Queensland duo Tyler Moon and Adam Lovell are the 2026 Australian Speedway Sidecar champions after a thrilling performance at Olympic Park Speedway in Mildura on Anzac Day. Press: MA Images: Judy Mackay

The pair claimed their maiden Australian title after executing a slick inside move on Justin Plaisted and Brian Anthony on lap three of the final, bringing two nights of spectacular sidecar racing to a dramatic conclusion. The victory carried deep emotional significance for Moon, arriving 35 years after his late father Gary Moon won the Australian Speedway Sidecar Championship in Newcastle.

Plaisted and Anthony, who produced a perfect scorecard throughout the heat races, finished second in the final ahead of Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt. FIM Oceania champions Trent Headland and Jaxon Rayner were excluded after striking a rut early in the race and crossing into the infield. The Mildura event also marked the return of the Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship, which had not been contested since 2022. The title was won by siblings Bailey and Sienna Carpenter.

Thrilling Two-Night Contest:

Mildura delivered high-quality racing across both nights of competition, with seven teams progressing from Friday’s qualifying rounds to join nine seeded teams for Saturday’s championship decider, presented with support from RCA Civil Group.

Following 20 fiercely contested heat races in front of a large crowd – with many more watching via livestream – Plaisted and Anthony (15 points), Moon and Lovell (13 points) and Headland and Rayner (13 points) progressed directly to the final. Defending champions Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt secured the final spot after winning the B-final ahead of Nate Headland and Harry Hearne, Brodie Cohen and Jesse Headland, and local Mildura pairing Byren Gates and Damian Egan.

Dramatic Final Decider:

After dominating the heats, Plaisted and Anthony selected gate two for the championship final, positioned between Headland and Rayner in gate one and Moon and Lovell in gate three, while Plaisted and Pitt started from gate four.

Plaisted and Anthony grabbed the holeshot and controlled the early stages of the race, but Moon and Lovell stayed within striking distance before making their decisive move on lap three to sweep underneath and take the lead. The Queensland pairing held firm to claim a memorable first Australian title, improving two positions from their third-place finish in the 2025 championship.

Junior Championship Returns:

The Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship was contested on April 24, with Bailey and Sienna Carpenter emerging victorious in the seven-team field. Jessie Johnstone and Imogen Williams finished second, while Hayden Pascoe and Jett Plaisted completed the podium.

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