Warren Monson (4 March 1975 – 23 April 2023) was an Australian sidecar speedway rider. He won the FIM Speedway Sidecar World Cup, FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championships and was nine times Victorian champion.[1][2]
Career
Born in Mildura, Victoria, Warren Monson began his speedway career at Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway were as of 2023 holds the track record for the 1000cc sidecar category. A member of Mildura Motorcycle Club, Monson built and raced his own bikes and holds the record for the most Victorian sidecar championship wins.[citation needed]
Sidecar passengers during Warrens racing career include Scott Cameron, Marty Underwood, Deven Gates, Matt Morgan, and Andrew Summerhayes.[citation needed]
Monson competed at Speed Week 2023 with the Dry Lakes Racers Australia, where he received his 200mph cap on his Suzuki Hayabusa.[citation needed]
Off the track he was a race engineer and mechanic for Suzuki and then Yamaha, working on bikes for multiple Australian superbike champions. Monson was well-known for his work with Shawn Giles, Troy Herfoss, Josh Waters, Markus Chiodo and especially Wayne Maxwell.[citation needed]
Monson died on 23 April 2023 in a motorcycle crash at an event at Heathcote Park Raceway in Knowsley in central Victoria. He was 48.[3]
Major results
World Championships
FIM Speedway Sidecar World Cup
- 2017 – Gillman, South Australia, Gillman Speedway – 1st
- 2019 – Gillman, South Australia, Gillman Speedway – 1st
Regional Championships
FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship
- 2015 – Gillman, South Australia, Gillman Speedway – 3rd
- 2017 – Gillman, South Australia, Gillman Speedway – 1st
- 2019 – Gillman, South Australia, Gillman Speedway – 1st
Australian Domestic Championships
Australian Sidecar Championship
- 2003 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 3rd
- 2015 – Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Arunga Park Speedway – 2nd
- 2017 – Gillman, South Australia, Gillman Speedway – 3rd
- 2019 – Ayr, Queensland, Pioneer Park Speedway – 2nd
- 2021 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 2nd
- 2023 – Neerabup, Western Australia, RCA Civil Pinjar Park Speedway – 3rd
Victorian Sidecar Championship
- 2001 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 3rd
- 2004 – Undera, Victoria, Undera Park Speedway – 1st
- 2006 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 3rd
- 2011 – Broadford, Victoria, Broadford Speedway – 1st
- 2012 – Wangaratta, Victoria, Speedway Wangaratta – 1st
- 2013 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 1st
- 2014 – Undera, Victoria, Undera Park Speedway – 1st
- 2015 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 1st
- 2021 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 1st
- 2022 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 1st
- 2023 – Mildura, Victoria, Olympic Park Speedway – 1st
See also
References
- ^ “‘We are extremely saddened’: Racing community in shock after speedway legend dies in crash”. ABC News. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ a b Newlyn, Dennis (6 March 2023). “VICTORIAN SIDECAR TITLE RECORD SETTERS”. Speedway Illustrated News. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Emma D’Agostino; Shannon Schubert. “Crash kills speedway legend Warren Monson at racing event in Central Victoria”. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ “Warren Monson – Grasstrack GB”. grasstrackgb.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2023.