Australian 500cc Solo Championships Rd4 Updates

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

 

Rider list As Per Programme:

 

1 Mark Lemon (VIC)

 

2 Craig Watson (NSW)

 

3 Kevin Doolan (VIC)

 

4 Charlie Gjedde (DEN)

 

5 Jason Lyons (VIC)

 

6 Troy Batchelor (QLD)

 

7 Chris Ferguson (VIC)

 

8 Ashley Jones (VIC)

 

9 Tom Hedley (SA)

 

10 Adam Shields (NSW)

 

11 Cameron Woodward (VIC)

 

12 Steve Johnston (WA)

 

13 Travis McGowan (VIC)

 

14 Matthew Wethers (SA)

 

15 Leigh Adams (VIC)

 

16 Rory Schlein (SA)

 

17 Tyrone Proctor

UPDATES TO FOLLOW SOON AS THEY COME IN STAY TUNED

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

 

Rider list As Per Programme:

 

1    Mark Lemon  (VIC)

 

2    Craig Watson  (NSW)

 

3    Kevin Doolan  (VIC)

 

4    Charlie Gjedde  (DEN)

 

5    Jason Lyons  (VIC)

 

6    Troy Batchelor  (QLD)

 

7    Chris Ferguson  (VIC)

 

8    Ashley Jones  (VIC)

 

9    Tom Hedley  (SA)

 

10  Adam Shields  (NSW)

 

11  Cameron Woodward  (VIC)

 

12  Steve Johnston  (WA)

 

13  Travis McGowan  (VIC)

 

14  Matthew Wethers  (SA)

 

15  Leigh Adams  (VIC)

 

16  Rory Schlein  (SA)

 

17  Tyrone Proctor

UPDATES TO FOLLOW SOON AS THEY COME IN STAY  TUNED

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can any of our speedway friends please tell us a bit more about the reserve Tyrone Proctor please he seems to be popping up in some big meetings this season...

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

 

Heats 1 to 4

 

Heat 1

 

R Mark Lemon 1

 

B Craig Watson 2

 

W Kevin Doolan 4

 

Y Charlie Gjedde 3

 

Time: 58.40

 

 

 

Heat 2

 

R Jason Lyons 1

 

B Chris Ferguson 4

 

W Troy Batchelor 3

 

Y Ashley Jones 2

 

Time: 59.01

 

 

 

Heat 3

 

R Adam Shields 1

 

B Cameron Woodward 2

 

W Tom Hedley 4

 

Y Steve Johnston 3

 

Time: no time

 

 

 

Heat 4

 

R Leigh Adams 1

 

B Matthew Wethers 3

 

W Rory Schlein 4 Fell

 

Y Travis McGowan 2

 

Time: 58.?

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

Heats 5 to 8

 

 

Heat 5

 

R Travis McGowan 2

 

B Mark Lemon 3

 

W Jason Lyons 1

 

Y Tom Hedley 4

 

Time: 60.40

 

 

 

Heat 6

 

R Matthew Wethers 3

 

B Adam Shields 1

 

W Craig Watson 2

 

Y Troy Batchelor 4 Fell and Excluded

 

Time: 61.22

 

 

 

Heat 7

 

R Cameron Woodward 2

 

B Leigh Adams 1

 

W Chris Ferguson 4

 

Y Kevin Doolan 3

 

Time: 59.28

 

 

 

Heat 8

 

R Charlie Gjedde 1

 

B Ashley Jones 4

 

W Steve Johnston 2

 

Y Rory Schlein 3

 

Time: 61.52

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

Heats 9 to 12

 

Heat 9

 

R Troy Batchelor 4

 

B Rory Schlein 1

 

W Mark Lemon 2

 

Y Cameron Woodward 3

 

Time: 58.71

 

 

 

Heat 10

 

R Steve Johnston 3

 

B Jason Lyons 1

 

W Leigh Adams 2

 

Y Craig Watson 4

 

Time: no time

 

 

 

Heat 11

 

R Ashley Jones 1

 

B Tom Hedley 3

 

W Kevin Doolan 2

 

Y Matthew Wethers 4

 

Time: 61.82

 

 

 

Heat 12

 

R Travis McGowan 1

 

B Charlie Gjedde 3

 

W Adam Shields 2

 

Y Chris Ferguson 4

 

Time: 59.80

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

Heat 13

 

R Chris Ferguson 4 fx

 

B Steve Johnston 1

 

W Matthew Wethers 2

 

Y Mark Lemon 3

 

Time: 60.83

 

 

 

Heat 14

 

R Craig Watson 4 fr

 

