CALL TO PUT CLUB ON RIGHT TRACK
EMBATTLED Townsville Motorcycle Club has been left out of Driveit NQ, despite producing world class talent that could raise the profile of motorsport if included.
The multipurpose Calcium $25 million Driveit NQ motorsport precinct will be able to host world class events at its speedway, drag strip and a 3.5km track, once completed.
Townsville Motorcycle Club president Russell Fabbro said his club had not had a look-in despite its star talent such as Motogp ace Jack Miller who was used for promotions and helped get the deal over the line.
He said it could be a game-changing opportunity to raise the profile of the sport locally for a club that’s struggling financially.
“To sum it up, it would do for motorsport what the new stadium did for the Cowboys, it would be the same boost and we need it in Townsville,” Mr Fabbro said.
“We’re one of the disciplines that would benefit most from an opportunity like that and to think we didn’t even get a look-in is pretty disappointing and pretty disheartening.
“I’d just like them to rethink it, have another look. We’ve managed to have Australian champions come out of this club and yet we’re just a blip on their radar.”
Mr Fabbro said the club, which boasts nearly 300 members was operating on its bare bones and wanted a track that would emulate the standard of their riders, while also inviting a new generation of talent to develop.
“We struggle here with the clay base track and then it makes it more expensive for us to prep and sort the track because every couple of months we’ve got to bring in loads of sand which is money the club doesn’t have,” he said.
“At the moment we’re pretty much on borrowed land from Motorcycling Queensland, they give it to us at next to nothing and we hold events here and they make money out of us via the rider levy.
“We’ve seen heaps of kids have to give up or try other sports and it’s sad really and I don’t like seeing good talent fall through the cracks and not live out their dreams.”
Stage two – worth $2.6 million – was awarded to construction company BMD to build access roads and 2.4ha driver manoeuvring pad for a driver education program.
However, until $12 million is secured through funding the final stage of the project remains in limbo.
The final stage includes a speedway, a drag strip and a 3.5km track.