Every sport relies on the next generation of competitors to sustain it into the future. Whether it is cricket, football, tennis or motorsport, or any sport at all for that matter, it is those competing in junior competitions that ultimately emerge as the superstars of the future. In speedway, it is Junior Sedans where talented young men and women get to showcase their abilities and lay the foundations for their future endeavours in whatever race category they may ultimately choose. Of course, all junior sports have their elite events and speedway is no exception with state and national championships in addition to various season-long competitions held at various venues around the country.

This Saturday night (May 30) will see the culmination of one such elite series when the Loads Australia Junior Sedan Track Championship is decided at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway. There are 15 of Queensland’s best junior racers aged between 12 and 16 set to do battle, setting the scene for a hard fought finale. With series leader Cody O’Connell not racing due to his selection at representative level in Rugby League, second-placed Maddi McGee is now in the prime position to clinch the championship. McGee, who is just one point behind O’Connell at the moment, is only 14 points ahead of Cody Gay. However, with Brendan Robinson, Alex Sweeney and Vicki Canfield all within 15 points of Gay, the series remains wide open and any one of this quintet could realistically emerge victorious.

Perhaps not surprisingly, McGee is the more experienced of the championship contenders, currently in her fifth year of Junior Sedan racing with some big wins under her belt, including the Tasmanian Championship. Gay, meanwhile, is in his rookie season after moving up from Junior Quarter Midgets. Currently in her third season of racing, Canfield will be desperate to leapfrog those ahead of her and secure the title in what will be her final race meeting in the category. The event will also prove bittersweet for Caitlyn Pagel, Ben Taylor and Josie Thompson who, like Canfield, have reached the maximum allowable age limit to remain in the category and will be racing at Archerfield as a Junior for the final time.

While not figuring near the top of the point standings, Joel Berkley has proven himself a race winner, with Jayden Iacono and Ben Holmes also capable of upstaging the series contenders to finish the season on a high note.

Loads Australia Archerfield Speedway Junior Sedan Track Championship progressive pointscore (top ten): Cody O’Connell 145, Maddi McGee 144, Cody Gay 130, Brendan Robinson 128, Alex Sweeney 127, Vicki Canfield 126, Casey O’Connell 111, Ben Taylor 94, Joel Berkley 85, Ben Holmes 80

Also on the program at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway this Saturday night are the final rounds of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Sprintcar Series and Polar Ice Midget Track Championship, along with Wingless Sprints, Modlites, Fireworks and the Car, Caravan, Boat and Dunny Derby.