YOUNG GUNS ADDED TO AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY CENTENARY SOLO LINE UP

Feature photo: Declan Kennedy

Two of the brightest talents in Australian speedway have been added to the field for the 500cc Solo Centurion Classic, being staged on night two (December 29), of the Australian Speedway Centenary at North Brisbane Speedway.

Brisbane’s Tate Zischke and Declan Kennedy have been allocated starting spots in the 16 rider field, joining Ryan Douglas (QLD), Rohan Tungate (NSW) and World Champions, Tai Woffinden (GB) and Chris Holder (NSW) as the riders named so far. Several other international stars will be named in coming days.

Declan Kennedy, regarded by experts, as having an extremely big future in the sport, won the BRTS Darcy Ward Track Championship in 2022 and currently leads the points standings in the 2023 domestic series. Kennedy has appeared in the prestigious Darcy Ward Invitational and acquitted himself brilliantly.

Meantime, Tate Zischke, runner-up in the 2022 Australian Under 21 Championship, is currently based in Europe, riding for Unia Leszno in the Polish Under 24 League.

Zischke, a protégé of Australian Speedway Centenary co-promoter and former international star, Darcy Ward, had a delayed start to this season’s racing abroad, due to head injuries he sustained, whilst competing in last summer’s Australian Championship.

“I had a bad crash at the Australian Titles in Adelaide, where I suffered some head injuries,” Tate explained.

“I had some great momentum going into the 2023 season, but the crash at Gillman set me back badly, leading to six months off the bike. But, the setback also provided some positives and I feel I’ve made good progress, working with Darcy Ward in relation to my approach.

“It’s going to be awesome being involved in such a high level meeting. The Australian Speedway Centenary is a brilliant idea and given the meeting is being staged at my home track in North Brisbane, I can’t wait to cut loose.”