chopper

Cant seem to get the links to work, can you retry as i love to watch the yankie racing. A cpl of us fathers with kids racing were toying with the idea of coming to the states for some racing, what age do you need to be to ride a 500cc bike, and how many meetings would you get in say a two week period. Cheers Chopper

Quote;;; Either way I thought the 350s were a recent addition to the Aussie youth scene and it was the 125s that most youngsters did Yes your correct scunny stag, the 350s have only been around for a few seasons the riders still have the option to ride the 125s. But as you will see from the clip a few of the kids outgrow the junior 125s and are ready for something full size, Dave Cheshires lad was over from Perth a while back and hes about 6 foot, my lads about 5 foot 7 and way to big for the junior 125s. The great thing about the 350s is as you stated there not much slower than the 500s so teach the kids about the speed entering corners etc. Is there a structured class for the 250s, it suprised me that no english lads enter the youth cup. Cheers Chopper

Just a quick clip to show the 350 class in action in adelaide australia. Im sure you will agree it is a great stepping stone to the 500s, perhaps the BSPA need to have a look at something similar. This class has produced the current crop of 500 riders with a steady stream of 14 and 15 yr olds coming through. We ran a very succesful aussie title recently, perhaps Whowasthatberntperson can get hold of a clip from that meeting to post. Cheers Chopper

And a very good meeting it was with some top class racing. For those interested there was also a championship run for the 350S and junior 125s. Gillman 350cc Junior Solo Championship Race Results (4 laps) Points: #121 Robert Branford 11, #9 Robert Medson 8, Brenton Barnfield 7, Tylor Thompson 2, #25 Matt Cheshire 2 Ev 2 Ht 1 Medson ®, Barnfield (Y), Cheshire (W), Thompson (, 64.87 Ev 8 Ht 2 Branford ®, Barnfield (W), Cheshire (, Thompson (Y), 62.81 Ev 14 Ht 3 Barnfield ®, Branford (, Medson (W), Cheshire (Y), 64.04 Ev 20 Ht 4 Branford (W), Medson (Y), Thompson ®, Barnfield (B, fell exc), 64.07 Ev 25 Ht 5 Branford (Y), Medson (, Thompson (W), Cheshire ®, 63.36 Ev 29 Final Branford ®, Barnfield (W), Medson (, Thompson (Y), 62.93 Gillman 125cc Junior Solo Championship Race Results (4 laps) Heat points: #61 Arthur Sissis 12, #82 Dakota Ballantyne 9, #66 Seth Hickey 8, #WA1 Cameron Heeps 7, #111 Damon Whelan 6, #57 Ryan Hatcliffe 4, #98 Kane Turner 0 Ev a Ht 1 Ballantyne ®, Hickey (Y), Hatcliffe (W), Turner (B, exc off track), 47.21 Ev b Ht 2 Sissis (, Heeps ®, Whelan (Y), 42.68 Ev 5a Ht 3 Heeps (Y), Ballantyne (W), Whelan (, Hatcliffe ®, 43.59 Ev 5b Ht 4 Sissis (W), Hickey ®, Turner (Y, exc off track), 42.45 Ev 11a Ht 5 Sissis ®, Ballantyne (Y), Hickey (W), Heeps (, 43.31 Ev 11b Ht 6 Whelan ®, Hatcliffe (, Turner (W, exc off track), 49.06 Ev 17a Ht 7 Sissis (Y), Ballantyne (, Whelan (W), Turner ®, 43.83 Ev 17b Ht 8 Hickey (, Heeps (W), Hatcliffe (Y), 47.22 Ev 23a Semi Heeps ®, Whelan (Y), Hatcliffe (W), Turner (B, ret), 43.48 Ev 23b Final Sissis (Y), Ballantyne ®, Hickey (, Heeps (W, exc off track), 42.77 Cheers Chopper

Sounds like a good night, anyone got full scores. Cheers Chopper

Ok being a patriotic south aussie im going to have to go Summers Ward Kozza Sweetman

Thanks for the best wishes guys and girls, lovely day here today and now we play the waiting game. Shelby and his gear arrived safe and the bikes are prepped and ready to go. Looked a bit of a sight with quarter of the crate hanging out the back of the van driving up south road. Funny how things have turned around from a field of twelve last year to i believe over 20 noms this year. Roberts also having a crack at the long track tommorow on his 250 motocrosser which will be something different Cheers Darrell

Can only agreee with you there BFD, he looks a very improved rider this season. The time in the UK has really started to show, hes also been a regular at the gillman practices. On that note thanks very much to Chappy, Mark Mitchell and Don Marker for organising regular practice sessions, i know Robert has shown great improvement already this year. Regards Darrell

