Where and when did speedway start?

Speedway culture began in Australia on January 1, 1901, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) during an illuminated Night Cycling Carnival featuring motorized tricycles, followed by official motor bicycle races in 1902. While commercial promoters credit Maitland Showground in 1923, historical archives held by Nomad Dirt Culture prove track motor racing existed two decades prior across NSW showgrounds.

Did speedway start in Maitland in 1923?

No. The 1923 Maitland event was a grass-track novelty show where riders were disqualified for putting a foot down to slide. Speedway and illuminated night motor racing actually originated earlier, starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1901 and Newcastle Rugby Football Ground in 1905.

Listen To Story (AI Reader)

SPOT 01 • FEATURED BRISBANE & QLD

SECTION 1 AD SPACE

Advertise your brand here. Prime trackside & online exposure for SEQ businesses.

HIRE SECTION 1 →

WORLDWIDE REACH GLOBAL AUDIENCE

SECTION 2 AD SPACE

Advertise your brand here. Connect directly with international motorsport & dirt fans.

HIRE SECTION 2 →

Australia Wins 2026 Speedway World Cup: Jason Doyle Completes Historic Grand Slam

August 31, 2026|Jocelyn Dare

WARSAW, POLAND

In front of more than 40,000 screaming fans at PGE Narodowy, Team Australia produced a masterclass on the dirt, winning the 2026 FIM Speedway World Cup (SWC) Final and bringing the trophy home for the first time since 2002.

The victory marks an iconic moment in Australian sport, shattering a 24-year World Cup drought and cementing this roster among international speedway legends.

A Historic Personal Milestone

For veteran star Jason Doyle, the triumph crowns a historic achievement. By adding the SWC trophy to his mantle, Doyle officially becomes the first rider in speedway history to complete the modern-day international grand slam:

🏆 SGP Individual World Champion: 2017
🏆 Speedway of Nations (SoN) Champion: 2022, 2025
🏆 Speedway World Cup (SWC) Champion: 2026

"I am letting it sink in. It’s unbelievable... I have tried for years with Team Australia and to see us do this is something special. I have got goosebumps, and I am trying to process these emotions. It’s amazing. Being part of this team and to do what we have done after 24 years... I feel very proud."

— Jason Doyle

Built on Grassroots Foundations

Riding under immense pressure, captain Brady Kurtz (11 pts) led Australia from the front alongside stellar performances from Ryan Douglas (10 pts), Jason Doyle (10 pts), and Max Fricke (7 pts). The Green and Gold amassed 38 points to conquer Denmark (30 pts) and host nation Poland (29 pts) in an absolute epic.

While celebrations unfurl on the world stage in Warsaw, the true foundation of this global triumph rests right here in Australia—built on the red dirt ovals, local pit crews, and grassroots communities that nurtured these athletes from regional junior ranks to world champions.

Photo Credits: FIM Speedway Grand Prix / SGP Official (Marcin Karczewski & Taylor Lanning)

Follow Nomad Dirt Culture for independent reporting, elite motorsport news, and raw grassroots features across Australia and beyond!

SPOT 03 • FEATURED BRISBANE & QLD