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.

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DREAM TO REALITY: Aussie Rohan Tungate Qualifies for 2027 FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship

July 26, 2026|Jocelyn Dare

At 36 years of age, the Australian veteran secures a full-time World Championship spot following a high-stakes showdown in Terenzano, Italy.

Australian speedway star Rohan Tungate has achieved the ultimate breakthrough on foreign dirt, securing his place as a full-time rider in the 2027 FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) World Championship.

Battling through a stacked 16-rider international field in Terenzano, Italy, the 36-year-old veteran delivered a masterclass in grit, gating speed and trackcraft to finish among the elite top four classified riders in the SGP Challenge qualification fixture.

Tungate becomes the latest Australian to step onto speedway’s absolute pinnacle, capping off decades of relentless dedication across national, British and Polish leagues.

125 Years of Legacy: The Soul of Grassroots Motorsport

For over 125 years, Australian dirt tracks have forged the toughest, most fearless motorcycle racers on Earth. From the raw, dust-filled local ovals where speedway was born in the early 1900s to the world's biggest arenas, the Australian speedway bloodline runs deep.

Official 2027 SGP Challenge Qualifiers

After 20 brutal heats of wheel-to-wheel speedway action, the following four riders earned guaranteed direct entry into the 2027 World Championship series:

Qualified Rider	Nation	Federation	Status
Rohan Tungate	Australia 🇦🇺	MA	QUALIFIED (2027 SGP)
Robert Lambert	Great Britain 🇬🇧	ACU	QUALIFIED (2027 SGP)
Kacper Woryna	Poland 🇵🇱	PZM	QUALIFIED (2027 SGP)
Kim Nilsson	Sweden 🇸🇪	SVEMO	QUALIFIED (2027 SGP)

Grit on the Dirt: The Aussie Campaign

Tungate’s triumph marks a landmark moment for Australian motorsport, proving that perseverance and world-class racecraft know no age limits.

Fellow Australian contenders Jaimon Lidsey and Keynan Rew fought valiantly through a ruthless 20-heat program against Europe’s elite. While both young guns fell just short of the four-ticket threshold in Terenzano, both riders showed front-running speed and will reload for the next World Championship cycle.

Media Credits & Official Sources

Action Photography: Grzegorz Misiak
Official Announcement & Graphics: FIM Speedway Grand Prix (@speedwaygp) / Australian Speedway Championships

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