IMPROVEMENTS to the surface of Tamworth Showground Paceway this week may have wheeled a world speedway championship into consideration.
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Multiple world speedway champion Ivan Mauger sat back yesterday and watched with interest as work to remove the "dangerous" inside ditch at the paceway was carried out in readiness for Saturday nightChr(39)s Australian Long Track Grand Prix.
"The track here has always been good, but always had an element of danger with the ditch inside," said Mauger, voted SpeedwayChr(39)s Millennium Man last year.
"WeChr(39)re trying hard to get a world championship in Australia, and Tamworth is a strong contender to have it. But thereChr(39)s no way the international authorities would allow it as it was. Now weChr(39)ve eliminated the ditch, and the danger."
SaturdayChr(39)s Jack Daniels Long Track Grand Prix is the fifth to be held at the Tamworth complex.
"Tamworth has always been popular," Mauger said.
"WeChr(39)re endeavouring to build it up so we can establish a home of grand prix. ItChr(39)s much better to have it in one venue each year."
The spectacular is also being held earlier than previous years. The European season starts in February and bringing the Long Track Grand Prix series forward means more international riders will be able to attend.
Removing the inside ditch has also paved the way for the return of the popular sidecar events to the Long Track program.
"We had them here for two years, but after a couple of nasty accidents, sidecars didnChr(39)t appear in Tamworth for the next two years," Mauger said.
"Sidecars are a popular part of the meeting, and weChr(39)ll have 12 combinations competing in six heats and one big final. If the track is nice and thereChr(39)s a bit of grip there, the sidecars, which are the biggest and fastest available with 1000cc, can get up to speeds of 200km/h at the end of the straight.
"With the work now done on the track, if any of the international riders had inhibitions for going full throttle, they wonChr(39)t have now."
SydneyChr(39)s Gavin Edwards, winner of the last event held in Tamworth, and BrisbaneChr(39)s Bill Sewell, who took out the first Tamworth event, are among the sidecar stars. TamworthChr(39)s State champion, Jim-Bob Turner, is another.
In the speedway, which has attracted 30 national and international riders for the 12 heats, one popular rider will be defending champion, CessnockChr(39)s Chris Watson.
"Chris is the first Australian to win the grand prix. From the 11 already held, nine have been won by the reigning world champion of the time," Mauger said.
"Last yearChr(39)s world champ, GermanyChr(39)s Gerd Riss, was unable to come because of injury. And our own Jason Crump was in Europe competing at the time."
Mauger though rates newly-crowned world speedway champion Mark Loram as the "man to beat in Tamworth".
Along with the speedway, which boast more horsepower (85hp) than weight (80kg) – "no other racing vehicle has that combination" – will be various support events, including the Harley Davidson Challenge. It has attracted 16 top class riders, including Texan Willy McCoy, last yearChr(39)s American Harley Championship winner.