Central Coast Cup set for milestone 20th staging

The Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club will host the 20th running of the Splitfire Spark Plugs Central Coast Cup this weekend

First held in 2005, only one washout and the impact of COVID has prevented this highly regarded and keenly sought-after non-championship meeting from being an ever-present feature on the annual calendar ever since.

Both seniors and juniors (13 to Under 16s) will race for the Cup, while there will be plenty of support classes from the newcomers in the demonstration class through to the Over 35s.

The status of the Central Coast Cup meeting has built up over the years with the impressive list of winners including riders who have gone on to win World or Australian Championships, and others who have carved out a successful career for themselves on the world stage.

Another feature of the honours list is the three junior winners who have ‘come back’ to later claim the Senior Cup.

So, the big question again this year will be whether there will be any new names added to the honour roll of winners.

In the seniors the three most recent winners will be trying to add to their records – David Smith (2015, 2016, 2018, and 2023), Luke Bush (2022 and 2025) and Cody Lewis (2024).

Smith had to withdraw from last year’s final after a crash earlier in the meeting and he will go into this weekend after a limited preparation.

Several other riders rate as strong chances to win the senior final, particularly Canberra teenager Thomas Gotts, who chased home Bush and Lewis in last year’s final, and the very experienced Grant Charnock, who won the Junior Cup way back in 2008.

Add in the likes of Rory and Angus Hutchinson, two other recent recruits from the junior ranks in Jayden Holder and Gage Gower and another who is on the comeback trail in Carew Dickinson shows that a tough battle awaits all contenders.

There will definitely be a new name on the honour roll for the Junior Cup with last year’s placegetters Tahj Edwards and Zac Brady the stand-out contenders.

The 8-lap Cup finals will conclude the racing on Sunday afternoon after a big program of racing which kicks off after practice on Saturday morning at 9.30am. Racing on Sunday starts at 10am.

Many of the riders contesting the Senior Cup are also riding in the MX Open and Pro 450 classes which will culminate prior to the battle for the Cup.
There is also a Pro 250 class and a class for the Over 35s which is always keenly contested.
All the age groups in the juniors will be part of the program, which will feature several riders who have state and national title wins to their credit.

The Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club track is at Allen Park, Debenham Road, North Somersby, near Gosford with the entry fee for spectators this weekend just $10 per vehicle.

For more information about the Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club check out the club’s website www.ccjuniormotorcycleclub.org.au or contact Club President David Smith on 0412 506 503.

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