FIM Track Sidecar Gold Trophy 1000cc
Saturday 24.11.2007
Wayville Showgrounds - Adelaide, South Australia
Photo Gallery:
http://www.speedway.net.au/07_Gallery.asp?EventId=6046

This event will be screened on Foxtel and also Ch10.
The show was filmed and will be produced by David Tapp's Power Productions
A total of 5 cameras were used with some very interesting angles to cover the action.
These include 2 x onboard race cams, starting gate, from the center of the track and a birds eye veiw from the tower in turn 1.

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Headland Wins Gold Trophy
Supplied by: Andrew Weiss
Communications Manager for Motorcycling Australia

Over 4,000 spectators witnessed local Mick Headland take out the 2007 FIM Track Sidecar Gold Trophy 1000cc at Wayville in South Australia on Saturday night.

Riding with passenger Paul Waters, Headland managed to rack up 13 points over his five contested heats to force a race-off showdown with Queenslander Gary Moon and his passenger, Duane Dennis.

Headland earned the coveted inside starting gate having won a coin-toss to decide positions, and he shot to the lead at the first corner which he never really looked like surrendering.

The event was delayed on several occasions between heats two and four due to a mechanical failure with the starting tape which had a big bearing on the overall proceedings.

With the tapes unable to be repaired, riders were informed that the remainder of the meet would be run with starts dictated by the track lights.

Once the action resumed, the night turned into a battle between six main contenders including Headland and Moon who were the most consistent overall, as well as Mark Plaisted (3rd), Ronnie Parker (4th), Darrin Treloar (6th) and Scott Christopher (7th)

A blown tyre in his final heat forced Christopher out of contention, while Treloar departed early due to a false start in his final race.

Parker recorded two wins in his nine-point total, while four wins from five heats landed local Plaisted a place on the podium – he was left ruing a disqualification for a false start from his second heat.

But the battle for overall honours only ever looked likely to go to Headland or Moon, who each finished the heats with three wins and two second placings.

Speaking as he returned to the pits to rapturous applause, an ecstatic Headland admitted that he couldn’t be happier and despite the issue with the starting tapes, this was one of his biggest nights on the track.

“I’m absolutely stoked – absolutely over the moon,” he said.
“We didn’t let it bother us (the starting malfunction) – we just got on with the job because everyone had to race under the same conditions, so that was fine.
“We were quietly confident – our bikes been flying over the past 12 months, and it’s just all come together mate.
“It’s all come together, this is what we’ve dreamed of and put a lot of effort into, and it’s great that the plans have come together.”

Gold Trophy quotes: What they said...

Mick Headland – 1st
“I’m absolutely stoked – absolutely over the moon. It’s all come together, this is what we’ve dreamed of and put a lot of effort into, and it’s great that the plans have come together.

On the tapes:
“We didn’t let it bother us – we just got on with the job because everyone had to race under the same conditions, so that was fine.”

Gary Moon – 2nd
“Second is alright – we stayed out of trouble but still dropped a few points early in the night which was a bit hard on us, but it was alright. We didn’t quite get the setup for the bike in the end which cost us pretty dearly, but second is pretty good.”

On the tapes:
“What can you do you know, it is something that you just have to put up with and get on with it you know.”

Mark Plaisted – 3rd
“You are never happy unless you win, and there were obviously no tapes, but that’s the way it is. We are okay though because we dropped a heat and still managed to finish up third so it was a pretty good effort I guess.

On the tapes:
“You can’t do much more than go along with what the referee says.”

Ronny Parker – 4th
“I believe we’ve got fourth, so I am very very happy with that. We had a mixed night but so did a lot of other people. Fourth in Australia and now fourth in the world so we have got to be happy with that.

On the tapes:
“We’re used to starting with the tapes, we’re just so used to it. It made it a whole new ballgame, and some adapted really quick but some didn’t. But how else were you going to do it?”

Scott Christopher – 7th
“It was one of those meetings where I guess a lot of the top guys had a bit of bad luck. You can’t help these sort of things and things were changing all of the time. It’s the way that racing goes sometimes and you’ve just got to roll with it. The winners rode well all night, and a few of us had a bit of bad luck with blown tyres and exclusions, but that’s racing and it’s great to see someone different at the top.”

On the tapes:
“It’s probably only the second time in my career that I’ve ever done something like that, and especially not at a meeting of this calibre. Some of these races – 50% of the races are on the sport and it is pretty important, but what can you do?”

Gary Jackson – 12th
“I’m a little bit deflated – we had problems the whole night. We had a misfire and just couldn’t cure it and tried everything in the time, but still don’t know what it is now.”

On the tapes:
It was not a good situation really, but if that’s the only option that’s left, then that’s the only option we’ll take. It’s not good, but if you want the meeting to run then it has to be lights.”

Roel Liemburg – 18th
“To be honest with you I enjoyed it as a big event to be there, but I had some problems with the bike. We changed carbs and everything – I still can’t find the problem that is there. But of course, it’s a big event and I am there and I enjoyed it.”

On the tapes:
“The start gate was a disappointment and made a big delay. It had an effect on the riders and affected the track preparation as well.”

Information and photos by: Andrew Weiss and Paris Charles.