Another first for Olympic Park Speedway at Mildura will be realized next Wednesday, 16th November, with the running of an International Sidecar Challenge, which will take the form of a Four Team tournament, where teams of four machines each, will represent England, New Zealand, Australia and Mildura.

Mildura Club has worked hard but innovatively, to get approval for the meeting by the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM), the world controlling body of motorcycling, to allow Australian riders, particularly Mildura locals, to ride in International company. The meeting is currently being advertised Internationally by the FIM from their Swiss Head Office.

The four team tournament format is popular in European speedway, where most of the speedway is based on a team aspect, however Sunraysia speedway fans will have not seen the format, so excitement is guaranteed.

Mildura Club too, had worked the most convenient time for the meeting with the International riders and those Australians who will be attending the World Sidecar Championship meeting at Murray Bridge this weekend, but has tried to fit in with the local crowd, making the meeting a mid-week affair, knowing that Sunraysia folk will attend the meeting as nothing like this has been seen before. Wednesday 16th November has been the best fit for the meeting to be held.

Dual World Champion, Mick Headland, will lead the Australians along with veteran British rider, and current World number two, Rob Wilson, who will lead the Great Britain foursome. Last year’s kiwi visitor, Andrew Buchanan and his wife Phillipa, will lead the New Zealand team and Byren Gates will have the honour of leading the Mildura team in this historic meeting.

Each heat race will have one rider from each of the teams participate, with the riders being mixed up over both gate positions and by riding against each member of each other team as well, so a fair result is guaranteed.

Sunraysia speedway fans will have the added interest of who scores points for each team, instead of just being concerned about who wins the race. The standard, three, two and one point for first, second and third placing will be allocated with the rider finishing fourth receiving no points for the outing.

A large crowd is expected to take the opportunity to watch a classic International affair, with much of the interest being as to how the Mildura boys do against the best riders in the world.

Gates will open at 5:00pm and as normal, a full catering service will be offered to patrons.