TAMWORTH SPEEDWAY: MICHAEL WEST WINS DRAMATIC U21 SPEEDWAY TITLE

It was a case of last rider standing in a dramatic conclusion to the 2023 Australian U21 Speedway Championship at Tamworth’s Oakburn Park Raceway on Saturday, November 18.

With defending champion Keynan Rew, Harrison Ryan and Tate Zischke excluded in three aborted attempts to run the U21 A-final, Michael West only had to complete four pressure-less laps of the 450-metre track to be crowned 2023 Australian champion.

The 19-year-old was ecstatic with his achievement after finishing ninth in the 2022 U21 title.

“What a day! Lots of complications but we fought through and I’ve got my first Australian championship,” West said. “I’ve been dreaming of standing on this podium at this track for the past three years.

“I wanted so badly to get on the podium at the junior dirt track titles in Tamworth when I was 16 but I finished sixth and was heartbroken. But I kept working hard in hopes of making some luck for myself and returning to Tamworth was my second chance.

“Tonight showed me luck is made through years of consistent hard work. Not just the week, month or even year before! My starts were amazing today and I had great speed by the end.”