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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
The build-up for this season’s Australian Speedway Sidecar Championship will click into top gear for some of the country’s leading riders at a special meeting at the Newcastle Showground Speedway next Tuesday (January 26).
With the Newcastle Showground set to host the Australian Sidecar Championship for the first time on Easter Saturday night, the Suzuki of Newcastle Sidecar Masters meeting next Tuesday takes on special significance as it will be the last opportunity for riders to race there before the championship. This special Australia Day meeting will be conducted in daylight with racing commencing at 4pm.
Interstate riders in particular were very vocal in their calls for a shakedown run leading into the title meeting and many are expected to grasp the opportunity to race there next Tuesday.
What the interstate riders do not realise though is that the local riders have lost their perceived ‘home track advantage’ after extensive track works prior to the recent final round of Australian Solo Championship changed the contour and track depth, as well minor changes to its shape, so all riders will be starting on an equal footing in the event.
Heading the line-up on Tuesday will be five times national champion Darrin Treloar and passenger Justin Plaisted and the South Australian duo who deposed them at last season’s title meeting, Mark Mitchell and passenger Tom Golding.
Both of those teams, along with another South Australian team Mark Plaisted and passenger Sam Harrison have just returned from a five –meeting tour of New Zealand tracks where the Aussies completely outshone their Kiwi rivals.
The only low point of the tour came when the first ever World Sidecar champions Mick Headland and passenger Paul Waters, also from South Australia, were involved in a high speed crash early in the tour and they face an extended spell on the sidelines.
At least four Newcastle teams are expected to line up on Tuesday and for two of them in particular - Grand Bond and passenger Glen Cox and Darren Café and passenger Don Morris - the meeting will be important as both have had lengthy layoffs from competition.
The other local interest will focus on two teams at the opposite ends of the experience scale with veterans Mick and Wayne Farrell continuing to enjoy their racing and youngsters James Hinton and passenger Blake Cox who are increasingly making their mark on the sport.
The line-up for the Masters will be finalised over the weekend.
Gates at the Newcastle Showground will open at 2pm on Tuesday, practice at 2.45pm and racing from 4pm.
Meanwhile fans will be able to watch coverage of the final round of the Australian Speedway Solo championship staged at the Newcastle Showground when it hits TV screens this weekend.
NBN, WIN and Channel 9 Adelaide and Perth have scheduled the telecast for 12 noon on Sunday (Sunday 24) while it will be seen on Foxsports 2 and 3 on January 26 and 27 respectively.
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