Coined ‘The Tornado’, Connor Bailey is a fan favourite contender of the upcoming 2019 Australian U21 500cc Speedway Championship hosted by the Ipswich Switches Junior Motorcycle Speedway Club! Running on Saturday 19th January, Bailey is expected to live-up to his nickname and dominate on the track to take out the Championship title! Bailey recently spoke with Motorcycling Australia to discuss his impressive list of career highlights and how exactly he got into the Speedway discipline. 

Name:

Connor Bailey

Nickname:

The Tornado

Age:

16

Bike Colours:

Red, Silver and Black

Sponsors:

Mum and Dad, Mick’s Bulk Wood, Tim Lawrence from TLR, Direct Oils and Batteries, Watson Transport, Lango, Craig Boyce, McCarten’s Contracting, Roger and Wendy Webster, Leigh and Chris Rose, Wayne, Jason’s Trim Shop, Pickering’s Transport and Maureen’s helmet colours.

Hometown?

Perth, Western Australia

Currently living where?

Mildura, Victoria

Summary of family history in the sport?

I am the first generation racing Speedway.

 

 

Home track in Australia?

Unfortunately, I don’t currently have a home track.

How many years riding?

Four years.

Career highlights?

  • 2nd Place 2018 Australian U16 125cc Solo Championship Winner 250cc Rock Oil National 7 Round Winter Series
  • Winner: Todd Wiltshire Cup, Kurri Kurri Speedway, NSW
  • Winner: Jason Lyons Cup, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Jason Crump Shield, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Leigh Adams Cup, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Anzac Day Meeting, Sidewinders Speedway, Adelaide, SA
  • Winner: Australian Youth Games (Speedway) Kurri Kurri, NSW
  • Winner: Graham Baker Shield Sidewinders Speedway, Adelaide, SA
  • Sidewinders U16 Speedway Adelaide, SA.
  • Winner: Highest Over-all Point score for season Winner: Highest Average for season.
  • Winner: Fastest race time of the year.
  • Best and Fairest 2017/2018 as voted by the Referees  of each Meeting.
  • Kurri Kurri Speedway Club, NSW.
  • 2018 Junior Club Champion.
  • Winner: 250cc Rock Oil National 7 Round Winter Series
  • Winner: 125cc LKI National 7 Round Winter Series
  • Winner: Todd Wiltshire Cup, Kurri Kurri Speedway, NSW
  • Winner: Jason Lyons Cup, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Jason Crump Shield, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Leigh Adams Cup, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Graham Baker Shield, Sidewinders Speedway, Adelaide, SA
  • Winner: Sidewinders Speedway Birthday, Adelaide, SA
  • 2nd place: Neil Street Memorial, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Victorian U16 125cc State Title – 3rd Place: Victorian U16 250cc State Title
  • 3rd place NSW U16 125cc State Title
  • 2nd place NSW U16 250cc State Title
  • 3rd place SA U16 125cc State Title
  • Winner: Jason Lyons Cup, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: Jason Crump Shield, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Winner: ‘Redloh’ (Holder) Cup, Central Coast Junior MCC, NSW
  • Winner: 125cc Junior GP Challenge, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Runner-up: SA 125cc State Title, Sidewinders Speedway, Adelaide, SA
  • Runner-up: Leigh Adams Cup, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Third place: Australian Junior Sidecar Title, Mildura MCC, Victoria
  • Fourth place: Roy Thomsen Memorial, Kurri Kurri Speedway, NSW
  • Fourth place: NSW 125cc State Title, Kurri Kurri, NSW
  • Winner: 125cc Junior GP Challenge Pinjar Park, Perth, WA
  • Winner: 125cc Pinjar Park Club Champion, Perth, WA
  • Runner-up: Gordon Rowland Cup, Pinjar Park, Perth, WA

Heroes?

Tai Woffinden!

What is your current training process?

Three nights a week I attend a fast-paced exercise program based around kickboxing, every day in the morning I will run 8 kilometres before breakfast, then come home and do various strengthening exercises. I also maintain a very balanced and healthy diet to ensure that I stay fit enough so I can perform at my best.

If you weren’t racing, what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t racing I would definitely love to be a motor mechanic.

What can’t you live without?

Speedway!

Tell us something we don’t know about you!

I got into speedway on the premise of a free sausage sizzle.

Hobbies?

Media production, Writing, and Gaming.

 

 

Follow Bailey “The Tornado” and all his domination on the track via Facebook and Instagram!