ADELAIDE’S GILLMAN SPEEDWAY OPENING NIGHT-SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8

Feature photo by: Judy Mackay…Opening night Solo favourites Fraser Bowes (left) and Justin Sedgmen.

(Gillman Media: November 5, 2025)

It’s time to get back to oval track action in Adelaide with Gillman Motorcycle Speedway opening its 29th summer season this Saturday night,  November 8, with what looks certain to be an entertaining meeting.

It promises close and exciting racing throughout all classes.

The 500cc Solos have one of the biggest opening line-ups in recent years, headed by international riders Justin Sedgmen and Fraser Bowes who have both just returned from racing in the UK. Sedgmen, from Merbein in Victoria, is a four-time Victorian Champion, and three-time South Australian titleholder, while local Adelaide rider Bowes is a former Victorian Champion and the current SA and Victorian number two, so they’ll be the favourites for the final, but they can’t afford to be complacent with a good line-up of emerging talent in opposition.

Solo rep Seane Chapman has been working overtime to entice many of Australia’s latest crop of talented teenagers to Gillman, and if you are a Solo fan you won’t want to miss this meeting as other commitments means you won’t get too many other chances to see these exciting young riders.

Three of the best new teenage riders from New South Wales will be riding, in Beau Bailey, Alex Adamson and Lachlan Russell.

Bailey has only just turned sixteen, but spent the winter practicing in Poland, and was unbeaten in Mildura, in his only senior meeting back in Australia, last month.

He has already signed two European contracts for 2026 but will be riding as often as he can around Australia chasing a top four finish in a state title to qualify for a UK visa.

Seventeen year old Adamson has also just returned from four months riding in Europe, and finished second in the Northern Territory championship in Darwin in his first meeting back in Australia.

Russell is another 17-year-old and while he doesn’t have the overseas experience of Bailey and Adamson, he is a former Australian junior dirt track champion, who had a good first senior speedway season last season.

Adelaide’s only emerging teenage rider, 18-year-old Harry Sadler is also in the line-up, but the teenagers with have more than Sedgmen and Bowes to deal with, with several other older riders —Reid Battye, Jake Turner and Ben Whalley — competing.

Twenty four year old Battye is a former successful road racer who has quickly adapted to speedway and was unbeaten over two nights in the NT championship. That has made him eligible for a UK visa so he is extra keen to do well around Australia this season in the hope of being offered a team place in the British League. To that end he has moved south to Albury, from his home in Grafton, so he can contest more meetings in Victoria and SA.

Turner and Whalley are two New Zealand riders who are based in Victoria this season. Whalley is the current New Zealand champion, while Jake Turner is well known to Adelaide fans and won the Gillman track championship, and finished top three in the SA championship twice when previously based in Adelaide for a couple of seasons.

The Kiwis watching on the livestream will also have someone to cheer on in the Sidecar races with current Canterbury champions, and New Zealand number four, Taylor Green and Callum Innes making their first Gillman appearance. 23-year-old Taylor will be making several trips to Gillman during the season with support from former Australian champion Mark Mitchell.

Favourite to take out the opening night final, however, will be another former Australian Champion Justin Plaisted, with Kym Menadue, Shane Rudloff/Damian Egan, now on the ex-Tyler Moon bike, Josh Pascoe/Dale Knights and Green/Innes his likely main challengers.

The Under 16 250cc Solo class will also feature a couple of talented interstate riders with Nate Smith (Vic) and Cooper Antone (NSW), who both rode some meetings in Europe during the winter, taking on the local riders Kobi Canning and Ruby Chapman, who also both have overseas experience.

Rounding out the programme will be the Flat Track Solo class and the Under 16 125cc Solo class (on the infield track during the main track grades). The Flat Track class looks very open with perhaps Mildura’s Chloe Ackerley, Port Pirie veteran David Footner, and Harry Sadler the favourites, while Hayden Pascoe, Riley Stout and the Riverland’s Ryleigh McGregor should contest the junior final.

