Twelve months ago, Rohan Tungate produced a herculean performance to win the NSW Open Speedway Solo Championship at Kurri Kurri Speedway.
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He had to compete in the qualifying rounds to clinch a spot in the championship field. He cleared that hurdle and after a shaky start in the championship heats, Tungate had to compete in the sudden death B-final for a spot in the championship final.
He cleared that hurdle, too.
Then in a memorable championship final, Tungate scored victory and snared the championship crown.
This Saturday night, Tungate will compete in the 2017 NSW Open Speedway Title at Kurri Kurri Speedway and he will be hoping he doesn’t have to jump through as many hoops as last year to win ‘back to back’ titles.
The popular rider from Pelaw Main has had a hectic professional season of speedway racing in the UK and Europe where he rode in both the British Speedway Premiership and the Polish Speedway League.
Tungate then stole some of the thunder when, as a reserve rider at the final round of the Speedway World Grand Prix in Melbourne in October, he got a start in two races and convincingly won both.
Tungate has an impeccable record at Kurri Kurri Speedway and he is expected to be one of the leading contenders for this year’s title.
The annual event plays a key role in the competitors’ future campaigns especially for those who make the four-rider championship final.
Selection in the 2018 Australian Open Speedway Solo Championship, selection in 2018 NSW Open Speedway Championship and impact on visas to compete in the UK in 2018 all come into bearing.
As a result, this Saturday night has attracted a high quality field including no less than seven riders who have just competed in the UK and European Speedway Leagues.
Joining Tungate, other local riders who have just returned from overseas are Jye Ethridge, Mason Campton and Josh Pickering.
Fellow NSW riders Jack Holder and Brady Kurtz as well as Queensland’s Ryan Douglas round out the list of riders who competed overseas in 2017.
Kurtz won the Australian solo title in 2016 and Holder is the current Australian Under 21 champion.
Gates open at 3pm. Racing starts at 6.30pm.
TITLE FIELD: Matthew Gilmore; Josh Macdonald; Alan Macdonald; Josh Pickering; Zac Cook; Jye Etheridge; Jack Holder; Brady Kurtz; Ben Cook; Kane Lawrence; Mason Campton; Rohan Tungate; Taylor Poole; Matthew Pickering; Ryan Douglas (QLD); Zaine Kennedy (QLD); Reserves: Declan Kennedy (QLD); Mitch Cluff (NSW); Isaac Hawes (NSW)