SGP3 medallist Beau Bailey was crowned Australian Under-21 champion at Albury Wodonga on Saturday.
Bailey won FIM Speedway Youth World Championship silver in 2024 and bronze this year, and he added Aussie Under-21 gold at the first attempt, topping the podium ahead of SON2 internationals James Pearson in second, Tate Zischke in third and Mitchell McDiarmid in fourth.
Over the 12 qualifying heats, Bailey dropped just one point – finishing on 11 along with Zischke, while Pearson scored 10 and McDiarmid eight.
Bailey, who has signed for Polish PGE Ekstraliga side Grudziadz and Danish club Region Varde for 2026, then got the verdict in the A final to win the 12-rider event. It was the first time the competition has been staged since Michael West was crowned champion in 2023.
In the under-16 category, SGP4 medallist Cooper Antone stepped up from 190cc to 250cc with a victory, beating second-placed Viv Muddle, third-placed Nate Smith and fourth-placed Kobi Canning to top spot.
Antone was forced to fight his way through the B final after scoring nine points in the heats, while his rivals all qualified for the A final on 10. But the two-time SGP4 silver medallist and 2025 bronze medallist got the verdict when it mattered most to lift the title.