback to gain the third automatic qualifying spot in the final, while Riordan beat Mitchell, Dakota Ballantyne (10) and Jack Norman (9) in a closely fought last chance semi-final. This was the last SA Championship for Sissis, who therefore remains equal with Rory Schlein as the only riders to have won three times in the Championship's 33 year history, and Hickey, and Mitchell, Ballantyne and Norman will step up as the leading local riders next season. Ballantyne, at only 11 years of age, has been noted for a couple of years now as likely to follow in Sissis' tyre tracks as the next rider to watch, but Jack Norman is just 9 years old and already has the style and paste to match all but the best riders. Heat points: Arthur Sissis 15, Max Fricke (V) 14, Seth Hickey 12, Cooper Riordan (V) 12, Jake Mitchell 12, Dakota Ballantyne 10, Jack Norman 9, Blake Russell (WA) 7, Joel Pellicone 7, Tony Pellicone 6, William Coombes 4, Brayden McGuinness 3. Semi-Final: Riordan ®, Mitchell (, Ballantyne (W), Norman (Y), 43.78 Final: Fricke (, Sissis ®, Hickey (W), Riordan (Y-fell), 43.60

The Adams Family should be back in Oz by now so doubtless the updates on this one will soon be flowing thick & fast, but in the meantime a bit of a bonus for SA Speedway Fans with the news that after the Farewell Meeting the senior riders who took part plus the entire travelling entourage will all be heading down to Gillman for the meeting on Jan 8th - an event that promises to out-GP a fair few meetings in Europe - definitely Not To Be Missed! It'll be great to see how Jarek Hampel comes to terms with Australia's best Solo Speedway Track: maybe Leigh'll show him his special line - halfway up the fence on the back straight! Alas I'll be Oop North in Brisvegas for the Aust Under-21s & Under-16s but doubtless I'll cop a few abusive texts from the usual suspects!

Just to keep you updated on the adventures of Ricky Kling and Pontus Aspgren Downunder: after their hectic days in Perth they're heading Eastwards. Next weekend's a big one for them, with meetings at Gillman (SA) on Saturday 27th then up to Mildura for Sunday the 28th at Olympic Park, where the Sedgmen Brothers will be looking after them (and doubtless leading them astray!). After that so far they're nailed on for the Jack Scott Trophy at Gillman on the 11th Dec then its off to North Brisvegas for the 5 Team Tournament at Mick Doohan Raceway on the 18th Dec. I'm not sure if they'll survive Christmas at Trackman's Shed on the Gold Coast - come to think of it I've got grave doubts for the safety of the Darren & Sharon Boocock Scholarship lads as they're due on the Gold Coast this weekend or next for a barby at Booey's! (Sorry if my info ain't too specific: I was a tad 'under the weather' when my spy on the East Coast reported in last night - 'under the weather' as a Parrot to be precise!)

Bit harsh on young Pontus there dirtbag me ol' mate, considering the Swedish boys only got the bikes from Customs 4 hours before the meeting and had to put 'em together then run the 180m track with zero practise! Well Done to all the Riders who took part and Congratulations to Freddie - Championship material!

Gillman was on last week; I'd have mentioned it but was otherwise engaged! From the Gillman website: :: Solos Solo Division One Scratch Races (4 laps) Points: #11 Nigel Sadler 10 (1,3,R,3,3), #4 Robert Branford 8 (2,1,3,F,2), Justin Sedgmen 5 (3,2,FX,N), Brenton Barnfield 5 (R,0,2,2,1), #9 Robert Medson 2 (0,0,1,1,0).

Kurri Kurri's got a meeting on this Sunday, Dexter, with Jnr solo & sidecar, Snr solo & sidecar taking part. You'd have to check their Website for details - http://www.kurrikurrispeedway.org.au/ - I'm sure Julie or Peter will be able to set you straight. Other meetings this weekend include Tamworth for Long Track solos & Sidecars on the Saturday plus down South at Olympic Park on Saturday night at Mildura there's solos, Sidecars & Quads. Among the riders will be Ryan Sedgmen returning after injury and new Daddy Tom Hedley not forgetting returned star Justin Sedgmen.

Latest News from LAR: Poland’s current World Speedway Number 2 and all round good guy, Jaroslaw Hampel, is a definite starter in the Leigh Adams Testimonial scheduled for Mildura’s Olympic Park on January 5. Hampel is a team mate of Leigh’s at the ultra fast Leszno circuit in Poland and clearly will start as one of the favourites on race night despite never having previously seen the venue. Speaking from the UK, Adams said; “We are delighted that ‘Jarek’ has committed to come over – he’s one of a new breed of young stars currently getting the job done at world championship level and I’d say the public will get a huge kick out of being able to see him up close on the tricky Mildura track. “He’s a really good fella and has his head screwed on that’s for sure, I’d suggest that it may be many people’s only chance to watch this future world champ in action – he ticks all the boxes I believe”. This is a massive coup for the event organisers and comes hot on the heels of the news that 6 times World Champion, Tony Rickardsson, will also be in attendance (though not competing). Adams continued; “The Testimonial is shaping up as a really good event and I’m overwhelmed by the support I’m getting from people all around the world. If everyone that says they’re coming turns up we might have to run two days in a row to fit them all in,” he laughed. Doubtless Rocket Rod Coquhoun, who runs Leigh's site, will let us know any other developements in plenty of time, but if you haven't booked, time to get your finger out!

Everything will be on here - http://www.leighadams.com/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=2&lang=en - Mike, including the confirmation of Jaroslav Hampel. I'll pm you when I get a chance. Mildura to Sydney would have to be via Melbourne and you won't get a plane home after the meeting. Best bet is arrive the day before to take in the Dinner and leave the day after if seats are still available otherwise it's Greyhound.

Some of us actually get up to follow the Updates! I usually catch the tail end of 'em. I trust you'll reciprocate and be up early for the Australian Solos Updates, etc? Just like to echo everyone's congratulations for Buxton and commiserations to the Mighty HORNETS.