Racing: Tough battle brewing in Aussie speedway
No Adams and Crump, but still full of classReigning world under 21 champion Darcy Ward and Australia's newest world speedway contender Chris Holder will headline a star-stuffed cast of riders for the 2010 Australian championship, to be held over three rounds in early January.
This year, Ward became Australia's first under 21 world champion since Jason Crump in 1995, and his sizzling early season form at a domestic level probably has him as the early favourite.
Ward was only ninth in last year's national championship, with Holder, the 2008 champion, second ahead of fellow guns Rory Schlein, Troy Batchelor and Davey Watt. Meanwhile, Leigh Adams claimed a staggering 10th title.
Adams and Watt won't be competing in 2010, but Batchelor and Schlein are among the 10 seeded riders, with the list also including former under 21 juggernaut Jason Doyle, who's returning to action after long-term injury, Cory Gathercole, Mark Lemon, Sam Masters, Ty Proctor, and Cameron Woodward.
The following riders have been offered a place in qualifying, which will take place at Mildura (Vic) on December 30:
- Jake Anderson
- Mitchell Davey
- Alex Davies
- Josh Grajezonek
- Jay Herne
- James Holder
- Mark Jones
- Robert Ksiezak
- Todd Kurtz
- Dakota North
- Michael Penfold
- Taylor Poole
- Ryan Sedgmen
- Justin Sedgmen
- Kozza Smith
- Rick Wallace
- First reserve: Arlo Bugeja
- Second reserve: Robert Branford
Mildura will host the second round of the championship proper on January 3, a day after the opener at Gillman Speedway in Adelaide. The finale will be in Newcastle (NSW) on January 9.
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