RORY SCHLEIN WINS FIFTH SA SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP

Story by: Mark Neale

Pre meeting favourite Rory Schlein won his fifth South Australian Solo Championship at Gillman Speedway on Friday February 3 ahead of New Zealand born,Adelaide based Jake Turner, Victorian Jack Morrison(and New South Wales’ youngster Michael West..

The meeting was scheduled for last Saturday night( January 28),but was postponed due to rain until Friday, February 3.

Schlein, who previously won four titles in a row between 2004 to 2007, has not ridden in a SA title in the for fourteen years and it’s sixteen years since he won his last title which must be some kind of record in bike Championship results.

Schlein,who is returning to full time professional racing in a few months in the United Kingdon after a season off from the sport when he moved back to Australia, was unbeaten on the night recording five wins from as many starts to finish at the top of the score chart with a 15 point maximum.

Talented New South Wales teenager Michael West from Towrang scored 13 points (three wins and two seconds behind Jake Turner in heat 15 and Rory Schlein in heat 19) in the heats to be the second highest point scorer.

Three times New Zealand Under 21 champion Jake Turner was the third highest point scorer with 12 points (three wins,a second and a third) to safely book his spot directly through to the final. Turner started the meeting with a second behind Schlein in heat two,and surprisingly finished third in heat 10 behind Victorian pair Patrick Hamilton and Declan Knowles due to a flat tyre.

The next four point scorers Maurice Brown(11 points (a win and four seconds),Jack Morrison (10 points-two wins two seconds and a fourth), Brayden McGuinness (10 points-two wins,a second and two thirds) and Declan Knowles (10 points a win,three seconds and a third) all qualified for the last chance Semi Final in the closely contested meeting with the winner progressing through to the final.

Morrison,who hails from Bendigo won the last chance semi final ahead of Knowles (second), Brown(third) and McGuinness(fourth).

Schlein, as expected, won the four rider four lap final for his fifth South Australian Championship.

Riders from South Australia,Victoria,New South Wales and New Zealand contested the event.

POINTS: 

Rory Schlein 15,,Michael West 13, Jake Turner 12, Maurice Brown 11, Jack Morrison 10, Brayden McGuinness 10, Declan Knowles 10, Patrick Hamilton 8, Teagan Pedler 7,Steven Graetz 6, Roy Stout 5, Tom Dixon 5, Liam May 4,James Crundwell 1.

SEMI FINAL:

1st Morrison, 2nd Knowles, 3rd Brown, 4th McGuinness.

FINAL

1st Rory Schlein, 2nd Jake Turner, 3rd Jack Morrison, 4th Michael West.