Dirt Track

More than 80 riders produced two days of exciting action at this year’s Australian Junior Dirt Track Championships, showcasing the great pool of young talent coming through the dirt track ranks. The event was held over last weekend by Central Coast Junior Motorcycle Club at their Allen Park MVRG.

Riders travelled from as far away as Townsville, Melbourne and Adelaide, and everywhere in between.

That of course meant a busy programme with practice and five races in each class – more than 60 laps of racing.

Across the nine championship classes, Queenslander Neiko Donovan was the only multiple winner, while host club rider Cohen McCosker scored a win, a second and a third across his three classes and Riley Holder from Macleay managed a win and a third placing.

Donovan’s reign of dominance started in the 100 – 150cc 2str 13 – U/16 class where he was second top qualifier but overhauled top scorer Thomas Gotts early in the 6-lap final with Max Earl chasing them home for third.

The 85cc 2str / 150cc 4str 12 –U16 class was decided over five rounds where Donovan finished comfortably on top on points with Tommy Wright and Bodie Cardinale joining him on the rostrum.

The final of the 200 – 250cc 4str 13 – U/16 class concluded the meeting with the unbeaten top qualifier Thomas Gotts blowing his chances with a slow start and then he fell as Donovan led home Max Earl and Bodie Paige.

The younger age groups riding smaller capacity machines produced even closer racing than the older riders with the classes decided over five rounds still being up for grabs going into the final round, while where a final was needed most classes still appeared to be open to several serious chances.

The 50cc Auto 7 – U/9 class went down to the wire with Cooper Quinn outpointing Kru Tulloch and Cohen McCosker to take the honours.

Zac Salmon was the unbeaten top qualifier for the 65cc 7 – U/9 final but Cohen McCosker turned the tables on him in the decider with Kru Tulloch frustratingly scoring another runner-up place with Salmon back in third.

Probably the most decisive victory came in the 65cc 9 – U/13 class where Riley Holder was the unbeaten top scorer in the heats and then produced a final victory to match as he led home Braxsen Anderson and George Holmkvist.

The last round for the 85cc 4-str Modified 7-U/12 class was in fact a final in every way as Hugo Holmes and Cohen McCosker went in to the race equal on points before the race win gave Holmes the title ahead of McCosker with Riley Holder third overall.      

The 85cc 2str / 150cc 4str 9 – U/13 was another highlight, with Riley Holder again unbeaten in the four rounds. He was, however, was slowly away in the decider as Hayden Duggan took the honours ahead of Kai Moran and the impressive Lucy Heaton-New.

Of all the classes decided over five rounds the only champion to score maximum points was in the 150cc 2str / 250cc 4str 13 – U/16 Girls class where Ruby James dominated ahead of some close battles for the minor placings that were ultimately resolved with Matilda Heaton-New taking second overall ahead of Mia Blackford.

Speedway sidecar legend Darrin Treloar and passenger Blake Cox led the rider parade to open the second day of the championship meeting and surely any of the competing juniors would be delighted to go on to achieve the level of success over so many years that Treloar has achieved.  

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Press Release Prepared by Peter Baker

It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic passing of rider Amelia Kotze. Amelia, a beloved member of our motorcycling community, succumbed to injuries she sustained during the Central Coast Cup held on May 25th. She passed away last evening at the tender age of 15.

Amelia was more than just a rising star in the dirt track world; she was a beacon of talent, determination, and sportsmanship. Her impressive achievements spoke volumes about her dedication to the sport. Among her many accolades, she proudly secured the Junior Girls State Titles in Victoria last November, triumphed at last year’s NSW Junior Track Championships, and shone brightly at the Australian Dirt Track Championships. Her exceptional skills and relentless passion for racing earned her the prestigious title of Junior Female Rider of the Year at the Motorcycling NSW Awards last year.

Amelia was a favourite among peers and competitors alike. Her loss is deeply felt across our community, and she will be remembered not only for her incredible achievements on the track but also for the joy and inspiration she brought to all who knew her.

In this time of immense sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with Amelia’s family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. We extend our heartfelt condolences and support to her loved ones during this difficult period.

Rest in peace, Amelia Kotze. You will be dearly missed. More details about her funeral services will be shared in due course of time. 

The 2024 Coastal Motorcycle Centre / Honda Australia  / The Construction Team  Central Coast Cup long track motorcycle meeting will be staged this weekend on May 25 and 26 at the Allen Park track at Somersby, near Gosford.

There are two previous winners of the senior cup in the line-up for this weekend, while there will be no previous winners of the junior cup for the 13 to Under 16s.

But for a wash-out and later Covid this would have been the 20^th staging of this event, after first being held in 2005. The event has established itself as one of the major non-championship meetings on the dirt track calendar, with many significant names in the sport who have their names on the honour roll in both the senior and junior cups.

Host club member David Smith will not only be defending the senior cup, but will be out to win for a fifth time. The 2022 winner Luke Bush and youngsters Cody Lewis and Brayden Gay chased Smith home last year, and along with Talon Cardinale and Thoren Openshaw, who has recently moved up from the juniors will all have strong claims.

The Junior Cup will have a new name added to its honour roll and there are some well-performed riders coming from all over the state.

Riders like Hugh Hope-Hodgetts and Oscar Middlebrook from Forbes, Jayden Holder from Kempsey, Bodie Cardinale from Newcastle and Sydney’s Alex Adamson are expected to be prominent.

There are big entry lists for a number of other junior classes which will feature a number of riders who have state and national title wins to their credit, including several who are travelling down from Queensland.

There is also a small group of junior girls who appear very evenly matched which should ensure close competition from them.

Many of the riders contesting the Senior Cup are also riding in the MX Open and Pro 450 classes which will culminate prior to the battle for the Cup.

 There is also a class for the Over 35s which is always keenly contested.

Action fires up on Saturday morning with practice at 9.30am then straight into racing.

Sunday action gets underway at 10 am with more rounds and finals of all classes before the 8-lap finals of both the Junior and then Senior Cup will wrap up the program early in the afternoon. Entry fee for spectators this weekend will be $5 per vehicle payable at the gate. The Allen Park track is situated at Debenham Road North, Somersby.

For more information about the Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club, check out the club’s website www.ccjuniormotorcycleclub.org.au or contact Club President David Smith on 0412 506503.

Press Release prepared by Peter Baker 0409 903196; bakerp@westnet.com.au on behalf of Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club