B Travis McGowan 1

 

W Ashley Jones 3

 

Y Cameron Woodward 2

 

Time: 60.83

 

 

 

Heat 15

 

R Rory Schlein 1

 

B Kevin Doolan Heat 15 Re-run. Lyons fell and Doolan Excluded

 

W Adam Shields 2

 

Y Jason Lyons 3

 

Time: 60.92

 

 

 

Heat 16

 

R Tom Hedley 4 fell

 

B Troy Batchelor 3

 

W Charlie Gjedde 2

 

Y Leigh Adams 1

 

Time: 60.33

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

Heat 17

 

R Mark Lemon 4 Fell and Excluded

 

B Ashley Jones 2

 

W Leigh Adams 1

 

Y Adam Shields 3 Fell and Retired

 

Time: 59.19

 

 

 

Heat 18

 

R Tom Hedley 4

 

B Craig Watson 1

 

W Chris Ferguson 3

 

Y Rory Schlein 2

 

Time: 61.84

 

 

 

Heat 19

 

G Tyrone Proctor 3

 

B Steve Johnston 1

 

W Travis McGowan 4 Fell and Excluded

 

Y Troy Batchelor 2

 

Time: no time

 

 

 

Heat 20

 

R Jason Lyons 4 Fell and Excluded

 

B Matthew Wethers 2

 

W Cameron Woodward 3

 

Y Charlie Gjedde 1

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

AUSTRALIAN 500cc SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS RD 4, Mildura Speedway, Victoria, 8th Jan 05

 

Updates from Ron Malm trackside via Mrs Ronny at the keyboard

 

B Final

 

R Charlie Gjedde 2

 

B Steve Johnston 1

 

W Ashley Jones 4

 

Y Rory Schlein 3

 

Time: 61.31

 

 

 

A Final

 

R Leigh Adams 1

 

B Adam Shields 2

 

W Jason Lyons 4

 

Y Travis McGowan 3

 

Time: 59.79

 

 

 

 

 

LEIGH ADAMS is the Australian Speedway Champion for 2005

 

 

 

Unofficial … JASON LYONS wins the bike

 

 

 

 

 

Correction to Heat 17

 

Adam Shields Fell and Remounted not Fell and Retired

 

 

 

Heat 17

R Mark Lemon 4 Fell and Excluded

B Ashley Jones 2

W Leigh Adams 1

Y Adam Shields 3 Fell and Remounted

Time: 59.19

 

Well thanks to Ronny and Mrs Ronny for all their wonderful updates cool stuff people.........time 4 me to catch some zzzzzzzzzzzzz's................Well done Leigh yet again PEACE OUT!!!

[Guest Steve Dixon]

Well done Jason, a new bike for the new season.....

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

Well done Jason, a new bike for the new season.....

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Hi Steve, couldnt go to a nicer person either dude

[Guest Steve Dixon]

Well done Jason, a new bike for the new season.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hi Steve, couldnt go to a nicer person either dude

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Too right mate.....

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

Well done Jason, a new bike for the new season.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hi Steve, couldnt go to a nicer person either dude

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Too right mate.....

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Hi Steve, mate what sort of lens you use on the Canon dude. By the look of your pixs on your site we may have exactly the same camera unit but unfortuantely good zoom lens out here for such a camera is rather expensive even on EBAY which isnt so bad crouched down for the shot on the 1st bend holeshot on the infield but for say a 800mt Longtrack meeting something bigger would certaintly be better thats for sure.

[Guest Steve Dixon]

At the moment i'm using a 100-300 zoom and a 55-200 Sigma lenses,depends how close i am.

Try looking at digitalrev.com.

[Guest Aussie Dirtdingo Throttlejockey]

report fwd from Brendon Gledhill:

 

ADAMS MAKES IT 8 TITLES

 

 

 

Mildura’s Leigh Adams won his eighth Australian Speedway Championship when he convincingly won the fourth and final round of the Title series at Mildura’s, Olympic Park last night.

 

 

 

Adams was again in superlative form, being the top points scorer, with fourteen points and easily winning the “A” final for the fourth time. Adams was beaten to the line for the only time in the series by second place overall rider, Jason Lyons, who finished second in an Australian Championship for the fifth time.

 

 

 

Adams had dominated at the start line in the three previous rounds, but wasn’t trapping to his usual form at Mildura which required a little more work from him during each event. It is significant that it was only Mark Lemon, who got close to Adams at Gillman and Jason Lyons, who was the only rider to beat the Champion, who gave Adams any real pressure, but on all but one occasion he was able to draw away for the heat win.

