New South Welshman Brady Kurtz has burst out of the blocks in the 2025 Australian Speedway Championship, winning the opening two rounds in Gillman (SA) and Mildura (Vic) to open a handy 8pt lead at the halfway mark.
Kurtz, who will join the top-tier Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) series for the first time in 2025, has won 13 of the 14 races he has contested so far, winning the Gillman final on January 3 ahead of Jack Holder, Chris Holder and Keynan Rew, and then continuing the assault in Mildura (January 5) by outpointing Rew, Zach Cook and Josh Pickering.
After two of four rounds, Kurtz – chasing a second Aussie title after winning in 2016 – leads the 2025 championship on 37pts, with Jack Holder (29) second from the ultra impressive Rew (28), Chris Holder (26), reigning champion Rohan Tungate (20), Cook (18), Pickering (17) and Jaimon Lidsey (17).
Kurtz will compete in the 2025 SGP series alongside Jack Holder, Jason Doyle and Max Fricke, making it four Aussies in the permanent 15-rider line-up – the most of any country.
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Kurtz leads the way in the Gillman final ahead of Jack Holder (blue helmet), Chris Holder and Rew
In scorching Mildura temperatures, Kurtz’ path to victory was made easier by Jack Holder (mechanical) and Tungate (crash) bowing out of proceedings in the second semi-final, while current Aussie No. 2 Fricke had already withdrawn from the round after clipping the rear of Rew’s machine in his first heat and hitting the ground hard.
However, after setting new lap and race records at Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway, it would have been difficult to see anyone lowering Kurtz’ colours as he completed a flawless clean sweep.
Kurtz is pushing hard for a second Aussie title
Two days earlier, there were fewer flashpoints at the championship opener in Gillman as most of the big guns made their presence felt. With Kurtz taking care of business in the final from the Holders and Rew, Fricke was fifth overall from Cook, Lidsey and Tungate.
There was also a late shuffle to the championship roster ahead of Gillman, with Ryan Douglas, Tate Zischke and Justin Sedgmen all withdrawing, with Michael West and Harrison Ryan drafted in as replacements – and the 16th and final spot at each round now allocated for wildcards.
Patrick Hamilton (Gillman) and Dayle Wood (Mildura) have already completed wildcard duties – Hamilton also filling the reserve role in Mildura after Fricke’s demise – while veteran campaigner and 2017 Aussie champion Sam Masters will be the wildcard at round three in Albury-Wodonga on January 8. Zaine Kennedy is the wildcard at the final round in North Brisbane on January 11.
Images: Judy Mackay