January 15, 2026

TOUGH BATTLE LOOMS FOR LYONS SOLO TROPHY

Australia, Koorlong (Mildura), Latest News, Speedway Solos, Victoria Australian Speedway

Words by Brendon Gledhill

Mildura’s Olympic Park speedway will host one of the toughest contests of the Olympic Park season, when on Saturday night, January 17, the “Prestige Edging,” 2026 Jason Lyons Solo Trophy is conducted.

The Lyons meeting has a magnificent field of top International riders, including Mildura Club’s four resident visiting riders, which include the seven times British champion, Scott Nicholls, former British Under 21 champion, Leon Flint, as well as current British Under 19 champion, Luke Harrison. All three English riders have been keen to impart their knowledge to our younger riders.

Mildura Club’s other main season guest is the four times USA champion, Luke Becker, who has been a revelation both at Olympic Park and in Adelaide, during his visit. Becker is a most talented rider and has joint top scored at each of his outings while resident in Australia.

Like many of his countrymen before him, he is a most affable and agreeable young man with a marvellous skill set and speed and he, like his English colleagues, has been a wonderful guest of the club, especially passing great information on to the many young Australian riders who move through Olympic Park during the season. Becker’s Mildura visit will be well remembered for his on-track exploits and especially his ability to score freely against all competition.

Local star, Jaimon Lidsey, fresh from an overall second place in the 2026 Australian Championship series recently completed and other local star, Justin Sedgmen, will enjoy the strong competition from all riders who are in at the top end of the prestigious Jason Lyons field. During the European season, both Lidsey and Sedgmen have greatly assisted the club in attracting the excellent suite of riders who are currently visiting and the Club is most grateful that both boys can see the value of the club’s actions in getting good competitors to make Mildura their temporary home for just a few weeks each season. Club officials continue to be excited that these visits can be so rewarding to the many young folk who see that riding at Olympic Park Speedway does so much for their growing careers and for them to observe great riders at their work is a wonderful learning experience for them all.

Joining the top list of riders to contest the Lyons meeting is SA’s Fraser Bowes, who returns from an injury he received at the Phil Crump Classic a month ago. Local rider, and now new Oxford signing, Dayle Wood, as well as three NSW youngsters, Brad Page, Harry Ryan and Alex Adamson, will be joined in the Lyons dozen by young English rider, Will Cairns, who is on an “Experience tour Down Under” taking rides wherever he can, just to get extra experience on tracks around the world. This quite young man has a future ahead of him now as he has recently signed with both Poole in the Championship League and for Belle Vue in the Premiership League for the forthcoming British League season.

The Lyons meeting will see all twelve riders take a dozen heat rides before the top three riders on points will move directly into the “Prestige Edging” Lyons Final. The last chance Qualifying position will go to the winner of the cut-throat semi-final, held between those riders who finished from fourth to seventh place on points. Olympic Park patrons enjoy the drastic action caused by conducting a “last chance qualifier” event to get the last rider into the final.

A support class of 500cc riders will add to the on-track action as will a small group of 250cc mounted Junior riders. Modern Sidecars will feature just as a teaser for the remainder of the 2026 Olympic Park season and they will be supported by an enthusiastic bunch of Classic Sidecars who will entertain the crowd as well as themselves with their on track antics.

One noticeable difference in the Modern sidecar field will be a significant omission, in that after 17 years of riding together as a formidable combination, the Brothers-in-law, Byren Gates and Michael O’Loughlin, will no longer ride together on Mildura’s famous number 50 sidecar. Micky O has called time on his career as a passenger and his place will be taken by SA swinger, Damian Egan, who joins the Gates team with a deal of experience.

Mick O’Loughlin had a tryout with Byro all those years ago and he liked the idea of swinging along-side. It was also significant that Micky O soon became very good as a passenger and, over time, has joined some of the most highly regarded passengers to ever swing for many of Mildura’s good Sidecar riders of their time. A seventeen career as a passenger is usually unheard of in Sidecar racing, as injury, family situation, vocation or a myriad of other reasons, often break up similar motorcycling partnerships, however, the brothers-in-law, Byren Gates and Micheal O’Loughlin, have stood the test of time, tasting much success, but more importantly, have gained the utmost respect of fellow competitors from around the Sidecar fraternity. The Club wishes Micky O all the best and thanks him for being such an amenable and quality bloke and an affable competitor.

Pit gates will open for competitors only, from 4:00 pm with Olympic Park Spectator gates opening from 5:00 pm. Our Junior program will commence at 5:00 pm. At 6:00 pm, a six race pre-event competition (support classes only) will take place, to cater for the many entries on the Program. This small interlude will take pressure off the main events for the evening. The regular Parade and National Anthem will take place at 7:00 pm (just Lyons field only), immediately before the Dash for Cash, which will begin at 7:15. Racing will begin at 7:30 pm.

Patrons are advised that tickets are available at the Main gate and that spectators may utilise the many Free grandstands which surround the Stadium or folk may bring a chair or rug and avail themselves of a spot on the grassy banks around the Stadium.

Patrons are reminded too that Olympic Park is a licensed venue and that no BYO is allowed. Olympic Park is a “family” oriented venue and the club asks that spectators remain mindful that respectful conduct is mandatory by all in attendance.

Scott Nicholls (England) Photo by: Mark Neale