F2 midgets set to fly again on Gisborne speedway track

Gisborne superstocker James Clarke (pictured) says being named in the six-strong Gisborne Giants team for the ENZED Superstock Teams Championships in Palmerston North is the highlight of his career so far.

One of speedway’s real crowd-pleasers, the flying F2 midgets, will be back on the banked track at the MTF Awapuni Speedway on Saturday night.

Fans can expect a thrilling and fiercely competitive night of action.

The midgets will be contesting round 2 of the 2024/25 F2 Midget Away Series.

“Will the young and talented Brynn ‘The Cowboy’ Jackson continue his dominant performances or will the seasoned James Earl maintain his commanding form?” was how the F2 Midgets Facebook page read this week.

“In addition to the main event, the night will feature an exhilarating Top 6 Pole Shuffle, where the six fastest drivers will battle it out for the coveted front-row starting position, setting the stage for a fast-paced and action-packed race night.”

The support programme features stockcars, saloons, production saloons, TQs, and youth ministocks.

“The motocross club will also be joining us for the night,” Gisborne Speedway Club president Sam Hughes said. “We’re hoping for more than 30 of them.

“The other support classes look pretty healthy at this stage, but the F2s will be something else.

“They raced here a year ago and [the drivers] loved the track. They told us at the time they could not wait to get back and tomorrow night the banked track is waiting for them.”

Gates open at 5pm and racing starts at 6pm.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Gisborne Giants team has been named for the ENZED Superstock Teams Champs at Robertson Prestige International Speedway in Palmerston North on February 7-8.

The Giants are 5G Josh Prentice, 10G Peter Rees, 29G James Clarke, 126G Asher Rees, 127G Ethan Rees and 144G Tim Ross.

“We were so fortunate this year to have incredible depth to choose from,” a Gisborne club spokesman said.

“With multiple possibilities and combinations to choose from, then throw in injuries, personal commitments and business commitments, the works - we are grateful to have such a strong team to put forward.”

The entry list for the BF Goodrich Tyres and The Tyre General North Island North Island Superstock Championship at Awapuni Speedway on February 28 and March 1 is growing.

“We’re hopeful for an eventual field of around 80 cars,” Hughes said. “It all depends on how they survive the upcoming teams’ races.”