Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt have continued their insatiable trophy-winning ways by clinching the 2024 Paintmaster SA FIM Oceania Sidecar Championship in Gillman on Saturday, March 9.

In front of an enthusiastic band of supporters who braved the hot conditions at the Adelaide venue, the reigning Aussie champions won the final ahead of Darrin Treloar/Blake Cox and Trent Headland/April Cottrell – the three standout teams ahead of the meeting living up to expectations.

It was Pitt’s second FIM Oceania Championship, and the third for Plaisted who won the inaugural event in 2014 with Brian Anthony as passenger. Plaisted and Pitt then won together in 2021.

As tight as it gets between Plaisted/Pitt (obscured) and Treloar/Cox

The event, promoted by the Speedway Riders Association of SA, began with a one-lap ‘Dash for Cash’, with Headland/Cottrell collecting $1000 for their quick-fire heroics – but it wasn’t such smooth sailing for the duo after that as they had to dig deep after a throttle cable came loose in one heat and they lost momentum after a wheelstand off the line in another.

They eventually won the last-chance semi to join Plaisted/Pitt, Treloar/Cox and Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan in the final.

The final required two starts after Plaisted/Pitt and Treloar/Cox collided at turn one, but the restart was straightforward as Plaisted/Pitt led all the way from Treloar/Cox, Headland/Cottrell and Menadue/Dolan.

Plaisted and Pitt: 2024 FIM Oceania champions

RESULTS: 2024 FIM OCEANIA SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Mark Plaisted / Ben Pitt
2. Darrin Treloar / Blake Cox
3. Trent Headland / April Cottrell
4. Kym Menadue / Shane Dolan
5. Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter
6. Dean Hobbs / Daniel Low
7. Shane Hudson / Jack Spear
8. Shane Rudloff / Scott Morris
9. Joshua Wells / Cory Blackman
10. Thomas Adams / Seth Pascoe
11. Chris Walker / Conner Curren
12. Richard Stephens / Nick O’Brien
13. Joshua Pascoe / Greg Black
14. Byren Gates / Mick O’Loughlin
15. Stephen Saunders / Isaac Mittchell
16. Aaron Silvy / Jaron Silvy
17. Brian Silvy / Glen Zaworski
18. Kane Golding / Cameron White

Images: Judy Mackay

Third-placed duo Headland and Cottrell