Yeah well done to young Nick, hes been knocking on the door for a few years now, and i think it may be his last year. Good for Josh as well, really good kid. I believe Authur Sissis won the state titles here, sure mrs Mac might have more details later, shame they were on the same night. Cheers Chopper

Hi there Ozy, unfortunately they wont take the pin out until the middle of next year. Seems a bit long to me as they are saying the leg has healed about 90 percent now. I may have to look at getting him into a sports clinic. In between the speedway and motocross season would be the ideal time. Cheers Darrell

Hi BFD, Robert is still getting over his broken femur.The leg is good but he still has the pin inside. Hopefully on the 6th of Dec at the Jack Young cup he will get to race his 350. I have recently bought him a 500, i will include the link to his first ride at Gillman practice last week. Not sure if i can get to the sidecars , chrissy party, see how im going by then. Hoping to follow the 500 series around again with the 350 so may catch you then. Cheers Darrell Branford

Thanks for that you were obviously paying more attention than me. Have to agree though some really good racing. Cheers Darrell

For those interested heres a brief rundown of last nights meeting, dont have final scores but final positions,. A very good meeting with eleven of the twelve riders all capable of upsetting each other. The exception being Dan Mutton son of former rider Graham Mutton, thrown in at the deep end and competing in only his second ever speedway meeting. To his great credit he rode at a pace that he was capable of and didnt get suckered into over riding, and completed all four races on two wheels.At his current rate of progress he will be running with these guys by seasons end, a road racer, he is a much welcome inclusion and the club would love another half a dozen new riders. The meeting was won by Justin Sedgman, followed by Jake Anderson, Todd Kurtz and Hugh Skidmore. Anderson came through the repercharge after a fall in one heat and suffered by having to start from gate four which was a bad break as he got pushed wide down the back straight and was lucky to stay on when he clipped the back straight fence.He was briefly pased by Kurtz and by the time he repassed him Sedgy was gone. Kyle Newman was also unlucky to have a fall while leading, Sam Martin lost a possible win with a flat tyre, and the lad from WA, Shelby Rutherford was very impressive. There were a few classic races, a bar to bar race between Newman and Skidmore and a blast from third to first from Kurtz past the Sedgy brothers. It seems like every new kid these days is touted as a future champion, but Todd Kurtz in his first senior meeting was brilliant and id be suprised if he doesnt go a long way in the sport. Hope this answers a few questions. Cheers Darrell Branford

Yes well done to Authur, think Davies deserves a mention , he would be giving some of those kids a fair weight advantage. With three of the six aussies not around next year, begs the question how many aussies will there be next year. I think MA need to step in and put more money into getting some of the other kids particulary the ones that qualify through the aussies but cant afford the expense to get there, a greater hand as its an expensive exercise. Even if that means cutting the numbers back. Cheers Chopper

Finished second overall, he was a bit dissapointed, but we are still very proud of him, only a minute between them and Grabbo is a pro rider. The rain probably went against him. Sad to hear about the fatality, condolences to the family and friends. Had a great day at the motocross, havent been that cold at a meeting since my days in the UK. Spent half a day on the flags which was a good experience. Chopper

Dont forget the other big race this weekend BFD, not quite in your backyard but in your state, the Finke desert race. Roberts up there cheering his cousin on, hope the Branford name can take the number one plate again. Cheers Darrell

Going to Murray Bridge sunday to watch the motocross, looking forward to it. Will have to try to catch up and have a chat with him. Chopper

Bloody nice kid, always has the time to chat with us. Chopper

Thanks for that Lee, i hadnt seen a replay before, certainly was an awsome race. There was some great racing over the few years that we were involved, sure they will have many more to come in the senior ranks. Chopper

Looking good Nick, you look like a mighty mouse on that bike. I see Hiedi got his ugly mug on there. Practice, what is this , is it something that only happens in Qld. Cheers Chopper

Sounds like a good day was had Lunchy. with a fair line up of riders. Jake impressed me when we were there and he seemed like a good kid to boot. Isnt Dakota going OS this year or is he still to leave. Cheers Chopper

Hi Lee, heard somewhere might have been Ozyace saying that young Sedgy was going, which would seem strange as hes 16 i think, but could be a rule about bieng 15 at the end of the year. Havent heard anyone else, nine sounds a fair few. I had a laugh when MA put up the riders for the sidecar title on March 7th, when gillman announced them on Feb 20th, so dont know if you will get much help there. Cheers Chopper