Australian Solo Championship

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The Australian Solo Championship is a motorcycle speedway championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. It is organised by Motorcycling Australia (MA) and is the oldest continuously running national speedway championship in the world having been run since 1926 with the exception of 1942-1945 when racing was suspended during World War II and 1955-1961 when the championship was not held.[1][2]

The first Australian Solo Championship in 1926 was held at the Newcastle Showground in Newcastle. It was won by American rider Cecil Brown from Mick Brennan and Roy Hindle.[3]

Legendary Danish rider Ole Olsen (1976) and Australia's own Jason Crump (2007) are the only riders who have won the championship while being the reigning Speedway World Champion. Olsen's controversial win at the Liverpool Speedway in Sydney in 1976 was the last win by a non-Australian rider. His win was controversial as many of the riders at the meeting protested his eligibility because of his nationality. However, with Olsen available to ride the promoters of the speedway insisted on his inclusion knowing that he would draw a larger crowd.

The winner of the Australian Solo Championship receives the Billy Sanders Memorial Trophy named after the speedway rider Billy Sanders (1955–1985).

Winners since 1926[]

Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1926 Newcastle Showgrounds Newcastle, NSW (United States) (NSW) (NSW)
1927
(2 laps)
Newcastle Showgrounds Newcastle, NSW (NSW) J. Anderson (NSW)
1927
(4 laps)
Newcastle Showgrounds Newcastle, NSW (NSW) (NSW)
1927
(500cc 3 laps)
Newcastle Showgrounds Newcastle, NSW (NSW) (NSW) (NSW)
1927
(500cc 4 laps)
Newcastle Showgrounds Newcastle, NSW (NSW) (NSW) Sprouts Elder (United States)
1928
(3 laps)
Claremont Speedway Perth, WA (WA) (SA)
1928
(6 laps)
Wayville Showground Adelaide, SA (SA) Vic Huxley (Qld)
1929
(3 laps)
Wayville Showground Adelaide, SA (SA) (NSW) (NSW)
1929
(2¾ hp - 4 laps)
Davies Park Brisbane, Qld (Qld) Frank Arthur (NSW)
1929
(3½ hp - 4 laps)
Davies Park Brisbane, Qld Max Grosskreutz (Qld) (SA) (Qld)
1929
(2 miles)
Claremont Speedway Perth, WA (WA) (WA) (SA)
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1930
(3 laps)
Wayville Showground Adelaide, SA (SA) Jack Ormston (England) Frank Arthur (NSW)
1930
(6 laps)
Claremont Speedway Perth, WA Arthur Atkinson (England) (SA) (WA)
1930
(2 miles)
Exhibition Speedway Melbourne, Vic (Vic) (Qld)
1931
(2 laps)
Melbourne Motordrome Melbourne, Vic (Qld) Max Grosskreutz (Qld) (SA)
1931
(4 laps)
Bathurst Showground Bathurst, NSW (NSW) (NSW) (NSW)
1931
(6 laps)
Wayville Showground Adelaide, SA Ray Tauser (United States) (SA) (SA)
1932
(2 laps)
Cumberland Oval Sydney, NSW Wally Little (NSW) (NSW)
1932
(3 laps)
Wayville Showground Adelaide, SA (SA) Max Grosskreutz (Qld) (SA)
1932
(4 laps)
Exhibition Speedway Melbourne, Vic (NSW) (Qld)
1933 Exhibition Speedway Melbourne, Vic (England) (Qld) (Vic)
1934 Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Vic Huxley (Qld) (England) Frank Arthur (NSW)
1935 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Bluey Wilkinson (NSW) Tiger Stevenson (England) Frank Varey (England)
1936 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Max Grosskreutz (Qld) Vic Huxley (Qld) Jack Milne (United States)
1937 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Jack Milne (United States) Wilbur Lamoreaux (United States) Vic Duggan (NSW)
1938
(3 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Bluey Wilkinson (NSW) Jack Milne (United States) Joe Abbott (England)
1938
