The Yamaha BLU CRU Aussie Flat Track Nationals reaches its climax this weekend at Balcary Park in Gunnedah (November 15-16), where Tom Armstrong will attempt to clinch the 2025 Pro450 crown at his first attempt.
36-year-old Armstrong, who impressed with two race wins at his home Griffith round, enters the final weekend sitting 110 points clear of second-placed Thomas Herrick. Local hero Daniel Wicks, currently third in the standings, is hoping for more race wins after taking a round victory at Albury earlier this season.
Also on the roster for Gunnedah are Griffith teen sensation Billy Ryan, two-time champion Michael Kirkness, and ASBK Superbike star Cam Dunker, promising non-stop action across eight races for each class. The classic AFTN double-header format sees riders tackle the flat-track course on Saturday before switching to the TT course on Sunday.
Alongside the premier Pro 450 class, the Junior Lites championship will go down to the wire, with Jed Fyffe holding a slim 17-point buffer over Neiko Donovan. Rising international talent Sam Drane will also be in contention.
In Junior 85s, Beau Baker remains the dominant force but will be challenged by Hugo Holmes, recently back from injury. Sam Hollands looks to wrap up the Clubman Open title while Ashley Wilesmith leads the Pro Twins class aboard his Ducati Scrambler. Fans will also get a glimpse of history, with Luke Gough set to ride the legendary Indian FTR750, believed to be its first competitive appearance in Australia.
Armstrong, who has returned to racing after a 13-year break and dropped 22kg to get back to peak fitness, acknowledged the magnitude of the weekend ahead: “This is a monster weekend for me. I’m pretty excited and nervous at the same time! We’ve put ourselves in a good position coming into the last two rounds; I’ve been doing plenty of training and lots of riding since the Griffith round. I just want to have a clean weekend, play it smart and not do anything silly. I like the Gunnedah track, but the last time I rode there was nineteen years ago! It’ll be good to see it all done and hopefully I’m in a happy place on Sunday evening!”
Series organiser Dave Maddock highlighted the excitement surrounding the final round: “It’s great to be heading back to Gunnedah for the final round of the Yamaha BLU CRU Aussie Flat Track Nationals series. The club and local community are incredibly supportive and Balcary Park always provides edge-of-your-seat action. Tom Armstrong was predicted to be fast before the lights went out this season, but I don’t think anybody could have expected him to be in prime position to take out the title, least of all himself! It’s been a pleasure having him on board this year but the series isn’t over—it’s a long schedule of 28 races, anything can happen.”
Maddock also flagged the other key battles of the weekend: “Junior Lites will be an absolute thriller with Jed Fyffe and Neiko Donovan trading blows all season. Beau Baker has been a force in Junior 85s, but it’s been great to see worthy challengers like Jye French, Flynn Beard, and Lucy Heaton-New push him. The Pro Twin class will also be in action on the flat track, and I can’t wait to see the Indian FTR 750 in the flesh—it won 101 of 135 races in American Flat Track. Last year, the crowd was fantastic at Gunnedah; we’re hoping for some kind weather this weekend and can’t wait to see the outcome on Sunday afternoon.”
After missing Griffith, Cam Dunker returns to Gunnedah ready to make an impact, while Michael Kirkness, fresh off a podium triple at Griffith, is also back in the mix. With Balcary Park presenting a new oil surface for competitors to master, the final weekend promises tight racing and plenty of passing opportunities. The Pro450 class, in particular, will see Armstrong and Herrick battle over eight races to determine who takes the 2025 championship, with Armstrong motivated not only by the title chase but also by his seven-year-old son.
