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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Murray Bridge duo Mick Headland and Paul Waters claimed victory in the first ever FIM Track Racing Sidecar 1000cc World Championship held in La Réole, France last Saturday, 22 August 2009.
The 1000cc Championship was previously contested as the FIM Track Racing Sidecar Gold Trophy, and was only granted official Championship status by the FIM in 2009.
Motorcycling Australia (MA) supported seven teams that headed over to France for the World Championship event, and the results certainly vindicated MA’s desire to assist these riders in their quest to reach the pinnacle of their discipline.
The Queensland pairing of Gary Moon and Josh Sinnott finished second to make it an Aussie double atop the podium, while Russel Mitchell and Tina Karan finished in fourth place.
Headland returned home to Australia yesterday and is still coming to grips with the fact that he is now a World Champion, two years after he and Waters won the Gold Trophy title in Wayville, South Australia.
“It’s a pretty surreal feeling, it took a little while to sink in,” Headland said.
“Winning the Gold Trophy always felt like we were the best at that time, but to have the World title makes it seem legitimate now.
“We thought we had a good chance, but to actually pull it off is just unbelievable.
The competition at La Réole was extremely fierce and the title came right down to the wire, with Headland and Waters edging out Moon and Sinnott - as well as Great Britain’s Rob Wilson and Terry Saunters - in the final heat of the day to claim the Championship.
“It was really fast out there and you only needed to drop one race that day and it was all over, so it was intense and great racing,” Headland said.
Headland admits that competing on an unfamiliar grass track and in swelteringly hot conditions made the victory all the sweeter for him and his passenger Waters.
“The temperature was around 37 degrees and it was probably the hardest track Paul and I have ever raced...a lot different to what we’re used to in Australia, but certainly still race-able,” Headland said.
Being over in France as part of an Australian team was something Headland also cherished dearly, and was particularly thankful to the local hospitality they were given during their visit.
“It was absolutely fantastic... all the Aussie riders know each other and get on really well together, and the French people were just so friendly to us despite not speaking English so well.
“They were so welcoming, the track was fantastic and the whole town turned out to watch – the whole experience couldn’t have been better.
“I just really want to thank Paul [Waters], my passenger, Phil, Lisa, all our sponsors and our fan club of course – they are the people that keep us going.”
Now back home in Australia, Headland is not wasting any time and seems determined to continue his good form into the Australian Speedway season which commences in the coming months.
“We’ve got Murray Bridge starting up this year, our home track, which is fantastic after a couple of years break,” Headland continued.
“But we’re going to have a good shot at the State titles again this year, and hopefully we can bring home the Australian title – they’re the two big ones we’re keen to try and win this year.”
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