(4 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Bluey Wilkinson (NSW) Wilbur Lamoreaux (United States) (SA)
1938
(5 laps)
Adelaide, SA Jack Parker (England) Cordy Milne (United States) (SA)
1939 not held
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1940 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Cordy Milne (United States) Vic Duggan (NSW) Lionel Van Praag (NSW)
1941 Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Vic Duggan (NSW) Lionel Van Praag (NSW)
1942-1945 not held
1946 Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Lionel Van Praag (NSW) (NSW)
1947
(2 laps)
Melbourne, Vic (NSW) Lionel Van Praag (NSW) Aub Lawson (NSW)
1947
(3 laps)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Vic Duggan (NSW) Lionel Van Praag (NSW) Ray Duggan (NSW)
1947
(4 laps)
Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld (Vic) (Qld) (Qld)
1948
(2 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Vic Duggan (NSW) Max Grosskreutz (Qld)
1948
(3 laps)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Vic Duggan (NSW) Norman Parker (England) Max Grosskreutz (Qld)
1948
(2 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Vic Duggan (NSW) Aub Lawson (NSW) Ray Duggan (NSW)
Alec Statham (England)
1949
(2 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Aub Lawson (NSW) Jack Biggs (Vic) Graham Warren (Qld)
Eric Chitty (Canada)
1949
(4 laps)
Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Aub Lawson (NSW) (NSW) Ray Duggan (NSW)
(Qld)
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1950
(2 laps)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Aub Lawson (NSW) Graham Warren (Qld) Jack Biggs (Vic)
1950
(3 laps)
Melbourne, Vic Bill Kitchen (England) Bill Longley (Vic) Aub Lawson (NSW)
Jack Biggs (Vic)
1950
(4 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Jack Parker (England) Aub Lawson (NSW) Bill Longley (Vic)
1950
(Champion of Champions)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Aub Lawson (NSW) Jack Parker (England) Jack Biggs (Vic)
1951
(3 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Jack Parker (England) (NSW) Aub Lawson (NSW)
1951
(4 laps)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Jack Parker (England) Aub Lawson (NSW)
(Scotland)
1951
(Champion of Champions)
Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Jack Parker (England) Aub Lawson (NSW) (Scotland)
1952
(2 laps)
Maitland Showground Maitlnd, NSW (NSW) Aub Lawson (NSW)
(NSW)
1952
(3 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW (NSW) Jack Parker (England)
(NSW)
1952
(4 laps)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW (NSW) Aub Lawson (NSW) Jack Parker (England)
1952
(Champion of Champions)
Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Aub Lawson (NSW) (NSW) (NSW)
1953
(3 laps)
Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Aub Lawson (NSW) (NSW) (NSW)
1953
(4 laps)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW (NSW) Aub Lawson (NSW) (NSW)
1953
(Champion of Champions)
Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Aub Lawson (NSW) (NSW) (NSW)
1954
(3 laps)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Aub Lawson (NSW) Ken McKinlay (Scotland) (NSW)
1954
(Champion of Champions)
Sydney Sports Ground Sydney, NSW Aub Lawson (NSW) (NSW) Rune Sörmander (Sweden)
1955-1959 not held
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1960-1961 not held
1962 Rockhampton, Qld (NSW) Ivan Mauger (New Zealand) (Qld)
1963 Rockhampton, Qld Mike Broadbank (England) (Qld) Ivan Mauger (New Zealand)
1964 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Ken McKinlay (Scotland) Jack Scott (SA) Ray Cresp (Vic)
1965 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW (NSW) Brian Collins (NSW) (NSW)
