Adams the Aussie speedway champion

January 11, 2009

Leigh Adams is now Australia's most successful domestic speedway rider.

The Mildura wrecking ball mowed down the opposition in the final round of this year's Australian Speedway Championship at Gillman (SA) last night, wrapping up an unprecedented 10th national title.

Previously, Adams and the late Aub Lawson sat together on nine titles, but Adams' 2009 championship, his first since 2006, has now moved him to the top of the Australian speedway tree - a record that will probably stand for a long time, if it will ever be usurped at all.

Adams came out of the blocks firing at Gillman, winning his first heat by more than five seconds en route to setting a race record of 54.90 seconds.

That set the tone for the evening, and Adams was only really challenged when he and defending champion Chris Holder locked horns in heat 18.

However, Adams was again immovable, and he went onto claim yet another clean sweep to make it a perfect 18 wins from as many starts in the three-round championship.

"I'm stoked!" Adams said. "It was a pretty tough night - all the boys were on the gas and the bike was working well - it was fast, but it wasn't making starts so I was making hard work of it.

"I wanted to clean-sweep it, and I knew it was going to be tough with the competition that was there - I had some real battles with a lot of guys right throughout the series.

"It's great and it's good for Australian speedway that they're catching up - even though I went through undefeated they are right there, I promise you."

Adams won the A-final from Troy Batchelor in Gillman, with Holder and Davey Watt third and fourth.

Adams completed the championship on 60pts, from Holder (52) and Rory Schlein (48), who was second in the Gillman B-final. Batchelor (45) and Watt (43) completed the top five.

Adams will shortly return to his English base to prepare for another season of domestic competition in the UK, Sweden and Poland, as well as the world championship, where he is currently ranked No. 4.

ROUND THREE RESULTS
1 Leigh Adams 20pts
2 Troy Batchelor 18
3 Chris Holder 17
4 Dave Watt 16
5 Rory Schlein 15
6 Darcy Ward 14
7 Cameron Woodward 13
8 Cory Gathercole 12
9 Ty Proctor 11
10 Kozza Smith 10

FINAL STANDINDS (AFTER THREE ROUNDS)
1 Adams 60pts
2 Holder 52
3 Schlein 48
4 Batchelor 45
5 Watt 43
6 Woodward 41
7 Proctor 37
8 Jason Doyle 32
9 Ward 31
10 Gathercole 28