The Speedway Grand Prix of Australia is a speedway event that was a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.
Contents
The inaugural event, run on a 400 metres (440 yards) long temporary track, was won by American rider Greg Hancock, from Englands Scott Nicholls, with Australian Jason Crump finishing third. The Australian GP was the 10th and final round of the 2002 Speedway Grand Prix series.
In spite of a number of top Australian riders competing, including Australian Champions Crump, Leigh Adams, Ryan Sullivan and Sydney born 1990 World #3 Todd Wiltshire, attendance for the event held at the 2000 Olympic Stadium was estimated to be around 31,500, well short of the expected attendance of 50,000.
Most wins
Greg Hancock 2 times
Chris Holder 1 time
Future
Despite Australia being the birthplace of motorcycle speedway in 1923, and producing two World Champions since 2002 in Jason Crump (2004, 2006 and 2009) and Chris Holder (2012), as well as dual Under-21 World Champion Darcy Ward (2009, 2010), the Speedway Grand Prix of Australia has not returned to the SGP calendar as of 2014.
This is set to change from 2015 with Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, a 53,359 seat stadium with a retractable roof and movable seating, signing a 5-year deal to host the event. Eithad is mostly used by the Australian Football League so a temporary track some 346 metres (378 yards) long will be installed for the 2015 event scheduled to be held on 24 October (after the end of the 2015 AFL season). The Grand Prix will be the 12th and final round of the 2015 Speedway Grand Prix series.
Triple World Champion Jason Crump and ten time Australian Champion Leigh Adams served as Australian SGP ambassadors in 2015.