 

 

 

Adam Shields (NSW) finished the Mildura round in second place on the points table, with Jason Lyons in third spot. Lyons was fortunate in getting to the “A” final again, once again suffering frame problems which did not allow the bike to steer into the corners well at the end of the meeting. Travis McGowan was back into contention, although he, like Lyons, suffered a heavy fall in his last heat and was fortunate to make the “A” final.

 

 

 

Under cloudless skies and a late Mildura sunset the first heat got under way in unspectacular fashion with Mark Lemon, for the first time in the series, greeting the chequered flag in front and starting the meeting with full points. Craig Watson exploited the track well to take second from the Dane, Charlie Gjedde who beat Kevin Doolan home for third.

 

 

 

Jason Lyons took advantage of his inside start position over the youngsters in the field when he convincingly led home Ashley Jones, Troy Batchelor and Chris Ferguson in the second heat.

 

Lyons looked fast and his time indicated that we could be in for a hot night.

 

 

 

Heat three only made it to the first turn when Tom Hedley and Steve Johnston got their bikes locked together with neither being able to steer through the turn. The referee stopped the race and restarted with all riders at the tapes again after a delay had occurred and the tapes were set to a better tension. Hedley came down in turn two in the re-run but was able to remount and chase Shields, Woodward and Johnston to the line. Johnston had dropped serious points as Woodward looked good on home soil, celebrating his birthday with a good second place.

 

 

 

Round one concluded when Leigh Adams made the start from Schlein, who chased hard from McGowan with Matt Wethers at the rear. Adams pulled away showing a very strong engine, but disaster struck for Schlein, when a chain broke. He drifted wide in turn four on lap four, dropping his machine right in front of the “Bob Crump” pit exit gate. McGowan was handed and easy point through Schlein’s problem, a point which would come in very handy at the end of the heats.

 

 

 

Adams had been able to extract consistent drive from the track and he returned a lap time just one onehundredth of a second off the Jason Lyons lap record of fourteen point zero three seconds. We were in for a hot meeting tonight.

 

 

 

McGowan was back out again from the inside, with two other Mildura stars in Lemon, from gate two and Lyons, from gate three. Hedley was out of gate four. Lyons made the holeshot and dominated through turns one and two, taking a good lead down the back straight from Lemon and McGowan. Lemon came hard into turn three, at about half track width when he lost his front wheel. As he was going to ground his handlebar end seemed to hit the track and, with his knee on the ground, ice speedway style, he was able to bounce his machine up by some degrees, enough to continue driving through the corner. Thinking that Lemon was going to fall, the referee reacted instantly, putting the red light on for a race stoppage, but to the surprise of all, Lemon had recovered and was still racing but had to stop for the red light. All riders stopped and were invited into the re-run. Lyons trapped quickly and McGowan stayed in touch throughout. Only when Lyons drifted high on one occasion, did it look as though McGowan might get through on the inside. This was not to be and Lyons went on to win comfortably from McGowan and Lemon, who still seemed out of sorts from the curious race stoppage.

 

 

 

Adam Shields started well in heat six and lead all the way from Watson and Wethers. The young Queenslander, Troy Batchelor, had a close look at the famous Olympic Park soil when he came down in the first turn of his second lap. Shields joined Lyons as unbeaten riders, very much the best start in the series for the NSW rider.

 

 

 

Adams blasted away from Woodward, Doolan and Ferguson to cruise to another easy heat win.

 

 

 

Heat eight was set to be a task for Gjedde, Jones, Johnston and Schlein with only Jones getting reasonable points from his first outing. Gjedde trapped well, as he has shown all series, with Johnston fighting hard at the start and working a good turn one from Schlein and Jones. Gjedde was able to maintain his advantage and recorded his first race win at Mildura.

 

 

 

After the long break, Schlein was back out trying to get amongst the points. He was able to achieve a better result as he gated well and led Lemon, Woodward and Batchelor for the entire four laps.