1966 Rowley Park Speedway Adelaide, SA Chum Taylor (WA) Jimmy Gooch (England) (SA)
1967 Rowley Park Speedway Adelaide, SA Jack Scott (SA) Göte Nordin (Sweden) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
1968 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Jim Airey (NSW) Nigel Boocock (England) Eric Boocock (England)
1969 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Jim Airey (NSW) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(Qld)
(NSW)
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1970 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Jim Airey (NSW) John Boulger (SA)
(Vic)
1971 Claremont Speedway Perth, WA John Boulger (SA) (WA) (NSW)
1972 Rowley Park Speedway Adelaide, SA Jim Airey (NSW) Ole Olsen (Denmark) John Boulger (SA)
1973 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW John Boulger (SA) (NSW) Billy Sanders (NSW)
1974 Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Steve Reinke (Qld) John Boulger (SA) John Titman (Qld)
1975 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Phil Crump (Vic) John Titman (Qld) Phil Herne (NSW)
1976 Liverpool International Speedway Sydney, NSW Ole Olsen (Denmark) Phil Crump (Vic) Billy Sanders (NSW)
1977 Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld John Titman (Qld) Phil Crump (Vic) Billy Sanders (NSW)
1978 Claremont Speedway Perth, WA Billy Sanders (NSW) Phil Herne (NSW) (WA)
1979 Mildura, Vic Phil Crump (Vic) (Vic) John Boulger (SA)
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1980 Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney, NSW Billy Sanders (NSW) Phil Crump (Vic) John Titman (Qld)
1981 Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Billy Sanders (NSW) Phil Crump (Vic) John Titman (Qld)
1982 Claremont Speedway Perth, WA Billy Sanders (NSW) Gary Guglielmi (NSW) Glyn Taylor (WA)
1983 Speedway Park Virginia, SA Billy Sanders (NSW) Glyn Taylor (WA) Phil Crump (Vic)
1984 Mildura, Vic Phil Crump (Vic) Billy Sanders (NSW) Gary Guglielmi (NSW)
1985 Ayr, Qld Billy Sanders (NSW) Phil Crump (Vic) (Qld)
1986 Ayr, Qld Troy Butler (Qld) John Titman (Qld) Alan Rivett (NSW)
1987 Mildura, Vic Steve Regeling (Qld) Steve Baker (SA) Glyn Taylor (WA)
1988 Riverview Speedway Murray Bridge, SA Phil Crump (Vic) Steve Regeling (Qld)# (SA)#
1989 Newcastle Motordrome Newcastle, NSW Glenn Doyle (WA) (NSW) (NT)
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
1990 Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Glenn Doyle (WA)♦ Leigh Adams (Vic)♦ (NSW)
1991 Alice Springs, NT Craig Boyce (NSW) Glenn Doyle (WA) Glyn Taylor (WA)
1992 North Arm Speedway Adelaide, SA Leigh Adams (Vic) Shane Parker (SA) (Qld)
1993 Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Leigh Adams (Vic) Jason Lyons (Vic) Shane Bowes (SA)
1994 Mildura, Vic Leigh Adams (Vic) Jason Lyons (Vic) Jason Crump (Vic)
1995 Gosford, NSW Jason Crump (Vic) Craig Boyce (NSW)# Leigh Adams (Vic)#
1996 Newcastle Showgrounds Newcastle, NSW Craig Boyce (NSW) Jason Crump (Vic)# (Qld)#
1997 Brisbane Exhibition Ground Brisbane, Qld Craig Boyce (NSW) Jason Crump (Vic)# Ryan Sullivan (SA)#
1998 Riverview Speedway Murray Bridge, SA Leigh Adams (Vic)♦ Jason Lyons (Vic)♦ Jason Crump (Vic)♦
1999 Mildura, Vic Todd Wiltshire (NSW) Jason Lyons (Vic) (SA)
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
2000 Gosford, NSW Leigh Adams (Vic) Mark Lemon (Vic) Todd Wiltshire (NSW)
2001 Riverview Speedway Murray Bridge, SA Todd Wiltshire (NSW) Leigh Adams (Vic) Mick Poole (NSW)
Wayville Showground Adelaide, SA Leigh Adams (Vic) Jason Crump (Vic) Ryan Sullivan (SA)
2003 Gosford, NSW Leigh Adams (Vic) Todd Wiltshire (NSW) Craig Watson (NSW)
2004

