Pelaw Main speedway rider Rohan Tungate has sent out an early warning to his rivals that he is on track for a big summer season.
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Tungate is in red-hot form with two wins from two rides at the Australian Speedway Grand Prix and only one loss on the way to claiming back-to-back titles at Gillman Speedway in Adelaide and Olympic Park in Mildura.
That loss was to no other than Australia’s newly crowned world champion Jason Doyle in a heat at Gilman.
But Tungate is not the type to trumpet his achievements, the 27-year-old is as quietly spoken and self-effacing off the track as he is fiercely competitive on it.
“It’s been a pretty hectic couple of weeks since I got back to Australia,” he said finally back home this week after racing appointments at the Melbourne GP, the Jack Young Cup at Gillman in Adelaide and the Phil Crump Trophy at Mildura’s Olympic Park.
“To be selected as second reserve for the Australian Grand Prix was fantastic but then to have two rides and win both was unbelievable.
“I didn’t think I’d get a ride to be honest. I had to motivate myself pretty quickly when I got the word I was riding, but once you’re on the track the adrenaline kicks in.
“To ride in a grand prix was something I’ve always wanted to do and to get a couple of wins in front of the home crowd was sensational.
“It was fantastic to be there to see Doyley win the title. He has worked so hard for it and battled through injury this year to get it.”
Tungate said he had brought back two of his best engines and another frame for the Australian season this year.
He said it meant all the difference in Melbourne, where he needed every ounce of power to ride his way to the front after being beaten to the lead at the start.
“I’m riding well, I’ve had to. I used an engine that is about 10 years old at Gillman and Mildura.
“I didn’t allow me to gate well, I didn’t win one start but it had enough speed in the race to get to the front.
“I actually only lost one heat over the two meetings and that was to Doyley.”
Tungate said after his GP experience in Melbourne he had set his sights on a top three finish in the Australian solo title to qualify for another start.
“Obviously I’d love to win the Aussie title and I will be trying my best, but it’s a tough series,” he said. “You have to work hard and you need a bit of luck.”