“FOURTH in the world, which isn’t bad for a Leeton person.”
Those were the words of a modest Kevin Waters after he and wife Joy’s Kev-Joy Racing team finished in fourth at the Speedway Sidecar World Gold Cup in Adelaide on November 24.
The Wamoon couple qualified for the international event at Easter in Ayr after finishing second and fourth with their two bikes in the Australian Championship, beating the then World Cup holder and the runner-up.
Waters said the field of 20 bikes, which get up to speeds over 200km/h with no brakes, was incredibly tight, but the team brought home fourth in an event
the Australians dominated on their home turf.
“The top four were all Australians,” he said. “It was very close.
“It was on a points system and the first two were both on 13 points, third was on 12 points and then us on nine.
“The pair that came first, we’ve beaten them at plenty of other meets, it was just their day.
“The point you dropped here or there might have been the difference.”
While Australia took most of the honours this year, competitors came from all over the globe.
“There were riders from England, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand,” Waters said. “It’s nothing to be sneezed at.
“Coming fourth entitles us to go to England or Sweden, they’re not sure which one yet, for next year’s World Cup as well. It has to be in their summer, probably August.”
After the Australian championship, the team was without a major sponsor. The World Gold Cup berth meant looming expenses – including special licenses, changes to the bike to meet the international rules and other expenses like the seven tyres the team went through during the competition.
“Pirtek came on to sponsor us,” Waters said. “Because of the drought around here, it’s was a bit hard to find anyone to sponsor us.
“Pirtek sponsors things like Ford’s rally car, and to have someone like that get behind you is quite impressive.
“I’d like to thank Michael Boots from Boots Sand and Gravel, and Robbie and Evan from HRD Readymix for all their help as well.”
The team’s rider and passenger are both based in Adelaide and race almost every weekend, with Kevin and Joy travelling to the events as much as possible.
Straight after the World Cup, the team was racing again last weekend at their home track, Gillman.
“We raced at Adelaide again last weekend and we’ve got plenty of meets coming up,” said Waters, who has been involved with the sport for 25 years.
“The boys did a great job and to be fourth in a World Cup, not many people in a town this size can boast that. There’s around 2000 sidecars in Australia and to be in the top four of that is a fair achievement.”