Justin Sedgmen

A mechanical failure 40 metres from the finish line robbed Mildura’s Justin Sedgmen of a place in an Australian speedway title in Perth Friday night.

After finishing 2nd on the points table for the night, Sedgmen was just behind the leader around the final corner when his bike engine dropped a valve. Justin Sedgemen, who had been amazingly focused at the meeting, could do nothing but watch as the other two riders swept around him pushing him back to 4th.

The championship was won by South Australia’s sensational 12 year old rider Arthur Sissis, who only gained a place in the field when NSW rider Taylor Poole was hospitalized at Mildura on December 29. Justin Sedgmen had defeated Sissis in the South Australian solo Under 16 title when the local rider finished 4th.

Motorcyling Australia selected the first two riders in that title for a place in the Aussie championships held at the Pinjar Park speedway, approximately 30 kilometres north of Perth.

“I was right up there near the lead but a race is never over until the chequered flag,” Justin said. “I was giving it my all and I don’t even know how far I was in front of the others.” “I came around the last bend and the engine spluttered and I knew what had happened – there was nothing I could do.” “Just so close, yet so far from the line.”

It was Justin’s last ride at an Aussie Under 16 title as he becomes 16 on February 17. “Second in the Australian Under 16 title was Darcy Ward of Brisbane with third place going to another Queenslander Clinton Dennis from Ayr. Sissis finished unbeaten on the night with 15 points while Justin Sedgmen finished with 14 points.

The fastest winning time of any other rider was 47.042 by Nick Morris in heat four (although Justin Sedgmen recorded a 46.826 when finishing second to Sissis in heat seven).

Sissis' times started with a 45.690, and included a 46.305, 46.784, 46.631, and then a 46.518 in the final which he won by 1.8 seconds from Darcy Ward and Clinton Dennis after second placed Sedgmen broke down in the last corner.
 
Most of his races were won by similar margins, only Sedgmen getting "close" in heat 7 when beaten by just 0.52 of a second. The only disappointing thing about Sissis' win is that we will probably never see him in senior speedway. He rides just about every type of bike going - Junior Speedway, Dirt Track, Moto-X, Motard & Pocket Bikes - his goal for the future is to get into MotoGP!
 
Heat points:
Arthur Sissis (SA) 15, Justin Sedgmen (Vic) 14, Clinton Dennis (Qld) 13, Darcy Ward (Qld) 11, Todd Kurtz (NSW) 9, Alex Davies (NSW) 9, Nick Morris (Qld) 7, Mason Campton (NSW) 7, Robert Branford (SA) 7, Josh Munro (Vic) 5, Harley Brigden (Qld) 5, Cameron Heeps (WA) 4, Robert Medson (SA) 4, Jake Moore (Qld) 3, Ben Millington (WA) 2, Brady Kurtz (NSW) 2, Matty Day (Qld) Res 0, Brayden Munro (Vic) Res 0.
 
Final:
Arthur Sissis, Darcy Ward, Clinton Dennis, Justin Sedgmen (Ret)

Justin Sedgmen, Josh Munro, Darcy Ward, Alex Davies and Todd Kurtz made their last appearance in the junior title as all turn 16 before next season's title.

Courtesy Glenn Russell.