Gillman Speedway opening meeting this Saturday night
Gillman Media 5 November 2025
It’s time to get back to the speedway in Adelaide with Gillman Motorcycle Speedway opening its 29th summer season this Saturday night, 8 November, with what looks certain to be an entertaining meeting with close and exciting racing throughout all the 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 champion, while local Adelaide rider Bowes is a former Victorian champion and the current SA and Victorian number 2, 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. UPDATE 7/11/25 - Fraser Bowes has had to withdraw - no motor.
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, 17-year-old Harry Sadler is also in the line-up, but the teenagers will 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 (passenger Brian Anthony), with Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan, 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 125cc junior final.
Gates will open at 4pm, and racing will start at 7pm.
For those that can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [for this meeting https://www.spacequakesports.com/solos-sidecars-flat-track-solos-and-juniors. As always this is the only official livestreaming link. Any other links touted on facebook sites (other than the official gillman speedway facebook site) are scams and should be ignored.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Saturday, 8 November 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 (OUT 7/11/25)… 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). NOTE: Bowes out as at 7/11/25.
Sidecars: Taylor Green/Callum Innes (NZ)... Joshua Kerr/Kate Barnes (Vic)... Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan (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/Brian Anthony (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). NOTE: Sadler out as at 7/11/25.
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/solos-sidecars-flat-track-solos-and-juniors. 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. See the “A Night At Gillman” tab.
Pets: No animals are allowed into the venue except assistance animals, eg guide dogs.
Weather Forecast as at 5 November: Maximum 18, minimum 11. Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml]
Directions:
The best way to get to Gillman Speedway is off Hanson Road.
If you are coming from the eastern and southern suburbs, get on to Hanson road off Torrens Road or Grand Junction Road, travel north on Hanson road over the train line then take the first road on the left, which is Wilkins road.
From the northern suburbs, travel down the Port Adelaide expressway and take the Hanson Road exit. Once on Hanson Road, take the first exit on your right, this is Wilkins road.
From the western suburbs, Wilkins Road is the continuation of Bedford Street, north of Eastern Parade.
For interstate visitors flying into Adelaide and getting a hire car, Gillman is about 20kms, and 30 minutes’ drive (depending on traffic lights) from the airport.
The easiest and most direct way from the airport, if not going to your accommodation first is:
On leaving the airport, turn left onto Sir Donald Bradman Drive. Continue along Sir Donald Bradman Drive until you reach the end of the airport grounds and turn right onto Tapleys Hill Road. Keep going on Tapleys Hill Road until you can’t go any further. That’s Port Road. Turn left onto Port Road (you can only turn left). Continue down Port Road for about 1 km to the first intersection which is Grand Junction road and turn right. Go 700 metres along Grand Junction Road, over a bridge over a railway line. Stay in the left lane because at the bottom of the bridge you turn left into Gray Terrace. Go to the end of Gray Terrace and turn right onto Bedford Street. Keep going on that road until you get to the speedway. About 2km.
Accommodation: There is plenty of accommodation in Adelaide and suburbs, within 20-30 minutes of the Speedway, ranging from five star hotels to caravan parks and backpacker hostels.
Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378.