Pro Stock Motorcycle launched its 2026 season in style at the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway, and the opening round delivered plenty of storylines as riders and teams laid down an early marker in what looks set to be a fiercely contested championship.
It was Callam Godeassi who stole the spotlight, taking home the Gold Christmas Tree with his first event win in decades. Godeassi was quick, consistent, and composed all weekend. Running 7.1s throughout the event, with a best speed of 189mph, he put together a string of quality performances when it mattered most to cap off a memorable return to winning ways.
Tony Frost also impressed with his eye-catching new bright green machine, backing up the fresh look with strong and consistent performances across the weekend. Frost’s runner-up finish was a well-earned result and showed he’ll be a serious contender as the season unfolds, consistently running in the 7.2-second zone.
Reigning champion Luke Crowley came out firing, securing top qualifying honours with a 7.045-second pass and showing the pace that made him last season’s benchmark. However, race day brought a different story, with Crowley suffering a second-round loss that denied him a shot at the A-Final, proving just how unforgiving the class can be.
Scott White endured a frustrating start to the weekend after mechanical issues prevented him from making a qualifying pass. The team managed to get the bike on track for race day, but White wasn’t able to replicate the pace that made him a standout performer last season. Despite that, he still salvaged a positive result by taking victory in the C-Final.
Paul Andrews put together a solid opening-round performance, racing his way into the B-Final and taking the win. It was a strong start to his championship campaign and gives the team plenty of confidence heading into round two.
Sam Scerri also displayed promise during qualifying, laying down personal bests in both elapsed time and terminal speed as the team continued to make strong gains. Unfortunately, engine damage following qualifying brought their event to an early end and prevented Scerri from taking part on race day, but the pace shown in qualifying was a major positive to take into the next round.
For Ryan Learmonth, it was a weekend to forget, with persistent issues preventing the team from making a representative pass. Despite the setbacks, Learmonth remained fully involved in the pits, working closely alongside Crowley to do everything possible to keep both bikes in the fight.
Locky Ireland made his long-awaited debut on a brand-new motorcycle, with the weekend focused heavily on testing and understanding the new combination. Any performance gains were seen as a bonus, and the team will no doubt take valuable data away as they continue developing the package.
The opening round has already thrown up plenty of surprises and set the stage for what promises to be an exciting championship battle. With momentum building and several teams showing race-winning potential, all eyes now turn to the 2026 Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway, where the next chapter of the Pro Stock Motorcycle season will unfold at the biggest event of them all.
– Donato Zotti (Zotti Motorsport Media)
