MILDURA SPEEDWAY: LIDSEY WINS CRUMP SIX LAP FINAL
By: Brendon Gledhill
After twenty exciting Crump Classic heats, which saw some wonderful racing with some cracking times for those races, the traditional Crump inspired, six rider, six lap final, did not disappoint the large crowd who attended Mildura’s Olympic Park speedway on Saturday night for the annual “GT Onsite Windscreens – Karym Cleaning,” Phil Crump Solo Classic.
American Champion, Luke Becker, had gone through the meeting unbeaten on 15 points, so he took first gate selection in the dramatic final. Local riders, Justin Sedgmen and Jaimon Lidsey each dropped two points, however Sedgmen took second pick of gate as he had beaten Lidsey when they met in heat twelve in a toughly contested event while dual Australian champion, Rohan Tungate finished next one point in arrears to take fourth selection. Another count back was required between young Queenslander, Tate Zischke, having his first Mildura ride and the unlucky new Victorian and Australian Under 21 champion, Beau Bailey to fill the last automatic entry into the Crump final. Zischke won the countback, leaving Bailey to contest the cut-throat “B” final for riders who finished in 6th to 9th place on points.
For the Crump final, Becker confidently chose the gate one start position with Sedgmen immediately selecting gate two. Lidsey decided that it would be hectic on the inside at both the Shaun Stephens start line and especially in turn one, so he boldly selected the outside, gate six position. Tungate decided that gate four had been working well, so he took that position which left Zischke and the winner of the “B” final, the Englishman, Leon Flint to take gate three and gate five respectively.
The stage was set with all six riders keen to perform, especially as the Mildura Master, a keenly interested Phil Crump was in attendance at his meeting. The tapes flew with Jaimon Lidsey getting an excellent start from gate six ahead of Becker, who also started well from the red gate. Tungate too, made a good start from his gate four position and Sedgmen rode well from two with young Zischke very much in the mix. Lidsey’s good start continued and he swept into turn one with a slight advantage over the American, but his momentum allowed him to be in front by the exit of turn two with Sedgmen and Tungate close behind Becker.
Lidsey extended his lead over Becker and Tungate challenged Sedgmen through turns three and four. By the start of lap two, the local rider had established his authority, and Becker was playing catch up. Tungate moved into third place and Zischke worked his way past Sedgmen. The Englishman, Flint, tried to follow Zischke and he, too, worked his way past Sedgmen.
The large crowd was enjoying the hot and fast action trackside and were vocal in support of the young man from Red Cliffs who was having his first ride at Mildura since returning from overseas. There was action aplenty for the remainder of the journey with individual contests all over the busy track.
The chequered flag signalled the end of the six laps with the popular win going to Lidsey ahead of Becker then back to Tungate, Zischke, Flint and Sedgmen. Lidsey celebrated with some wheel standing and the mandatory lap with the chequered flag, only the second time that he has won the Phil Crump Classic trophy. Lidsey was buoyed by his efforts and to win the Crump event for a second time pleased him greatly.
Jaimon Lidsey photo by: Mark Neale.
The crowd stayed on too, to watch Phil Crump present his Trophy to the top four placed riders. Phil was pleased with the competitive efforts, especially of the younger riders, who he hopes will move on in the sport and commented that riders like veteran, Scott Nicholls, had lost nothing of his hardness as a rider. He was also pleased for Lidsey, who has come on nicely.
The Twenty Heats had seen some drama, with the worst accident seeing SA rider, Fraser Bowes, taken for medical attention after crashing into the AirFence in turn three in the final heat.
The younger riders will be the better for the experience but generally the best riders made it into the two finals. UK rider, Leon Flint was the rider to make it through cut-throat “B” final, just ahead of the veteran former British Champion, Scott Nicholls, who was only a part bike behind his English compatriot. In third place in the minor final was young Queensland rider, Jacob Hook, who scored well enough to make the last chance qualifier. The young 16-year-old, new Australian Under 21 Champ and Victorian champ had decided to stay on the outside of the track after starting from gate four and boldly tried driving right around the outside of all the other riders, only getting caught going into turn four and sliding into the AirFence.
Club statisticians noted that the start line was very even all night with wins being recorded from gate one 5 times, gate two on six occasions, gate three five times and the outside, gate four on 4 occasions. This was an indication that the track had been prepared superbly by Club staff and had provided good and safe opportunities to all riders. Visiting riders commented that the track had provided constant grip all night.
Reserves added to the meeting with their heats as did four young Under 16 250cc riders who use the larger track at Olympic Park.
Next meeting at Olympic Park will be round three of the Mallee Bearings, 2026 Australian Solo Championship to be contested on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. A good field has been engaged for the four rounds of the national title, this year only to be only in Victoria at Wodonga and Mildura with the final at the Gillman track in Adelaide.
