September 17, 2019
The Kingaroy Junior Motorcycle Speedway Club has come a long way in just five years … from just an idea and no track, to hosting the Under 16s Queensland Titles.
The 125cc Solo and Pairs titles and the 250cc Solos title attracted young riders from across Queensland and interstate to Kingaroy at the weekend for two days of exciting speedway racing at the club’s dedicated track at the showgrounds.
On Saturday morning, the heats and final of the Under 16s 125cc Queensland Solos Title were raced.
Tate Zischke, from Grandchester, repeated his success from the 125cc Golden Steel Shoe Challenge in Kingaroy earlier this year, securing the State 125cc title.
In second place was Brisbane rider Flynn Nicol, followed by Joshua Beetham (Logan City) and Jaidyn Eaton (Brisbane).
The Under 16s Queensland 125cc Best Pairs title was decided on Saturday afternoon.
Kingaroy Junior Motorcycle Speedway Club (KJMSC) secretary Tracey Tunstall said this category featured some very close racing.
The eventual winners were Tate Zischke and Flynn Nicol, followed by Joshua Beetham and Nathan Goman, and Jaidyn Eaton and Liam Powell.
Third place had to be decided on a count back after two teams tied on 21 points.
The more powerful (and quicker) 250cc bikes took over the track for their title tussle on Sunday morning.
Flynn Nicol continued his success from Saturday, winning each of his 250cc heats before taking out the final race.
Joshua Beetham was second in the final, followed by Tate Zischke and Nathan Goman.
A special guest at the titles was Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who was a foundation member of the club.
Mrs Frecklington presented the trophies to the 250cc riders on Sunday.
She congratulated KJMSC president Simon Rogerson and his team on the success of the weekend.
“This is one of the hardest working local clubs. They kickstarted in 2014 and now five years later they have their own track and clubhouse,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“You have built the club from the ground up … and just look at it now!”
* * *
The State titles weekend was the first outing for “The Beehive”, the nickname for the KJMSC’s new clubhouse, built with help from a State Government grant.
Why the Beehive? Because the club is the home of “the Bees”, a name which has been linked to motorbike speedway racing in the Kingaroy area since the 1930s.
An historic photograph from the old Gordonbrook track is now featured inside, keeping the history of the sport alive in the area.
[UPDATED with correction]
