Racing: Sissis to defend U16 Aussie speedway title

Red Bull MotoGP rookie Arthur Sissis will return to the speedway arena later this month when he attempts to win his third successive under 16 Australian title.

Sissis has scythed through the last two championships undefeated, stringing together 12 thumping wins to stamp himself as the nation's pre-eminent junior speedway rider. Sissis won the 2008 title as a 12-year-old upstart.

But instead of remaining a one-discipline rider, Sissis embarked on a road racing career in 2009 when he competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, where he impressed as one of the youngest riders in the field.

Sissis will return to Europe this year, but first off he has some speedway business to attend to in Tamworth (NSW) from January 29-31.

With a large chunk of the riders who finished in the top 10 of last year's under 16 solo title now in the senior ranks, Sissis is a raging hot favourite to make it a three-peat in Tamworth, but he can still expect some stern opposition from the likes of Robert Medson and Cooper Riordan. The other riders are:

Dylan Blain
Harley Brigden
Matthew Day
Jack Fallon
Max Fricke
Robert Gottardi
Cameron Heeps
Brady Kurtz
Luke Mitchell
Mick Morris
Brayden Munro
Ellis Perks
Arthur Sissis
First reserve: Bryce Brigden
Second reserve: Tyler King
Third reserve: Max Croker

Meanwhile, the following teams will make up the under 16 teams national title, which will also be held in Tamworth.

South Australia: Medson and Sissis
Western Australia: Heeps and Russell
Victoria 1: Fallon and Fricke
Victoria 2: Riordan and Munro
Queensland 1: Morris and Gottardi
Queensland 2: H Brigden and Day
New South Wales: Kurtz and King

And, in news just to hand, the 2010 Australian 350cc Under 16 Junior Speedway Championship will also be held at Tamworth on January 30, moved from its original January 23 window at Kurri Kurri (NSW) because of uncertainly the event could go ahead.

Sissis will also compete in the 350cc title, alongside:

Sam Anderson
Hayden Barr
Dylan Blain
Harley Brigden
Dane Cartwright
Michael Detenon
Brayden Elliott
Robert Gottardi
Cameron Heeps
Tom Lewis
Robert Medson
Nick Morris