This Weekend: NZ Sidecar Champs

It’s a double header weekend this Friday and Saturday night at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway when the AFC Motorcycles New Zealand Sidecar Championship is decided. A quality field of bikes from the North and South Island are making their way to Palmerston North for the championship, and there is nothing quite like the exhilarating side-by-side Sidecar racing action.

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Friday night sees qualifying for the AFC Motorcycles New Zealand Sidecar Championship take place, with heats raced to find the top 16 rider and swinger combinations for finals on Saturday night. With no brakes on the Sidecars, control of the bike is a mixture of throttle control and the body position of the swinger, which changes during a lap to keep the bike balanced and stable.

There are many experienced entrants including current 1nz Dylan Moohan & Sean Mason, 3nz Jamie Moohan & Patrick Larsen, local hard chargers; 97p Mike Zachan & Ben Franklin, 7p Matt Stewart & Nick Dunne, 8p Rob Miller & Jaxon Hannan, 17p Tony Hislop & Aidan Foothead plus regular Robertson Prestige International Speedway Competitors and recently crowned North Island Champions 27b Craig Boaler & Ann Plummer adding to a packed field. Sidecars from Auckland all the way down to Christchurch will add the excitement of the AFC Motorcycles New Zealand Sidecar Championship. 

Included in the programme on Friday night are International Minisprints - with drivers from the USA racing wheel-to-wheel with our local Minisprint drivers, along with Adult Ministocks.

Below is a timeline for the Friday 23rd February Qualifying:

• Cook Street Pit Gate Opens: 12:30pm
• Bike Checking: 1pm - 2:30pm
• Waldegrave Car Gate Opens: 2:30pm
• Riders & Swingers Briefing: 3pm
• Practice: 3:30pm - 4:15pm
• Public Gates Open: 5pm
• Qualifying Starts 6pm

Minisprints and Adult Ministocks please follow the below link to register your intention to race on Friday 23rd February: https://www.pnspeedway.co.nz/forms/23-02-2024

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Saturday will see the AFC Motorcycles New Zealand Sidecar Champion crowned at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway. After a hard fought qualifying, the top 16 Sidecar combinations will be found and the finals action will be brought to life. With 20 heats to determine the champion and runners up - expect plenty of close Sidecar action on the track!

Rounding out what is set to be a monumental night at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway - metal crunching Stockcars the future of speedway Youth Ministocks.

Below is a timeline for the Saturday 24th February Finals:

• Cook Street Pit Gate Opens: 1:30pm
• Bike Checking: 2pm - 4:30pm
• Waldegrave Car Gate Opens: 4pm
• Riders & Swingers Briefing: 4:30pm
• Public Gates Open: 5pm
• Grand Parade: 5:30pm
• Finals Start 6pm

Stockcars and Youth Ministocks (Limited Field) please follow the below link to register your intention to race on Saturday 24th February: https://www.pnspeedway.co.nz/forms/24-02-2024

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Rainout tickets issued on Saturday 4th November are valid for this event, or any other event this 2023/24 season only.

Tickets are available to purchase through Ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz to save standing in a queue (tickets purchased incur an additional service fee), or on race day from Gate 1 (Waldegrave Street), Gate 2 (Cuba Street - Bridge) and Gate 3 (Cook Street) from 5pm each day.

Admission prices per night are $25 for an Adult (16 years and over), $10 for Children aged 8-15, and $60 for a Family pass of 2 adults and up to four children. Kids aged 7 and under are FREE.

Public gates open from 5pm - Gate 1 (Waldegrave Street), Gate 2 (Cuba Street - Bridge) and Gate 3 (Cook Street). Racing starts 6pm.

Click here to view a full list of the terms and conditions of entry (130KB pdf).