 

 

 

Heat ten, by virtue of quick times in their earlier outings and just that the two fastest riders ever to go around Olympic Park, were drawn to meet, with Steve Johnston and Craig Watson on the inside and outside respectively, was always going to be an ordeal. This was possibly, the highlight heat of the series. The tapes rose to see Lyons just sneak his wheel in front of Johnston momentarily, but for Johnston to have the best of turn one and two to lead Lyons down the back straight with Adams, who had been squeezed by Watson from the outside. Adams for some while had been back in fourth place but he continued to drive under Watson into turn three and managed to consolidate. Johnston, who with Lyons, have this great affinity for close racing against each other, worked hard just to stay in front of Lyons. It was not until down the home straight for the first time that Lyons got in front and was able to take his preferred line. Johnston still tried to gather inside of Lyons, protecting his rear from an Adams attack. The attacks continued to come from all directions. Johnston was able to hold off Adams for a short while but Adams, with enormous skill, moved through to now chase Lyons. Lyons kept his cool and covered anywhere where he thought Adams might go. Another lap may have seen the difference but Lyons prevailed to the flag and the crowd rose as one to applaud some great individual racing. One race had satisfied most patrons as Adams and Lyons and Johnston acknowledged each others efforts down the back straight to the pit return. Watson had probably blown any chance of an “A” final berth with fourth place.

 

 

 

By the previous heat standard, heat eleven was uneventful except that it again showed that Ashley Jones is a much under rated rider and he recorded a good race win over Doolan, Hedley and Wethers.

 

 

 

Heat twelve was the heat for Travis McGowan to get back on track as he had Gjedde beside him with Shields and Ferguson to deal with further outside. McGowan gated well and led Gjedde and Shields, who took over second place and took second leaving Jason Lyons as the only unbeaten rider after three completed rounds.

 

 

 

Ferguson was back out next and dropped his machine into turn three of the second lap. The race was stopped with Ferguson out. Johnston got back on the winners list with Wethers getting by on Lemon to take third place.

 

 

 

Craig Watson needed to get back on the points trail after failing behind Lyons, Adams and Johnston last time out, but this time he had to contend with McGowan in gate two, Jones and Woodward. McGowan made the start with Watson in touch for the first lap until Watson fell coming into turn two for the second time, as Woodward moved through on Jones, taking second place. Watson not only had cost himself any chance of an “A” final appearance but had assisted Jason Lyons get his hand more firmly on the handlebars of the new Jawa motorcycle, which was the prize offered for the highest finishing Australian non Grand Prix rider in the series.

 

 

 

The most controversial heat was then started with Schlein, from Doolan, Shields and Lyons in heat fifteen. Doolan lifted at the start with Shields getting a good run to the first turn, keeping Schlein behind him and Lyons wide and in third. Into turn one Shields led with Schlein second and Doolan just moving past Lyons. Next thing, Lyons hit the deck and stayed down. A red light stopped proceedings and after a time the red helmet light was illuminated, indicating that Schlein had been deemed the cause of the stoppage. A long process then ensued with Schlein protesting his innocence to the Referee. Further time went by as considerations were made and then the blue helmet light came on indicating that Doolan had taken Lyons’ front wheel out causing Lyons to fall. Again the protestations came, this time with Doolan being quite animated. After it was clear that the current judgement had been made and would now not be altered, Doolan withdrew from the remainder of the meeting.

 

 

 

The re-run, with a very ginger Lyons, started with Schlein using his bit of good fortune and leading Shields for an all the way win. Lyons was having problems handling his machine, with it looking as though it was very hard for the rider to turn left, indicating a severely bent frame of the motorcycle.

 

 

 

The Swindon team mates, Leigh Adams and Charlie Gjedde, were pitted against each other next with Hedley and Batchelor from the inside two gates. Adams was away superbly with Gjedde following and as the race continued it became a race in two with Batchelor and Hedley having a good dice for the minor placings. Adams won from the Dane with Batchelor getting through before the line to take third.

 

 

 

The final round commenced with Adams on eleven points, Lyons, Shields and McGowan on ten points and Lemon, Schlein, Johnston, Gjedde and Woodward all on seven points back to Jones on six points. Both finals still up for grabs with only Adams assured of an “A” final start and his eighth Australian Championship.

 

 

 

Adams blasted away from the line but strangely Mark Lemon took a fall through turn two. Adams continued on with Jones and Shields swapping places at each end of the track. Jones fought on strongly to take second from Shields to finish with a chance of making the “B” final, a great result for him.

 

 

 

Watson needed a confidence booster to finish off after having a wretched night by his high standards. He trapped well with Hedley following, after a great start with Schlein taking a time to move through on the debutant. Ferguson could not get on the pace as Watson finished in front but had only accumulated seven points, the same as Lemon who had fallen in the previous heat.

 

Schlein would finish with nine points and a spot in the “B” final.

 

 

 

Reserve rider, Tyron Procter came in to replace Doolan, who could not get his mind around his previous exclusion but the interest was between Johnston, who could shoot for a “B” final berth at best, and McGowan, who, by getting a good result, could take an earlier selection of gate in the “A” final. McGowan got into bother and came down in turn two, cushioning his fall a little on Johnston, but it did look nasty as a red light stopped the action. Attention was quickly to the Victorian Champion and he stood up to great support from the knowledgeable crowd. And he walked back pitside not knowing his fate in the finals.

