Another Aussie

champ for Cowra

COWRA’s 13-year-old Brady Kurtz is the 2010 Australian Under-16 Speedway Solo Champion after an amazing win at Oakburn Park Raceway, Tamworth.

Kurtz experienced a busy lead up to Friday’s championships, including two trips to both Mildura, Victoria, and Gillman, South Australia. At those meetings he also drew on the experience and knowledge of 15-year-old World Under-16 Champion, Mikkel Michelsen of Denmark. Unfortunately, Michelsen flew back to Denmark on January 23 and didn’t get to attend the Australian Championships with Kurtz.

Left: Brady Kurtz . . . newly crowned 2010 Australian Under-16 Speedway Champion.

The Australian Under-16 Championship has not been won by New South Wales since 1998. Kurtz succeeded where others have failed against top riders from each state. Kurtz was hopeful of making the top four and progressing to the A-grade final and was extremely excited to take out the championship against Australia’s best, including Arthur Sissis of South Australia, winner of the two previous under-16 national titles.

Racing consisted of twenty heats, each rider completing five races, coming up against every rider from each state. After the completion of the 20 heats, Kurtz had top scored on equal points with Sissis. Kurtz dropped only one point during the heats. The top three riders progressed

to the A-grade final, with the next four contesting the B-grade final. The winner of that final, West Australia’s Cameron Heeps, also progressed to the A-grade showdown.

Right: Winners are grinners . . . Brady Kurtz (third from left) with finalists (from left) Cameron Heaps (WA) fourth, Arthur Sissis (SA) second and Tyler King (NSW) third place.

The top fours riders in the A-grade final were Kurtz (NSW), Sissis (SA), Tyler King (NSW) and Heeps (WA). When the tapes dropped, Sissis darted out in front, but the quick-thinking Kurtz instantly cut back and soured in front of Sissis, followed by King and Heaps. Sissis hammered Kurtz’s back wheel for the four laps, but Kurtz never missed a beat and kept his cool to defeat the current and two-time champion.

Kurtz was a popular winner – his family and supporters charged on to the field after he took the chequered flag to congratulate him and toss him in the air. Kurtz won the NSW Under-16 Speedway Title late last year, which gained him selection to the national titles. His Australian title win now ensures his selection by Motorcycling Australia to again contest the 2010 World Under-16 80cc Championships (Youth Gold Trophy) to be raced in Vojens, Denmark, in July.