Gold Coast, Qld
Gosford, NSW
Mildura, Vic
Ryan Sullivan (SA) Leigh Adams (Vic) Todd Wiltshire (NSW)
2005
Newcastle Showgrounds
Gillman Speedway
Gosford, NSW
Newcastle, NSW
Adelaide, SA
Mildura, Vic
Leigh Adams (Vic) Jason Lyons (Vic) Steve Johnston (WA)
2006 Gillman Speedway

Newcastle Showgrounds
Adelaide, SA
Mildura, Vic
Newcastle, NSW
Leigh Adams (Vic) Todd Wiltshire (NSW) Rory Schlein (SA)
2007 Newcastle Showgrounds
Sydney Showground

Gillman Speedway
Borderline Speedway
Newcastle, NSW
Sydney, NSW
Mildura, Vic
Adelaide, SA
Mount Gambier, SA
Jason Crump (Vic) Leigh Adams (Vic) Steve Johnston (WA)
2008
Gillman Speedway
Borderline Speedway
Newcastle Showgrounds
Sydney Showground
Mildura, Vic
Adelaide, SA
Mount Gambier, SA
Newcastle, NSW
Sydney, NSW
Chris Holder (NSW) Troy Batchelor (Qld) Joe Screen (England)
2009 Newcastle Showgrounds

Gillman Speedway
Newcastle, NSW
Mildura, Vic
Adelaide, SA
Leigh Adams (Vic) Chris Holder (NSW) Rory Schlein (SA)
Year Venue City/State Winner Runner-up 3rd place
2010 Gillman Speedway

Newcastle Showgrounds
Adelaide, SA
Mildura, Vic
Newcastle, NSW
Chris Holder (NSW) Troy Batchelor (SA) Darcy Ward (Qld)
2011 Loxford Park Speedway
Gillman Speedway

Kurri Kurri, NSW
Adelaide, SA
Broken Hill, NSW
Mildura, Vic
Chris Holder (NSW) Darcy Ward (Qld)# Davey Watt (Qld)#
2012
Loxford Park Speedway
Gillman Speedway
Brisbane, Qld
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Adelaide, SA
Chris Holder (NSW) Davey Watt (Qld) Cameron Woodward (Vic)
2013[4] Gillman Speedway

Loxford Park Speedway
Adelaide, SA
Undera, Vic
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Troy Batchelor (SA) Dakota North (Vic) Cameron Woodward (Vic)
2014 Loxford Park Speedway

Gillman Speedway
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Undera, Vic
Adelaide, SA
Chris Holder (NSW) Jason Doyle (NSW) Josh Grajczonek (Qld)
2015[5] Gillman Speedway


Loxford Park Speedway
Adelaide, SA
Mildura, Vic
Undera, Vic
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Jason Doyle (NSW) Sam Masters (NSW) Justin Sedgmen (Vic)
2016[6] Loxford Park Speedway

Gillman Speedway
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Undera, Vic
Adelaide, SA
Mildura, Vic
Brady Kurtz (NSW) Sam Masters (NSW) Max Fricke (Vic)
2017[7] Gillman Speedway


Loxford Park Speedway
Adelaide, SA
Mildura, Vic
Undera, Vic
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Sam Masters (NSW) Justin Sedgmen (Vic) Davey Watt (Qld)
[8] Loxford Park Speedway


Gillman Speedway
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Undera, Vic
Mildura, Vic
Adelaide, SA
Rohan Tungate (NSW) Brady Kurtz (NSW) Max Fricke (Vic)
[9] 5 rounds various Max Fricke (Vic) Rohan Tungate (NSW) Chris Holder (NSW)
[10] 5 rounds various Max Fricke (Vic) [11] Jack Holder (NSW) Rohan Tungate (NSW)

No third place is listed with two or more riders tied for second place. Additionally, with only one rider listed in second, third place was unknown
♦ 1990 ride-ff after top 2 tied on 14pts. 1998 ride-off after top 3 placings tied on 13pts
# Riders tied on points required ride-off for second and third place
All titles from 1962-1967 were determined by a single race. Titles from 1968-2003 decided on the traditional single meeting. From 1999-2003 a final for the top 4 point scorers was instituted
Since 2004 all titles have been over a 3, 4 or 5 round series

Notes[]

