BRENNAN IS MILDURA SOLO MASTER

Photography by: Judy Mackay

Mildura’s English visitor, Tom Brennan, has left a lasting impression at Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway on Sunday night, January 26 by winning the 2025 Mildura Solo Masters in great style.

Tom won all four heats and then took the final with a wonderful display ahead of Justin Sedgmen. Brennan, who is on his second visit to Mildura, has in the last two months shown what a fine young man he is, fitting into the Mildura Club and Sedgmen family life so easily.

The new Ipswich signing will be hoping to take his Australian season form back to England in February and it will continue during the 2025 European season. The 23 year old Brit, said that  he had “totally enjoyed” his time spent in Mildura and acknowledged that he had learned so much more about himself this visit, as he is much more mature and has used his experience to gain and store more knowledge by riding in Australia for the second time. Tom was so grateful to the many people who assisted with his second visit to Olympic Park.

The huge Mildura “Australia Day” program at Olympic Park had all the current speedway disciplines on view. These included the Masters solo field, supported by a Young Guns solo class and 250cc Junior solos on the senior track, along with modern Sidecars as well as Classic Solo and Sidecars, making it an exciting night for patrons in attendance with plenty of action trackside.

The top four riders on points saw Tom Brennan, finishing unbeaten with twelve points, take first selection of gate and wisely chose the inside, gate one position. Justin Sedgmen finished second with nine points and selected the outside position, thinking that an outside start might give him the best chance to sweep around a fast-starting Brennan. Adelaide rider, Fraser Bowes, was next with eight points and he chose gate two, leaving an elated and excited Jack Morrison, who made his first final, to the gate three position. Morrison has been a constant improver over the last two years and was well rewarded with his first chance at a major final riding against top company.

As expected, Brennan was smart from the rising tapes and rode hard into the apex of turn one, with Sedgmen just to his outside, but a little bit behind the Englishman. Bowes slotted in behind Sedgmen and did well out of turn two, but was still not close enough to Sedgmen to make any inroads. Morrison was fourth, but was riding well and close enough to Bowes, that, should Bowes make any error, he would be close enough to pounce.

Brennan consolidated his position at the end of lap one, but Sedgmen tried to position himself for a charge out of turn two on lap two, to try and go by on the race leader. Brennan was able to hold firm going into turn three and by then Sedgmen’s chance was exhausted. Brennan went on to further consolidate his position and score an excellent win to take significant Silverware away from Olympic Park.

During the after-event Presentation, Brennan thanked all those who had helped in getting him to Australia, including ATPI Sports Events and particularly Ian Sinderson, as well as acknowledging the generosity of the Sedgmen family who had hosted the young Brit at their home. Many others had helped with logistical matters, for which Tom was most grateful.

The Young guns class, although slightly depleted, showed good depth with the top points and the Final win going to Brad Page. Reid Battye finished in second place in the final with Alex Adamson in third ahead of Dayle Wood, taking the minor place in the final.

In the modern Sidecars, local stars, Byren Gates / Mick O’Loughlin dominated with four wins from their four heat rides, finishing ahead of Simon Cohrs / Cam Diwell, with AJ Pearce / Eli Bock in third place ahead of SA’s Byron Mordaunt / Jarrad Katzorke, filling the minor place.

The two Classic divisions saw Rod Gebhart / Rod Higgins dominate, ahead of Jake Zoch / John Willcock in the Sidecar class while Tony Nagel outclassed his opposition in the Solo class, winning all his heat rides ahead of Chris Barton, John Doolan and Brendan Liddle.

A most competitive 250cc Junior class was completed with Nate Shortt, the winner, finishing on twelve points, ahead of Nate Smith on nine points, with Angus Hume on five and Xavier Hawtin on four points. These lads provided some great entertainment and showed that they are the class which will improve the most over time and become the stars of tomorrow.

Mildura Club enjoyed the opportunity to have Tom Brennan as a guest rider during this season and is pleased that he has fitted into the Olympic Park family so well. It was also the second “down under” visit for young star, Sam Hagon, who arrived just before the Ipswich rider and who left Australia just a fortnight ago. The chance for Mildura to have International guests is made possible by coordinating the efforts of so many people, but is most rewarding for our Club and Mildura’s speedway patrons, by being able to view better class speedway on a regular basis.

Next meeting at Olympic Park is the Gates Sidecar Cup to be held on Saturday 15th February 2025.