Rohan Tungate and Josh Pickering quinella round one of Aussie titles

Tungate dropped just one point in securing the opening night win in another thrilling final against Pickering.

Pelaw Main’s Tungate and Heddon Greta’s Pickering took the honours on the night ahead of Victoria’s Max Fricke and Cowra’s Brady Kurtz in the A-final.

Tungate leads the series with 18 points, from Fricke on 15, Pickering on 14 and Kurtz 12.

Kurri Kurri’s Mason Campton also made a fine start making the B-final and sitting sixth with 10 points, just behind Victorian rider Jaimon Lidsey on 11.

Reigning Aussie champion Sam Masters had a night to forget. He scored three second places, one third place and retired with mechanical problems in his third qualifying race, finishing with seven points. 

He has three rounds of the championship series to turn things around

Buttai’s Jye Etheridge will carry five points into round two at Undera on Wednesday after a disappointing night which included an exclusion for touching the starting tapes and a retirement mechanical problems in his last qualifying heat.

Using the engine he used at the Australian GP in Melbourne, Tungate said every race was a test in terms of quality of opposition and tricky track conditions.

“Every race was really hard and the track was pretty tricky so you had to be smart about where you were riding and what you did.

“The gate pick wasn’t really easy to do, but I think I made the right choice and it all worked out in the end.”

Tungate said consistency was the key now after making a strong start to the Australian title series.

“Same again, just to be consistent and pick the points up and go from there,” he said.

Pickering qualified for the A-final with a thrilling B-final win overtaking Australian under-21 champion Jack Holder in a pressure filled race.

He said he was always confident he had the speed to match the quality field which included some of the world’s best riders.

“I had plenty of speed and just worked tirelessly the whole night. So it’s worked out OK,” he said. “I knew before I came here that I’m quick enough to beat them and that doesn’t faze me.

“I’m lining up against some of the world’s best and definitely Australia’s best but I rate myself as one of them too.”

Pickering said it was great to be involved in another thrilling final with Tungate after the two battled out the NSW crown at Kurri Kurri last year.

”I hope it ends up one two with me and Rohan the whole series. I won’t  be too upset if Rohan beats me. He is a good mate and so is Max and I couldn’t think of  any other blokes I’d like to be up on the podium with.”

Former Australian Speedway Solo Champion Brady Kurtz had a night of mixed fortunes but showed his nearing his best. He won four of his five qualifying heat races but failed to finish in his third qualifying race and fell in the A-final 

ROUND ONE