Gates will open at 4pm, and racing will start at 7pm.

For those who can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv] for a cost of $25. As always this is the only official livestreaming link. Any other links touted on Facebook sites are scams and should be ignored.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Meeting Date: Saturday, November  8, 2025

Venue: Gillman Speedway (‘Ray White Gawler’ Stadium), 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.

Parking and entrance: Patrons can enter via gates at the western and eastern ends of the venue. There are free off-street parking areas near both gates.

Gates open: at 4 pm.

Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.15 pm.

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Competitors:

Solos 500cc: Alex Adamson (NSW)… Beau Bailey (NSW)… Reid Battye (NSW)… Fraser Bowes (SA)… Steven Graetz (SA)… Isaiah Hartley (Vic)… Jack Norman (SA)… Teagan Pedler (SA)… Lachlan Russell (NSW)… Harry Sadler (SA)… Shaun Sampson (SA)… Justin Sedgmen (Vic)… Tayla Street (Vic)… Jake Turner (Vic)… Ben Whalley (Vic)

Sidecars: Taylor Green/Callum Innes (NZ)… Joshua Kerr/Kate Barnes (Vic)… Kym Menadue/passenger tba (SA)…  129-Byron Mordaunt/Jarrad Katzorke (SA/Vic)… Jason Mordaunt/Peter Robinson (SA)… Scott Morris/Jye Siddall (SA)… Corey Palmer/Scott Cameron (SA/NSW)… Josh Pascoe/Dale Knights (SA)… Justin Plaisted/passenger tba (SA)… Shane Rudloff/Damian Egan (SA)… Willy Walker/Liam Sherwood (SA)… Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski (SA)

Flat Track Solos: Chloe Ackerley (Vic)… David Footner (SA)… Hannah Holmes (Vic)… Nate Headland (SA)… Greg Laanekorb (SA)… Matt Paterson (SA)… Harry Sadler (SA)… Anthony Stevens (SA)… Mark Stevens (SA)… Con Twist (SA)… Chris Walsh (SA)

Junior (under 16) 250cc Solos: Kobi Canning (SA)… Ruby Chapman (SA)… Cooper Antone (NSW)… Nate Smith (Vic)

Juniors (on the infield track during the main track grades): 125cc Solos: Owen Chapman (SA)… Ryleigh McGregor (SA)… William Nicol (SA)… Hayden Pascoe (SA)… Jett Plaisted (SA)… Nate Sadler (SA)… Koby Smith (SA)… Riley Stout (SA). 125cc Solo Novices & 50cc Solos: Jack Johnson (Vic)

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children under 16 free. Parking free. Programme $5-includes two chances to win $50 fuel vouchers. EFTPOS available at both entrances, the canteen, bar and souvenir shop.

Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only.

Livestreaming: This meeting will be livestreamed on [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv]. The cost is $25 Australian. Any other claimed links to livestreaming are scams and should be ignored.

Seating: Free grandstand seating, terracing suitable for deck chairs, and large grassed viewing mounds.

VIP Area: The Bob White VIP area is available to anyone who would like to treat their business colleagues, family or friends to the best view in the stadium. Enjoy the elevated view overlooking the track, either from inside the temperature controlled rooms, on the timber deck, or on the enclosed lawn area. The VIP area also has its own bar and toilet. Ring Ivan Golding on 0417 138 378 for more details.

Food and drink: Full bar and catering available. Food includes hot chips, hamburgers, chicken burgers, pies, pasties, sausage rolls, Chiko Rolls, dim sims, hot dogs, doughnuts, coffee, cold drinks, sweets. “Gillman has far and away the best speedway tucker” [Peter White’s Speedway World]

Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue.

Smoking, Vaping: by Government legislation, no smoking or vaping allowed within the green fenced area at this venue.

Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop.

Pets: No animals are allowed into the venue except assistance animals, eg guide dogs.

Weather Forecast as at November 5: Maximum 18, minimum 11. Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml]

Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378.