Not many of us can claim to have finished second in a motorcycling world-title event at the age of just 11. Fortunately for us, we have Cooper Antone from Albury Wodonga who did just that at the Speedway GP4 World title in Sweden not long ago. We caught up with him to find out all about his incredible motorcycling journey.
Tell us more about your outing at the SGP4 World Title in Sweden – what were some of your personal highlights?
The whole experience was awesome – from meeting some of my all-time favourite Speedway idols to making some really good friends from other countries! Catching up with the Aussie GP guys was great too. They all came down and watched and supported us, and it was pretty cool having them help out. I’ve always been a big fan of Tai Woffinden (so much so that I also named my dog after him) – and he helped us out a lot in the pits and with my riding during the meeting.
Our Australian team was pretty awesome too – led by Craig Boyce, the whole lot of us got along so well and supported each other.
Crossing the line and realising I had just finished second in my first world title was right up there among some of my personal highlights – it’s going to be a hard feeling to beat, that’s for sure!
What’s your motorcycling journey been like? Tell us more about how long you’ve been riding and your local club.
I started riding at my home track in Albury Wodonga, riding dirt track when I was 4 years old. Pretty much as soon as I saw my first Speedway race though, I straight away wanted to have a go at it. So, mum and dad borrowed a chassis, found an old bike, pulled the engine out and put it all together. And I cut some laps on a track we made at home. It wasn’t too long after that, that I went to my first Speedway experience at Kurri Kurri and loved it – I have raced Speedway ever since.
I have been lucky to still be able to race dirt track and still currently race my 65 and 85 at dirt track meetings all over. I was lucky enough earlier this year to win my first Aussie title in the 80 modified class, up on the Gold Coast.
My speedway has taken me to Adelaide, Brisbane and everywhere in between, and I love racing on all the different tracks and catching up with my mates.
As a Speedway rider yourself, what are some of the most exciting/unique elements about the discipline that not a lot of people may be aware of?
Definitely the point system and how much gate selections can change so much – each heat is like a final! You need to gather as many points as possible through each heat and from each start gate to then hopefully get first gate pick in the final is always hard, trying to be smooth and consistent and not make any mistakes is hard work!
Any shoutout you’d like to give to your families, supporters and/or sponsors?
Yes definitely, without them it would make it hard. (Dad says look after them or you’re racing with bald tyres!)
JA plumbing, Reece Albury, Joss Cleaning, Sp kitchens, JI concreting, North Albury Automotive, Whitehouse motorcycles, Shanes Transmissions, Phil and Judy Mackay, my nan and pa/grandma and pop and of course my mum and dad and sisters Maya and Ellie.