Speedway Grand Prix of Australia

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AustraliaSpeedway Grand Prix of Australia
StadiumDocklands Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria
Years4 (2002, 2015-2017, 2019-date)
Tracktemporary track
Track Length346 m
Last Event (season 2017)
Date28 October 2017
RefereeCarif Ackroyd
WinnerAustralia Jason Doyle
2nd placeUnited Kingdom Tai Woffinden
3rd placePoland Bartosz Zmarzlik

The Speedway Grand Prix of Australia is a speedway event that is part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.

The inaugural event, run on a 400 metres (440 yards) long temporary track at Stadium Australia in Sydney, was won by American rider Greg Hancock, from England's Scott Nicholls and Australian Jason Crump in 2002. The event was not retained in 2003, and it was 13 years before a Grand Prix returned to Australia.

The Speedway Grand Prix of Australian was resurrected in 2015, this time taking place at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. The event was once again won by Hancock.[1]

Winners

[edit]
SeasonCityStadiumWinner
12002SydneyStadium AustraliaUnited States Greg Hancockresult
22015MelbourneDocklands StadiumUnited States Greg Hancockresult
32016MelbourneDocklands StadiumAustralia Chris Holderresult
42017MelbourneDocklands StadiumAustralia Jason Doyleresult

Most wins

[edit]

United States Greg Hancock 2 times[2]
Australia Chris Holder 1 time
Australia Jason Doyle 1 time

Future

[edit]

Despite Australia being the birthplace of motorcycle speedway in 1923, and producing three World Champions since 2002 in Jason Crump (2004, 2006 and 2009), Chris Holder (2012) and Jason Doyle in 2017, as well as dual Under-21 World Champion Darcy Ward (2009, 2010), the Speedway Grand Prix of Australia had not returned to the SGP calendar as of 2014.

This changed from 2015 with Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, a 53,359 seat stadium with a retractable roof and movable seating, signing a 5-year deal to host the event.[3] Eithad is mostly used by the Australian Football League so a temporary track some 346 metres (378 yards) long will be installed for the 2015 event which was held on 24 October (after the end of the 2015 AFL season). The Grand Prix was the 12th and final round of the 2015 Speedway Grand Prix series.[4] The event didn't take place in 2018 because of Docklands Stadium pulling out of the contract and a replacement venue has yet to be found.

Triple World Champion Jason Crump and ten time Australian Champion Leigh Adams served as Australian SGP ambassadors in 2015.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Hancock takes final 2002 GP in Sydney". Crash.net. 26 October 2002. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  2. ^ Hancock wins in Melbourne
  3. ^ Speedway GP Series Returns to Australia in 2015
  4. ^ 2015 Speedway Grand Prix of Australia details

    AustraliaSpeedway Grand Prix of Australia
    StadiumDocklands Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria
    Years4 (2002, 2015-2017, 2019-date)
    Tracktemporary track
    Track Length346 m
    Last Event (season 2017)
    Date28 October 2017
    RefereeCarif Ackroyd
    WinnerAustralia Jason Doyle
    2nd placeUnited Kingdom Tai Woffinden
    3rd placePoland Bartosz Zmarzlik

    The Speedway Grand Prix of Australia is a speedway event that is part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.

    The inaugural event, run on a 400 metres (440 yards) long temporary track at Stadium Australia in Sydney, was won by American rider Greg Hancock, from England's Scott Nicholls and Australian Jason Crump in 2002. The event was not retained in 2003, and it was 13 years before a Grand Prix returned to Australia.

    The Speedway Grand Prix of Australian was resurrected in 2015, this time taking place at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. The event was once again won by Hancock.[1]

    Winners

    SeasonCityStadiumWinner
    12002SydneyStadium AustraliaUnited States Greg Hancockresult
    22015MelbourneDocklands StadiumUnited States Greg Hancockresult
    32016MelbourneDocklands StadiumAustralia Chris Holderresult
    42017MelbourneDocklands StadiumAustralia Jason Doyleresult

    Most wins

    United States Greg Hancock 2 times[2]
    Australia Chris Holder 1 time
    Australia Jason Doyle 1 time

    Future

    Despite Australia being the birthplace of motorcycle speedway in 1923, and producing three World Champions since 2002 in Jason Crump (2004, 2006 and 2009), Chris Holder (2012) and Jason Doyle in 2017, as well as dual Under-21 World Champion Darcy Ward (2009, 2010), the Speedway Grand Prix of Australia had not returned to the SGP calendar as of 2014.

    This changed from 2015 with Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, a 53,359 seat stadium with a retractable roof and movable seating, signing a 5-year deal to host the event.[3] Eithad is mostly used by the Australian Football League so a temporary track some 346 metres (378 yards) long will be installed for the 2015 event which was held on 24 October (after the end of the 2015 AFL season). The Grand Prix was the 12th and final round of the 2015 Speedway Grand Prix series.[4] The event didn't take place in 2018 because of Docklands Stadium pulling out of the contract and a replacement venue has yet to be found.

    Triple World Champion Jason Crump and ten time Australian Champion Leigh Adams served as Australian SGP ambassadors in 2015.

    References

    1. ^ "Hancock takes final 2002 GP in Sydney". Crash.net. 26 October 2002. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
    2. ^ Hancock wins in Melbourne
    3. ^ Speedway GP Series Returns to Australia in 2015
    4. ^ 2015 Speedway Grand Prix of Australia details
    • AGP Article. 22 October 2002
    • Race report. 27 October 2002
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Speedway_Grand_Prix_of_Australia&oldid=1275598111"