South Australian based Troy Batchelor has jumped to the lead in the Australian solo speedway championships after the first night of racing at Gillman Speedway on Saturday.
While Australian Test team squad member Jason Doyle finished on top with 14 points after the heats, Batchelor won the A Final from Doyle with NSW rider Rohan Tungate in third place.
The surprise winner of the B Final Mick Dyer of NSW was 4th in the final.
Mildura’s leading rider Cameron Woodward was second in the B Final and is now in 5th placing overall in the titles with two meetings to go – one at Undera on Wednesday and the final meeting at Kurri Kurri NSW next Saturday.
Justin Sedgmen finished 4th in the B Final after completing the heats with eight points.
But he was feeling the strain in his last heat and the B Final when he finished last each time.
The young Mildura rider was suffering from a shoulder injury from last Sunday when he crashed head on into the pit corner fence at Olympic Park during the Jason Lyons Tribute meeting.
Sedgmen is now 7th on the points table with Mark Lemon finishing with six points to be 11th overall.
AUSTRALIAN SOLO SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS: ROUND ONE (Gillman, South Australia) Points after five heats: Jason Doyle (NSW) 14; Troy Batchelor (SA) 13, Rohan Tungate (NSW) 9, Mick Dyer (NSW) 9, Cameron Woodward (Victoria) 9, Dakota North (Victoria) 9, Justin Sedgmen (Victoria) 8; Alex Davies (NSW) 7, Davey Watt (NSW) 7, Mark Lemon (Victoria) 6, Sam Masters (NSW) 6, Ty Proctor (Victoria) 5, Kozza Smith (NSW) 4, Adam Shields (NSW) 4, Cameron Heeps (WA) 4.
A FINAL: Troy Batchelor 1; Jason Doyle 2; Rohan Tungate 3, Micky Dyer 4.
B FINAL: Micky Dyer 1; Cameorn Woodward 2, Dakota North 3, Justin Sedgmen 4.