Sidecar Champions at Gillman Speedway Saturday night

Gillman Media 21 October 2026

The opening meeting of the 2026/27 Gillman Speedway summer season, a milestone 30th season at Gillman, takes place this Saturday night (24 October)  and it is straight into championship mode with the Gillman Speedway track championships for the Sidecars, Flat Track Solos and Under 16 250cc Solos.

The main class on the programme will be the Sidecar Championship with a strong line-up headed by former Australian Champions Trent Headland and Justin Plaisted.

In last year’s championship Justin Plaisted and Brian Anthony were unbeaten in the heats, and led for three laps in the final only to beaten by Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner.

Almost unbelievably, despite being former Australian champions, both went into the meeting having never won their local track championship. Headland, of course, has now added the track championship to his resume, but just as it has proven to be a hard event to win, it has been even harder to defend the title.

Only one rider, the legendary Darrin Treloar (twice), has been able to successfully defend the title in its 21 year history.

So, can Trent Headland become just the second rider to defend the title, or will Justin Plaisted finally add his name to the honour roll (as a rider, he is already on there as a three-time winner as a passenger with Treloar).

It is too hard to predict but you can be sure both teams will be equally determined.

Or is someone else capable of beating the two former Australian Champions?

Maybe Nate Headland and Harry Hearne?

Headland is only 20-years-old but he and Hearne beat a top class line-up, including the top five from the previous season’s Australian Championship – Mark Plaisted, Trent Headland, Tyler Moon, Justin Plaisted and Byren Gates — to win the South Australian Championship in February, so they must be a serious chance.

Others who will fancy their chances of reaching the all-important final are former winners Shane Rudloff (2020) and Rick Stephens (2021), and former finalists Nathan Fleet and Brian Silvy, who have both finished as high as second previously; Kym Menadue, third twice; or Josh Pascoe who was a finalist just last season.

Or can Mildura’s Jayden Mayes spring a surprise. He is making a comeback after many years retirement but he was once Australia #2 behind Andrew Cleave so he has the ability.

Brenten Dwyer, Jason Mordaunt, Michael Hoogland, Scott Morris and Matthew Binns (in doubt with the flu), might find the going tough to make the semi-final although Dwyer has had some impressive rides here in the past.

The 500cc Solo Championship was also scheduled but had to be canned when only two riders, Harry Sadler and Steven Graetz, nominated. With the Solos off, Sadler, who rode for Middlesbrough Tigers in the British National Development League during our winter, has decided to ride in the Flat Track Championship where he’ll be one of the favourites to win along with a fellow 18-year-old, Tyler Battams. They should finish 1-2 in the final, but the other place on the podium is wide open, with perhaps Port Pirie long-track veteran David Footner, at the other end of the age scale at 63, talented female rider Chloe Ackerley, her 16-year-old brother Harley, and Dale Knights amongst the best chances.

In the 250cc Championship Kobi Canning is the favourite with Victoria’s Nate Shortt his main challenger ahead of Ruby Chapman and William Nicol.

The under 16 125cc Solos will also be racing, on the infield track during the track grades for the main track, and the line-up includes the current Australian Champion Blake Schlein, and the Australian Pairs Champions Ryleigh McGregor and Riley Stout.

For those unable to attend, this meeting will be livestreamed, details are below.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 24 October 2026

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 4.00pm.

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

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Competitors:

Gillman Sidecar Championship: Matthew Binns/Jake Armstrong (Vic)… Brenten Dwyer/Jarrad Katzorke (Vic)… Nathan Fleet/Seth Pascoe (SA)… Nate Headland/Harry Hearne (SA)… Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner (SA)… Michael Hoogland/Liam Squire (NSW)… Jayden Mayes/Scott Cameron (Vic) … Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan (SA)... Jason Mordaunt/Blake Stubbington (SA)... Scott Morris/Jye Siddall (SA)... Josh Pascoe/Jamie Flood (SA/Vic)... Justin Plaisted/Brian Anthony (SA)... Shane Rudloff/Kane Golding (SA)... Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski (SA)… Richard Stephens/Nick O’Brien (NSW/SA)

Under 16 250cc Gillman Solo Championship: Kobi Canning (SA), Ruby Chapman (SA), William Nicol (SA), Nate Shortt (Vic)

Gillman Flat Track Solo Championship: Chloe Ackerley (Vic)… Harley Ackerley (Vic)… Tyler Battams (SA)… Rohan Clark (SA)… David Footner (SA)... Nicholas Hutchinson (SA)... Dale Knights (SA)… Greg Laanekorb (SA)... Matt Paterson (SA)... Harry Sadler (SA)… Brendan Smart (SA)

Juniors: (on the infield track during the main track grades): 125cc Solos: Owen Chapman (SA)... Cooper Karpinski (SA)… Ryleigh McGregor (SA)… Jett Plaisted (SA)... Nate Sadler (SA)... Curtis Sanders (SA)… Blake Schlein (Vic)… Koby Smith (SA)... Riley Stout (SA). 50cc Pee Wee Solos: Hendrix Anthony (SA)… Sky Arttimis (SA)… Thaiquien Cook (SA)

Juniors: Flat Track Solos: Owen Chapman (SA)... Ryleigh McGregor (SA)… William Nicol (SA)… Blake Schlein (Vic)… Riley Stout (SA).

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. 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. Also by Government legislation, no smoking or vaping allowed inside 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 21 October: Maximum 24, minimum 15. Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. [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.