Sidecar Speedway
Sidecar Speedway: Headland wins Gold Trophy.
By Admin
Nov 25, 2007, 22:39

Over 4,000 spectators witnessed local Mick Headland take out the 2007 FIM Track Sidecar Gold Trophy 1000cc at Wayville in South Australia on Saturday night.

Riding with passenger Paul Waters, Headland managed to rack up 13 points over his five contested heats to force a race-off showdown with Queenslander Gary Moon and his passenger, Duane Dennis.

Headland earned the coveted inside starting gate having won a coin-toss to decide positions, and he shot to the lead at the first corner which he never really looked like surrendering.

The event was delayed on several occasions between heats two and four due to a mechanical failure with the starting tape which had a big bearing on the overall proceedings.

With the tapes unable to be repaired, riders were informed that the remainder of the meet would be run with starts dictated by the track lights.

Once the action resumed, the night turned into a battle between six main contenders including Headland and Moon who were the most consistent overall, as well as Mark Plaisted (3rd), Ronnie Parker (4th), Darrin Treloar (6th) and Scott Christopher (7th)

A blown tyre in his final heat forced Christopher out of contention, while Treloar departed early due to a false start in his final race.

Parker recorded two wins in his nine-point total, while four wins from five heats landed local Plaisted a place on the podium – he was left ruing a disqualification for a false start from his second heat.

But the battle for overall honours only ever looked likely to go to Headland or Moon, who each finished the heats with three wins and two second placings.

Speaking as he returned to the pits to rapturous applause, an ecstatic Headland admitted that he couldn’t be happier and despite the issue with the starting tapes, this was one of his biggest nights on the track.

“I’m absolutely stoked – absolutely over the moon,” he said.

“We didn’t let it bother us (the starting malfunction) – we just got on with the job because everyone had to race under the same conditions, so that was fine.

“We were quietly confident – our bikes been flying over the past 12 months, and it’s just all come together mate.

“It’s all come together, this is what we’ve dreamed of and put a lot of effort into, and it’s great that the plans have come together.”