QUALITY SIDECAR FIELD FOR MILDURA’S GATES CUP

By Brendon Gledhill

Feature photo by: Judy Mackay

Sidecar stars from around Australia are coming to Mildura to ride in the prestigious “Outback Lawn Care,” Gates Sidecar Cup at Mildura’s Olympic Park speedway on Sunday night, January 25.

A massive and top quality field has been engaged, with even a “qualifying” Time Trial being required to complete the main field. The club has selected fourteen teams to go into the sixteen rider field, with the last two positions being chosen from the next six teams, who will contest a one lap dash with the two fastest teams joining the main group, while the remaining four teams will be reserve riders and compete in support events.

Former champions, Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter, who won his Australian title at Mildura, along with Trent Headland / Jaxon Raynor and Justin Plaisted / Brian Anthony against local veteran, Byren Gates / Damian Egan and a host of other interstate riders who will provide some excellent racing in front of a packed house of Sunraysia speedway fans.

Queensland ace, Tyler Moon / Adam Lovell are joined by NSW stars, Mick Farrell / Brett Towns, Shane Hudson / Jack Spear with Zac Campbell / Jason Williams and Broken Hill’s teenage combination of Max Howse / Riley Commons and evergreen Rick Stephens / Nick O’Brien. Adelaide’s Shane Rudloff / Jake Doyle, Kym Menadue / Shane Dolan, Nate Headland / Harry Hearne will add to the mix of enormous talent who will each take five heat rides over twenty heats and then settle into two finals to decide who wins the Gates Cup.

After some wonderful early season Solo events, the Olympic Park season now changes emphasis slightly to sidecar action and will come to a peak, as the Mildura Club will host the 2026 Australian Sidecar Championships over the Anzac weekend.

Riders from all over the country will head to Mildura to get track time on the circuit to prepare for the 2026 national title. Title year is always exciting as teams come to Olympic Park to learn the tricky circuit and to ensure that they have the best “set up” to hopefully carry them through the two-night Title weekend.

Racing at Olympic Park will be tough, fast and furious as teams try out various methods of gaining advantage over other riders, so patrons can expect to be entertained to the maximum at each of the specialist sidecar meetings prior to the Anzac weekend.

Sunday night’s non qualifier riders will act as reserves for the main event and will ride support as will a handy field of Classic Sidecars, who will be their usual entertaining selves. Stalwart and now sixty year veteran, Broken Hill’s Rob Kemp, will again ride on the John Waters collection of the HRD Vincent and the immaculate JAP machine, which always bring the traditional sound of Classics to the Mildura circuit.

Tickets are available at the gate from 5:00pm onwards and patrons may avail themselves of a nice viewing spot on any of the free grandstands which surround Olympic Park or choose a comfortable spot on the grassy banks, which are so beautifully manicured by Outback Lawn Care & Rubbish Removal. Brett and his amazing Lawn Care team have the Grass in pristine condition by providing constant care since they have been sponsoring the Club.

Patrons are reminded that the Olympic Park License prohibits any BYO being allowed and the Club suggests that the family aspects of the Clubs activities should ensure that personal behaviour is always paramount.

Due to the high forecast temperature there will not be a Junior program ahead of the Gates Sidecar Cup so there will be a general Practice from 6:00pm with the Qualification Time Trials at the conclusion of Practice. A rider introduction and parade will commence at 7:00pm with the National Anthem to be followed by the “Exposed Signage & Apparel” Dash for Cash prior to the main event, which will begin at 7:30 sharp.