 

 

 

A restart without McGowan saw Johnston outclass young Batchelor and Procter to finish the night better than he had started.

 

 

 

The final heat had Lyons, who could be second on points outright, but suffering from a very sore body and a badly bent frame against Wethers, who had plugged away steadily, Woodward, who would get his best result for the series and Gjedde, who like Johnston, would struggle to do better than the “B” final.

 

 

 

Lyons made the start but struggled to steer his machine through turns one and two allowing Woodward to grab an opportunity to lead over Wethers, Lyons and Gjedde. Gjedde moved in on Lyons into turn one and a repeat of Lyons’ previous heat was seen, Lyons down, race stopped with this time the Red exclusion light being illuminated. Lyons machine was taken away and he trudged back to the pits, wishing for a straight bike to use in the final.

 

 

 

In the second start, Gjedde got away well, leading Wethers and Woodward. The minor places swapped a couple of times with Wethers taking the higher points after a good ride, his best for the series.

 

 

 

The “B” final was set with Gjedde in red, Johnston in blue, Jones in white and Schlein in yellow, on the outside. Johnston was now very focussed and made away from the line with some authority as Gjedde and Schlein followed. Jones could not hook onto Schlein and Johnston pulled away from the Dane out in front. Some consistent laps ensued from Johnston and he enjoyed his win and next best series points for his effort. Gjedde remained in second place from Schlein and Jones.

 

 

 

The draw for the “A” final saw Leigh Adams, from gate one, Adam Shields from gate two, Jason Lyons from gate three and Travis McGowan from gate four.

 

 

 

Adams made the holeshot, with Shields following to McGowan and Lyons, not taking the first and second turns with any comfort. Adams kept the pressure on and drove away from Shields, who kept his distance from McGowan. Lyons trailed behind, not able to muster any handling from his machine and had to settle for fourth place in the event, which would assure him of second place in the series and the ownership of the Jawa motorcycle donated by MJM Speedway Spares.

 

 

 

Leigh Adams was clearly dominant and finished the series as he had started and ridden over all four rounds, clearly the best rider in Australia and fully deserving of his eighth Australian Speedway Title since winning his first in 1992 at North Arm Speedway in Adelaide. Interestingly that year, he paired with Jason Lyons to win the Australian Best Pairs Championship, a Title that they still hold today as the Title has not been contested since.

 

 

 

Adams received the warm congratulations of the big crowd in attendance as he led Adam Shields and Travis McGowan to the chequered flag. Jason Lyons finished officially fourth. Shields had suffered back luck at the start of the series when he blew his best motor during practice at Gosford so this result was clearly his best. McGowan had been in two to finals and one “B” final so he was pleased with his finish.

 

 

 

The Mildura round trophies were presented to Adams, Shields, McGowan and Lyons with the series Awards being made to Leigh Adams, receiving the Australian Championship Cup, the Gold Medal from Motorcycling Australia, the perpetual award, the Duke of Edinburgh Trophy as well as the winning sash and an Australia 1 race jacket from Sullys Shoemasters, a Perth cobbler who presents a fine race jacket to each winner of the Australian Title in Solos and Sidecars.

 

 

 

Jason Lyons received his awards and medals, but was absolutely delighted in receiving from Matt Jones his new Jawa race bike courtesy of MJM Speedway Spares and Jawa. The prize bike will allow Lyons to have a better stock of machinery at his disposal for next year’s domestic season as he will leave this machine at home.

 

 

 

Steve Johnston was delighted with his third place in the series as was Charlie Gjedde, with his fourth place, saying that he had enjoyed his first trip down under and particularly enjoyed riding a variation of tracks around the country.

 

 

 

All riders agreed that the series had been successful and congratulated Motorcycling Australia for conducting the four rounds. The promoters were widely applauded for the cordial way they had treated the riders and the series Officials were congratulated for their conduct of the meetings.

 

 

 

The particular highlight of the post meeting Press Conferences, in particular the final conference, is that all riders committed to a similar series next year right away, saying that they preferred the time frame as it had been and asked for next season’s Title series to be perhaps in the first two weeks of January with either three or four rounds.

 

 

 

Leigh Adams, Steve Johnston and Shane Parker conducted a coaching clinic for junior riders early this morning at Olympic Park with 25 riders in attendance, a great effort from Adams, particularly after a gruelling last two weeks on the road.

 

Brendon Gledhill, Event Director, MMCC