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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
After chasing the right to stage FIM Track Racing Sidecar 1000cc World Championship for two years, Gillman Speedway has declined the chance to hold the event following a failure to agree a suitable date with Motorcycling Australia.
Gillman Speedway Manager David Parker announced: "We have been chasing this event for two years and our original intention was to stage it in late March to tie in with the proposed Speedway Grands Prix in Australia and New Zealand.
"With it looking less likely they would go ahead we opted for February 26.
"After successfully tendering for the event we were informed by Motorcycling Australia it would have to be held towards the end of the calendar year, with November their stipulated month.
"This immediately sounded alarm bells for us as speedway in South Australia has traditionally pulled much smaller crowds before Christmas than after. This dates right back to Kym Bonython's time at Rowley Park. When North Arm Speedway first opened in 1981, Mr. Bonython warned the then Speedway Riders' Association President Roy Bitmead about this, and all our data compiled since, at North Arm and Gillman, shows this is still the case.
"As a compromise we reluctantly said we would be prepared to run the event on December 27 or 28 but Motorcycling Australia insisted it had to be in November.
"We agonised over this for quite some time before deciding we just can't take the financial risk to run the event at that time of the year. We can't risk sending the club bankrupt for the sake of one meeting, and conversely we don't want to ensure the meeting goes ahead by slashing the budget by over 50% and putting on a second-rate show.
"I realise riders and supporters will be disappointed, but no one will be more disappointed than me. I saw this event as the culmination of eleven years hard work put in by many volunteers who rarely get any recognition or thanks.
"It saddens me we have had to pull out, but by doing so now, more than twelve months before the event, it gives any other tracks who may be interested the chance to step in.
"In the meantime we'll now get back to concentrating on the season ahead which includes the Australian Sidecar Championship and a round of the Australian Solo Championship, as well as the South Australian Solo and Sidecar Championships."
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