HE started the season as an underdog after returning from 13 years of self-imposed dirt track exile. But this weekend in Gunnedah, 36-year-old Tom Armstrong is on target to win the premier Pro 450 class in the 2025 Yamaha BLU CRU Aussie Flat Track Nationals.

Armstrong, with team Honda, sits 110pts clear of defending champion Thomas Herrick (Husqvarna) ahead of the November 15-16 action at Balcary Park – a double-header featuring the flat-track course on Saturday before switching to the TT course on Sunday.

Balcary Park also presents another type of surface – oil – for competitors to master, while the track usually offers good passing opportunities and tight racing.

“This is a monster weekend for me, and I’m pretty excited and nervous at the same time,” Armstrong said.

“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 19 years ago.

“It’ll be good to see it all done and hopefully I’m in a happy place on Sunday evening,” he said.

Sitting third in the standings on 889pts and hoping for more race wins is Gunnedah’s own Daniel Wicks (KTM), who took a round win at Albury to mark the highlight of his season so far.

Seventeen-year-old sensation Billy Ryan (GASGAS) is also keen to maintain the momentum after his sensational round-winning performance in Griffth’s round five, while Cameron Dunker (Yamaha) will return for this round after missing Griffith.

Dunker, from Kurri Kurri in the NSW Hunter Valley, is one of the hottest motorcycle racing talents in the country and competes in the Asia Road Racing Championship as well as the Australian Superbike Championship.

He was shaping up as a genuine Pro 450 title contender at Albury and will be keen to leave his mark at the final round.

Two-time AFTN champion Mick Kirkness (Honda) is also entered for Gunnedah after coming out of retirement in Griffith.

Kirkness hit the podium three times that day and is emboldened for more at Gunnedah.

Pro 450 class will be one of five classes taking to the track with Junior Lites set to go down to the wire with Jed Fyffe (KTM) holding a slim 17pt buffer over Neiko Donovan (Husqvarna).

The pair have traded blows all season but will now be joined by rising international star Sam Drane (Yamaha) in Gunnedah.

In Junior 85s, Beau Baker (KTM) has been the dominant force and is favourite for the title but he will be challenged by Hugo Holmes (KTM) who recently returned from injury.

Sam Hollands (Honda) looks to seal the Clubman Open crown while Ashley Wilesmith (Ducati) leads the way on his Ducati Scrambler in Pro Twins.

The crowd will be in for a treat, however, with Luke Gough entered to ride the legendary Indian FTR750.

Saturday, November 15: Flat Track

9am: Practice and qualifying

10:52am: Pro 450 Superpole

11:20am: Racing commences

(Four races per class from 6-15 laps in length)

3:52pm: Podium presentations S

Sunday, November 16: TT

9am: Practice and qualifying

10:36am: Pro 450 Superpole

11:04am: Racing commences

(Four races per class from 6-15 laps in length)

3:14pm: Podium presentations

Media and Image courtesy of Motorcycling Australia