  • Eleven non-Australian riders have won the championship. (USA) in 1926, Arthur Atkinson (England) in 1930 (2 miles), Ray Tauser (USA) in 1931 (6 laps), (England) in 1933, Jack Milne (USA) in 1937, Jack Parker (England) in 1938, 1950, 1951 [x2], Cordy Milne (USA) in 1938, Bill Kitchen (England) in 1950, Mike Broadbank (England) in 1963, Ken McKinlay (Scotland) in 1964, and Ole Olsen (Denmark) in 1976.
  • In the early years of the championship, multiple Australian titles were often held in the same year with some riders winning more than one title per year. Championships were run over anywhere from 2 to 6 laps and/or over 2 miles, often depending on the length of the track used.
  • Both Ole Olsen (1976) and Jason Crump (2007) were the reigning Speedway World Champions when they won their Australian titles. Jack Milne of the USA won the 1937 Australian Championship and later that year won the 1937 World Championship. Bluey Wilkinson won the 3 & 4 Lap Australian Championships in 1938 before also going on to win the World Championship later that year, Chris Holder also won both the 2012 Australian and World Championships.
  • Speedway World Champions to have won the Australian championship include Bluey Wilkinson (1935, 1938 [3 & 4 Laps]), Jack Milne (1937), Ole Olsen (1976), Jason Crump (1995, 2007) and Chris Holder (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2014).
  • Leigh Adams was the reigning Under-21 World Champion when he won his second straight Australian title in 1993. Jason Crump would win his first Australian title in 1995 and later that year won the 1995 U/21 World Championship.
  • Adams also became the first reigning Australian Under-21 Champion to win the senior title when he won his first championship in 1992. Chris Holder became just the second rider to hold both titles at the same time in 2008
  • Phil and Jason Crump are the only father/son combination to win the Australian Solo Championship.
  • Billy Sanders holds the record for most title wins in a row, winning four in a row from 1980-1983. Sanders also won in 1978 and 1985 giving him 6 titles in 8 years, but lost his title in both 1979 and 1984 to Phil Crump. Vic Duggan (1941, 1947, 1948 [x3]) and Chris Holder (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) have both won 5 Australian Championships.
  • Leigh Adams holds the record for most title wins overall with 10. Aub Lawson holds the record for most podiums with 19 between 1947 and 1954. Lawson's total includes his record of 4 wins in the Champion of Champions (1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954) and his second place in the 1951 Champion of Champions.
  • Mildura rider Jason Lyons holds the dubious record of having finished second the most number of times (5 - 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999 & 2005) without ever having won the Australian Championship.
  • The winner receives the Billy Sanders Memorial Trophy in honour of the Sydney rider who tragically took his own life on 23 April 1985 just three months after winning his then record 6th championship.

Medals classification[]

Pos Rider Total Gold Silver Bronze
1. Leigh Adams 15 10 4 1
2. Aub Lawson 19 9 7 3
3. Billy Sanders 10 6 1 3
4. Jack Parker (England) 8 5 2 1
5. Vic Duggan 7 5 1 1
Chris Holder 7 5 1 1
7. Phil Crump 9 4 4 1
8. Jim Airey 4 4
9. Craig Boyce 4 3 1
10. Bluey Wilkinson 3 3
11. 9 2 6 1
12. Jason Crump 7 2 3 2
13. John Boulger 6 2 2 2
Todd Wiltshire 6 2 2 2
15. Max Grosskreutz 4 2 2
16. Max Fricke 4 2 2
17. 5 2 1 2
18. Glenn Doyle 3 2 1
19. 2 2
2 2
2 2

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Australian Speedway Championship Results". Australian Speedway Championship. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Indywidualne Mistrzostwa Australii". Speedway Fansite. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Aussie Title for Batchelor Archived 2013-03-15 at the Wayback Machine", speedway365.com, 12 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013
  5. ^ Hartshorn, Michael (2015) "Jason Doyle claims Aussie title as Hunter riders dominate final round at Kurri Kurri Speedway", Maitland Mercury, 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015
  6. ^ "Confusing end to Aussie title - Brady Kurtz declared Australian solo speedway champion", Mildura Independent, 10 January 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016
  7. ^ "Sam Masters Storms to Aussie Gold", Speedway Grand Prix, 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017
  8. ^ "Tungate Lands First Aussie Title", Speedway Grand Prix, 14 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018
  9. ^ "Fricke indywidualnym mistrzem Australii! W nagrodę pojedzie w Grand Prix", Gazeta Wrocławska, 12 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019
  10. ^ "https://www.speedwaygp.com/news/article/8039/fricke-celebrates-aussie-title-double"/Fricke Celebrates Aussie Title Double, 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020
  11. ^ "2020 Australian Solo Speedway Championship Series". Australian Speedway Championship. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
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