At the end of two days of exciting racing, riders from three different states and of varying ages were crowned champions at the 2023 Australian Senior Dirt Track Championships.
Held over the weekend, it was the first time since 2009 that the Albury Wodonga Motorcycle Club has hosted this event at their Lincoln Causeway track. Points scored from the four rounds of heats did not translate into results when finals were staged, with at least some of the major placings being in doubt until the latter stages of those deciders.
The MX Open final was the first of the two-wheel deciders and local fans were optimistic of a hometown victory, with host club rider Remmie Fyffe being the only unbeaten rider in the heats. However, a poor start by the 18-year-old resulted in sixth-place finish.
Daniel Wicks scored a popular win, his first Australian Championship title coming after a string of minor placings. Teenagers Cody Lewis and Rory McQualter completed the rostrum ahead of the two more experienced campaigners David Smith and Grant Charnock.
The Pro 450 class has become the premier class in recent years and with it comes the Duke of Edinburgh Trophy – for 2023 there will be a new name inscribed on the trophy with Hunter area rider Cody Lewis taking the honours ahead of McQualter. Wicks stormed through to third after a bad start, keeping clubmates Fyffe and Jock Rogers, and Benjamin Gordon off the rostrum.
McQualter did have one visit to the top step of the rostrum when he won the Pro 250 final, as James Sawdy flew the flag for the older brigade by claiming second ahead of Fyffe, Jett Carter, the lone South Australian entrant for the weekend Kyle Machin and Nicholas Berry.
The Pro Women’s class was decided over five rounds and provided its share of excitement and drama, with Tayla Street giving the host club a championship success. She won all five rounds, but they were never runaway wins as three opponents were invariably never far away.
The battle for the minor placings took a dramatic twist on the last corner of the final round when Kelsey Jensen fell, ultimately costing her second place overall – as well as elevating Lori Gow and Bree-Anna Etheridge.
Defending Dirt Track Sidecar champions Troy Pritchard and passenger Ethan Wade bowed out with a blown engine after winning their first two heats, while several other major contenders also had some dramas.
Corey Forde and passenger Darren Fraudenstein emerged as 2023 champions having won three of their heats, plus another heat they contested in error, and then had to win the repechage before coming from behind in the final to beat Kai Frame / Anthony Martin and Jarred Marko / Shaun Fuller.
Matthew Griffiths scored another title win in the ATV Open class taking out the final ahead of Jeffrey McKee and Colin Green, after topscorer in the heats Joshua Griffiths made a costly error in the final costing him a place on the rostrum.
An Over 35s class was one of the support classes with Benjamin Gordon dominating, ahead of locals Mitch Wolfe and Ralph Pink, while Colin Green won the ATV 450cc support class.
Three junior classes were also part of the programme showcasing the young talent coming through the ranks.
Local rider and emerging speedway talent Cooper Antone was unbeaten in both classes he contested while Tommy Wright was best in a very competitive 13 – Under 16s class.