2025 Australian U16 and U21 Speedway Championships wrap

The Australian U16 and U21 Speedway Championships have been run and won for 2025, with the next wave of champions crowned at Wodonga’s Diamond Park.

Beau Bailey (below left) was the U21 champion, while Cooper Antone (below right) took out the U16 250cc solo crown.

Meanwhile, Ryleigh McGregor and Riley Stout were the champions of the U16 Team title, and Blake Schlein was victorious in the fight for the U16 125cc crown.

Bailey and Tate Zishcke were tied on points following the 12 heats for the U21 title, while James Pearson formed the final pillar to progress to the A final.

The B final was made up of Noah Grabham, Lachlan Russell, Alex Adamson and Mitchell McDiarmid, the latter clearing his rivals to contest the A final.

It was then 16-year old Bailey who was victorious over Pearson and Zischke respectively, who rounded out the podium.

The 12 heats in the U16 250cc title also saw great action with Viv Muddle, Nate Smith and Kobi Canning all remarkably tying for the highest scored points to progress to the A final.

It meant that Antone had to fight for the overall win the hard way, battling against Ky Mitchell, Axle McCarthy and Phoenix Elliott to advance to the A final, where he then finished ahead of Muddle and Smith respectively to become the overall winner.

The 125cc sector of the U16 Championship saw consistent front-running finishes in the heat races that rewarded Schlein, Spencer Doyle and McGregor who also competed in the solo title.

Victorious in the B final was Hayden Pascoe, who finished ahead of Mason Robins, Stout and Jaxon Harley.

Schlein was victorious in a well-fought battle to the flag of the A final with Doyle and McGregor rounding out the podium.

No final dash in the fight for the Teams Championship, however, with the McGregor/Stout (SA No.1) pairing emerging victorious ahead of Cooper Karpinsk/Hayden Pascoe (SA No.2) and Blake Schlein/Benji Lowe (Vic No.1) rounding out the podium.

Images: Judy Mackay