MILDURA SPEEDWAY: LIDSEY TAKES VICTORIAN TITLE

Local star, Jaimon Lidsey, won the Robinson Plumbing, 2025 Victorian Solo Championship at Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway on Saturday night, December 7 in a commanding performance.

Lidsey showed great authority to clearly win all his five heat rides and then took the title with a superb display of riding.

Lidsey had not ridden since he and his family returned from Europe over a month ago, but he showed a freshness in his riding with his strong display. The former World Under 21 Champion was still celebrating his marriage to wife, Darcy, just last weekend.

Adelaide International, Fraser Bowes, took second place ahead of WA youngster, Mitch McDiarmid and a very unlucky, James Pearson, who came home in fourth place.

The Robinson Plumbing final was eventful for the minor placings after Lidsey rode strongly away from the start and exited turn two already in front and drove with Fraser Bowes in hot pursuit just ahead of Pearson and McDiarmid. Riders stayed that way for more than a lap until Bowes drifted slightly wide going through turn two. Pearson was close enough and was awake to the possibility of a move and took Bowes on the inside down the back straight.

The young Sydney rider maintained his lead for the next lap and was clearly in front coming into turn three for the last time. It was there that Bowes rode strongly down the inside line, without touching and putting enough pressure on Pearson, who then headed straight on and crashed into the AirFence in turn four, totally ruining his chances. Bowes went on to take second place and the much travelled McDiarmid, moved into third place for a great result. A disconsolate Pearson picked himself up and walked back pitside.

Much interest surrounded the form of the injured Justin Sedgmen, who started his first ride from gate one, however he was beaten home by Fraser Bowes, who had taken a wonderful start from gate four and maintained some good speed for the four laps. Unfortunately for the Edinburgh star, he was relegated into third position in another heat and suffered a broken split link in his chain in his fourth ride. Sedgmen is still recovering from the hand injury which finished his British season a couple of months before the Finals in both Leagues.

A strong field was gathered for the Championship with riders from all mainland States engaged. Apart from Lidsey, who scored a 15 point maximum, the midfield pack saw six riders scoring 10 or 11 points, to make their way into either final via the count back system. This separation was required to get the second rider (Fraser Bowes) and third competitor (James Pearson) into the Championship final, while the same score relegated Michael West into the “B” final, even though he finished with 11 points.

Mitch McDiarmid had to work hard for his podium position as he had just scraped into the “B” final having had just one win, three seconds and a third. The young Sandgroper went on the win the “B”, taking last start position in the main event and hung on to take third place overall. His trip from WA was certainly worthwhile.

Other “B” finalists showed good signs, particularly Jacob Hook from Queensland who scored a consistent 10 points as did young Hunter Valley rider, Harrison Ryan, who rode better as the night went on. Ryan has a good speedway pedigree and was having his first ride at Olympic Park.

Support event for the night were the Under 16, 250cc Junior Championship where seven riders contested hotly during the night. The standout rider was Grenfell lad, Beau Bailey, who top scored and then clearly won the final ahead of second top points rider, Jordy Loftus, from Queensland, with Victorian youngster, Nate Shortt being third on points and third in the final. Fellow Victorian, Angus Hume was similarly, fourth on points and in the Title.

Early in the evening the Under 16, 125cc title event was conducted which saw young NSW and International competitor, Coope Antone, win his third title in succession, just ahead of a very unlucky local, Blake Schlein, who led the final for more than two laps with Riley McGregor and Riley Stout came home in third and fourth place respectively.