{"id":638220,"date":"2026-04-29T10:16:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T10:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/638220\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T10:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T10:16:20","slug":"national-news-ambrose-hails-successful-inaugural-aasa-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/638220\/","title":{"rendered":"National news: Ambrose hails successful inaugural AASA Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Ambrose
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarcos Ambrose hailed a successful debut of the AASA Nationals format at Sydney Motorsport Park. Image: AASA<\/p>\n

Ambrose and AASA\u2019s ultimate goal for the Nationals was to make racing more accessible for the competitors and to create a point of difference to other circuit racing series.<\/p>\n

Several firsts were trialled in the event at Sydney Motorsport Park, such as a new broadcast partner in Clay-Per-View, a new speedway-style format.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a very successful event for AASA, our first go at doing something like this,\u201d Ambrose told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really looked at all of motorsport and thought about, \u2018how can we make it more dynamic, make it more affordable, make it more fun, make it more meaningful and make it easier to compete?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we went to a condensed one and a half day format, we had four categories, we had prize money to win, we had Clay-Per-View streaming it for us for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously new protocols for our pace car and control tower and the yellow cards, red cards are definitely getting tested in events like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a new AASA crew on the ground, they\u2019ve just done an amazing job to get embedded and get the competitors to understand a new way.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think all in all, you know, it was a fantastic weekend for us. We learnt a lot from it, we just can\u2019t wait to do another one like that, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first in a four round series, Ambrose noted the Sydney opener for Legends Cars taught AASA a lot about how to best utilise the format for other categories.<\/p>\n

Formula RX8 headlines the next AASA Nationals round in June at One Raceway, but the event doubles as a round of the championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe event at One Raceway will fall into that [Formula RX8] championship,\u201d Ambrose said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s not a standalone event for them, it actually folds into their championship, so we\u2019ll have a hybrid format that works for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really hoping we can get more competitors to join Formula RX8 for that event because it\u2019ll be a combined event of their championship round, plus you\u2019ll be able to win the AASA Short Track Nationals and carry the #1 on the door if you win it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it\u2019ll be a version of what you saw, slightly different.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Stiaan<\/p>\n

Formula RX8 are the next category to headline the AASA Nationals at One Raceway. Image: AASA<\/p>\n

Four of Australian Speedway\u2019s best took to the track for their circuit racing debuts in Sydney, which Ambrose was highly impressed by.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see why these guys are champions in their chosen field,\u201d said Ambrose.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that they can just adapt and learn on the fly like that, it just shows you that some people are really just naturally gifted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey really held themselves to a high standard, to be honest with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not easy to jump in a foreign car, something you\u2019ve never done, against drivers that are racing for big money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australian Super Sedan champion Joel Berkley led the way for the speedway quartet, which included fellow Super Sedans champion Callum Harper, Sprintcar champion Jock Goodyer and Speedcar champion Kaidon Brown.<\/p>\n

Berkley came away with the quickest times from a standalone test at Queensland Raceway, but reserved judgement on performance until race day in Sydney.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went in there as most probably would, thinking, I guess, just making the show without having to get through a B-Main or anything like that, that would be cool,\u201d Berkley told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n

All four drivers raced in the A-Main feature, however Berkley was the only of the four to make it through on combined points from the heat races.<\/p>\n

Goodyer raced through to the feature by winning the B-Main<\/a>, while Harper and Brown were the benefit of the promoter\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n

\"Jock<\/p>\n

While Joel Berkley finished the round highest of the speedway quartet, Jock Goodyer (#122) stunned by winning the B-Main. Image: AASA<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very happy to make it in just straight off points,\u201d said Berkley.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we saw the points after day one, I think me and Jock were 18th and 19th and I\u2019m like \u2018we\u2019re on the bubble here to make a direct transfer.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was cool to make the feature in itself and just to make every lap clean and try and stay out of trouble, that was the main goal and just try and respect the gear we had and I felt like we all did a fairly good job of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berkley finished every race he contested inside the top 10 and ran as high as third in the final heat race on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n

Competing against drivers including Super2 star Nash Morris and series regulars such as Riley Skinner and Maverick Kemenyvary, Berkley held his own at the front of the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was cool to manage to get up to P3 for a second off just pace,\u201d said Berkley.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just make one mistake and you\u2019re chasing it for a whole lap to catch up and I made just one too many mistakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re so easy to make one mistake in and you\u2019re chasing it for a half lap, but it was great to run up as high as third in a race.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berkley noted the importance of the Clay-Per-View broadcast to assist in bridging the gap between speedway and circuit racing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a few messages from the dirt people watching, I\u2019m sure a few tuned in,\u201d said Berkley.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo hopefully everyone had a good weekend and hopefully the vision from the AASA and Clay-Per-View had worked out well.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully maybe one day they might throw the Legend Cars or something on dirt, or they might cross over to one of the tarmac cars on the dirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what the long-term plans are, but if you could get that crossover\u2026 I guess that\u2019d be a cool thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, I think the short sharp format, making the short heat races and that sort of stuff was good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The AASA Nationals returns for Round 2, headlined by Formula RX8, at One Raceway on June 20-21.<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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