Star line-up for SA Sidecar Championship at Gillman
Gillman Media 19 February 2026
It is acknowledged as one of the most exciting meetings on the Australian speedway calendar, and it invariably turns out to be one of the most controversial, and it is on at Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway this Saturday night (February 21).
It is, of course, the Ray White Gawler sponsored South Australian Sidecar Championship.
It is also regarded as one of the hardest events to win, because of the standard of the riders, but defending champions Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt haven’t found it that way in recent seasons as they have been writing their way into the record books. After winning the last four championships (and 6 of the last 7) they now hold all of the major statistical records, either outright or jointly.
As a pair they hold the record for the most wins together (6), and the most wins in a row (4), while individually Pitt holds the record for the most wins as a passenger (6), while Plaisted jointly holds the record, with Darrin Treloar, for the most wins as a rider (7).
They have also won four of the last five Australian Championships, but with a line-up on Saturday night akin to an Australian Championship even they can’t be regarded as certainties.
Leading the opposition will be the three placegetters behind them in last season’s Australian Championship — Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner, Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell and Justin Plaisted/Brian Anthony.
As well as being finalists in last year’s Australian Championship, Headland and Justin Plaisted are also former Australian Champions while Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell are the current Queensland Champions and won the Jim Irwin Cup against Headland and Justin Plaisted in his most recent appearance at Gillman in January.
The field also includes last season’s Australia #5, Byren Gates, who, with new passenger Damian Egan, won the Bowes Family Sidecar Cup at the last Gillman meeting.
So that is the top five from last season’s Australian Championship, but as the old TV ads use to say “but wait, there’s more).
Returning for the first time this season is the only rider to head Mark Plaisted home in the SA Championship since 2019 — Mick Headland. Headland is also third on the list of all-time winners with four wins. His regular passenger, Brenton Kerr, has been unavailable so far this season, so he has son Jesse Headland on board Saturday night, and while they rarely ride together they do hold the record as the only father/son team to win the title together. They also won the FIM Track Racing Sidecar World Championship together in Coventry, England, although that was quite some time ago.
Another pair capable of making the final are Shane Hudson and Jack Spear. Hudson is a former Australia number three, and four, and although they have never reached the SA Championship final, they have been one of the form teams at Gillman this season. In the last two trophy events at Gillman they were leading the point score before being forced out by misfortune before the finals, firstly with an engine problem, and at the last meeting by a crash which damaged the bike.
Another in-form team has been the Kiwi visitors Taylor Green/Callum Innes, who are returning to Gillman after winning the New Zealand South Island Championship in Christchurch last weekend.
Others listed are Malcolm German/Cameron White, Nate Headland/Harry Hearne, Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan, Byron Mordaunt/Scott Cameron, Jason Mordaunt/Peter Robinson, Scott Morris/Jye Siddall, Josh Pascoe/Dale Knights, Shane Rudloff/Jake Doyle, Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, and most have the potential to be spoilers who can take points off the more fancied riders while perhaps not being able to score enough points in such a high-class field to reach the final.
The Victorian veteran from Shepparton, Malcolm German, has twice been runner-up in the SA Championship, but that was earlier in his career before he went into retirement for several years. He may not reach the final but he’ll be guaranteed to make things uncomfortable for some of the favourites.
At the other end of the career ladder, is 19-year-old Nate Headland who already has an impressive resume in the state championship, finished third in his first season, and declared fourth in his second season, before missing last season with serious leg injuries. After making a surprise early comeback this season he has already been a finalist in one of the five sidecar meetings this season when he finished third behind Trent Headland and Taylor Green in the Paintmaster Spectacular.
Kym Menadue, Shane Rudloff, Brian Silvy (twice) and Josh Pascoe (twice) have also been finalists this season, with Silvy and Pascoe finishing second and third in a photo finish behind Byren Gates in the Bowes Family Cup a fortnight ago. Pascoe also finished fourth in the Gillman Sidecar Championship behind Trent Headland, Justin Plaisted and Taylor Green.
Support events will be Flat Track Solos, 250cc Solo and 125cc Junior Solos.
Gates open at 4pm, practice will be at 6.30pm, followed by the Ray White Gawler $1000 Dash for Cash at around 7pm, then straight into the championship heats.
This is a meeting not to be missed, but for those that simply can’t get there, as usual the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [https://www.spacequakesports.com/broadcasts/ray-white-gawler-sa-sidecar-championship] for a cost of $25. Please note this is the only official livestreaming link, any others touted on facebook sites are scams and should be ignored.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Saturday, 21 February 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 pm.
Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.15 pm.
Racing starts: at 7 pm. (practice at 6.30pm, dash for cash 7pm)
Competitors:
Sidecars: Byren Gates/Damian Egan (Vic/SA)… Malcolm German/Cameron White (Vic/SA)… Taylor Green/Callum Innes (SA-NZ)... Mick Headland/Jesse Headland (SA/Vic)… Nate Headland/Harry Hearne (SA)… Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner (SA)… Shane Hudson/Jack Spear (SA)… Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan (SA)... Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell (Qld)… Byron Mordaunt/Scott Cameron (SA/Vic)... Jason Mordaunt/Peter Robinson (SA)... Scott Morris/Jye Siddall (SA)... Josh Pascoe/Dale Knights (SA)... Justin Plaisted/Brian Anthony (SA)... Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt (SA/Vic)… Shane Rudloff/Jake Doyle (SA/Vic)... Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski (SA)…
Flat Track Solos: Chloe Ackerley (Vic)… John Blenkin... David Footner... Jesse Headland (Vic)... Hannah Holmes (Vic)… Greg Laanekorb… Matt Paterson… Con Twist… Chris Walsh… Lara Wedge
Under 16 250cc Solo: Kobi Canning, Ruby Chapman, Connor Machin.
Juniors (on the infield track during the main track grades): 125cc Solos: Owen Chapman… Cooper Karpinski…Chase Maul-Dunn… Ryleigh McGregor… William Nicol… Hayden Pascoe... Jett Plaisted… Blake Schlein (Vic)… Koby Smith… Riley Stout. 250cc Sidecars: Tilo Schultz/Riley Edson. Others: Jack Johnson (Vic), Oskar Karpinski (125cc Solo novices), Matilda Nicholls (50cc), Hendrix Anthony (pee-wee).
Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children under 16 free. Parking free. 32 page 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 www.spacequakesports.com. The cost is $25 Australian. Any other claimed links to livestreaming are scams and should be ignored. Link [https://www.spacequakesports.com/broadcasts/ray-white-gawler-sa-sidecar-championship]
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 19 February: Maximum 36, minimum 16. Mostly sunny. [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.