Jason Lyons Trophy

A wonderful and exciting field of young speedway stars will contest the inaugural Jason Lyons Trophy meeting at Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway, on Saturday 15^thNovember. The CPM Building Contractors, Lyons Trophy field, has three International riders, headed by the Edinburgh Monarch, Justin Sedgmen, fresh from some excellent results in the Premier League, where the Monarchs team took all the major silverware on offer in the Premier League,  including the Premier league Championship. Sedgmen has had his best season in the British league, showing great consistency throughout at his number two position in the Monarchs team. Sedgmen has only returned from International duty during last week, so his race form should still be very sharp. Shepparton’s Dakota North, will also be in contention for the Jason Lyons Trophy as he has had a good season in England, riding for the Swindon Robins, with his team just missing the playoffs for Elite League. As an aside, North teamed with Sedgmen back in 2007 to win the Australian Junior Pairs Championship, so it is fitting that they are joint favourites to win the Lyons meeting riding against each other. 2013 British Under 21 Champion, Rob Branford, also joins this illustrious group and should be in contention as will local riders, Jack Fallon, Chris Ferguson, Brock Gates and Brodie Waters. Waters is fresh from success in Long Track racing at Bathurst last weekend while he and Fallon are expected to put up plenty of opposition to their more Internationally experienced opponents, however minor place points will have a big impact on who gets into the main event at night’s end, so riders will need to ensure that they score the best points possible with each ride. It is most pleasing to note that two young riders will contest their first senior meeting at Mildura when Jordan Stewart and Cooper Riordan, who have both just turned sixteen, with Stewart having a birthday late this week. These lads will be keen to show their good practice form can be transferred onto the race track in tough competition. In the case of young Stewart, he has the added delight of having his first race meeting riding with his Dad, Jason, in the same field. It is an experience that both generations of Stewarts will remember for the rest of their days, as a father and son riding combination is very rare in the sport. Riordan is just a bit older and has had the opportunity of racing at senior level already. Rob Medson, a regular visitor from Adelaide, along with Brad Tillett, complete a very competitive field of twelve riders who will be trying to get their name on this prestigious award for the sake of history. A strong and again competitive group will contest “B” grade as support for the main class. Young riders dominate the field, with Luke Bacskai recovered from his fall just two weeks ago, while Matthew Flay and Blake Ridley will be joined by Bill Tillett and Gary Fisher. This group of five young lads will take on a more experienced rider in Cam Wrate, who rode some years ago and has had the speedway bug bite him hard again, but this time Wrate will focus on “B” grade and just “riding for fun” to enjoy the sport which he has always followed. It is great for Club members to take this attitude, realizing that they can participate, while still having great fun, without the seriousness of hard and tough competition. Many riders in the past have taken this attitude and have prolonged their careers without having to make sacrifices for the sport. Classic Sidecars will again provide the support events for the Lyons program with Dale Milner / Nick O’Brien expected to be best ahead of Simon Cohrs / Reece Farr, while AJ Pearce / Jamie Knudsen and Paul Mills / Blake Halls will complete their even line up. The Classics are always keen to show their wares, but the Milner and Cohrs teams should have a small advantage as Jamie Knudsen, whilst an experienced passenger, hops on with AJ Pearce and young Blake Halls will have his first speedway ride as passenger, even though he has been in a similar situation in Dirt Track racing riding with Mills. Gates open at Olympic Park at 5:00pm, with a small Junior  program set to commence at 6:15pm. A rider presentation and Introduction for the Jason Lyons Trophy will begin at 7:15pm, with racing to follow at 7:30pm, sharp. Patrons are reminded that new grandstand accommodation, courtesy of the Forbes Wilson Group is available or people are invited to bring their own chair and use the grassy banks of the venue. A full catering service is available and patrons are advised that there must be no BYO by law. Olympic Park can be found straight out 11^th Street West.