This weekend’s final stand for the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship at Dragway at The Bend is shaping up to be THE sportsman event of the year.

Gold ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies will be on offer at the April 25/26 event for both championship wins and event victories across 11 brackets, including Lectron Australia Competition Bike.

The fight for the title in this bracket is one of the tightest of the 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, with three racers on the maximum points cap heading to the grand finale: Edge Mallis, Robert Cassar, and Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes.

Mallis (pictured above thanks to Ben Alexander / Snapshot Media) has claimed two victories so far this season including one at Dragway at The Bend and is also in the picture for the coveted John Storm Memorial Trophy.

“It has been an incredible season, with us making the final at every meeting this year,” Mallis said.

“The bike is performing exceptionally well, and we are really pleased with the under-1000cc package we’ve built with Blaze (Hansen).

“We’re feeling confident heading into the Grand Final and excited for the championship battle ahead at the Grand Finals.

“Winning the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship would be the ultimate reward after an incredible season and years of hard work.

“It has been a five-year journey with this bike, and the dedication of my crew has been instrumental in getting us to this point.

“With my 65th birthday just a week before the Grand Final, taking home the trophy would truly be the icing on the cake after such a fantastic year.

“Of course, nothing is guaranteed in racing, and we know that. Our goal is to claim both trees and the John Storm trophy, which would add to my biggest haul in my 45th year of drag racing. Taking out both would be a massive achievement in any sport, but especially in the ‘Sport of Kings.’

“As we get ready, I have a long list of people I want to thank, including Blazecraft (Blaze Hansen and Gavin Hansen), my son Jeram, everyone who has crewed throughout the season, Mick Donahoue, Daniel Fox, Heather Hall, Max Theocharides, Nathan Stone, Mathew Stone, Joe Khoury, Cheryl Beddoes, Jake Hamilton Moderate, all of my fellow racers in our class, Mr Six Second Luke Crowley and Donna Marie Balmer, Jay Gardner and Patrick Honan, Aaron Kilderry, and Simon Allinson.

“Each of these people have played a crucial role in helping us achieve this result, and it wouldn’t have been possible without them. I also want to thank my life partner Letishia for her unwavering support, patience, and holding the fort while I chase this ultimate goal; ANDRA for listening to the needs of Sportsman Racers and putting on this standalone series; CIM Wellness Centre; and Brock’s Performance USA.”

Cheryl Beddoes, who many know as Cheryl MsVrod, has put in an impressive performance so far this season to be in title contention in her first year in Competition Bike.

“I am feeling extremely excited and nervous all in one. The championship battle has been extremely tough as this is my first year riding in Comp Bike and only my second year racing,” she said.

“I am up against some extremely experienced riders in Edge Mallis with 45 years of experience and Rob Cassar with 30 years’ experience, and also Joe Khoury with 20 years of experience; all on fast bikes that are consistently under the index. For me to be in third place going into the Grand Final is just amazing.

“It would mean the absolute world to me if I was to take out the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship trophy, it would be a dream come true, and to win both trophies would see me feeling nothing short of euphoric.

“I have confidence in the consistency of my bike and also in my ability as a new rider, but this is an extremely tough field of great racers, so I will be praying for a great outcome.

“I would like to thank my sponsors Joe Khoury Motorcycle Transport, Edge Creative Printing, and Jimmy from Twin Tunes Performance Centre; as well as my employer Westpac, my family – including my drag racing family – my friends and fans.

“I also want to make a special mention of my partner Joe Khoury for setting my bike up, keeping me safe and always believing in me. I would also like to acknowledge and thank ANDRA for a great series, and the management, staff and volunteers of Alice Springs Inland Dragway, Mildura Sunset Strip, South Coast Raceway Portland, and Dragway at the Bend – all of which are fabulous tracks with great facilities.”

Rob Cassar already has an ANDRA Championship tree to his name, taking out the Competition Bike honours in 2019.

“If we can get the motor to live through the weekend, I am hoping we should be okay to take out the Lectron Australia Competition Bike title in the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Series this weekend,” Cassar said.

“We have damaged two motors over the last two events, and it has been a race against time to get the parts to have it fixed up ready for this weekend, but we have made it happen.

“There is no doubting how important a Gold ANDRA Championship Christmas Tree Trophy is to ANDRA racers, and to claim a second one would be something I would be very proud to do.

“To be able to do so while also taking out the event-winning Gold ANDRA Tree would be pretty fantastic, especially as I am the sponsor of the Competition Bike bracket through the Lectron Australia brand, and this is definitely my aim at Dragway at The Bend.

“I am feeling pretty confident that we should be able to qualify number one, and I am going out there to give it my all, to smash records, and hopefully take wins. We go out there meaning business every time we hit the track and this will be no different.

“I have been very pleased to see how this ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship season has unfolded and as both a competitor and bracket sponsor, it has been great to see how the battles in Competition Bike in particular have played out – I am pretty stoked that it is such a close battle for the win, and I can’t wait to give it our all.

“If we can make it happen, it will be thanks in large part to our amazing group of sponsors, Ballistic Performance Parts, Powerplus Race Fuel, Denso Auto Parts Australia, Shinko, and Lucas Oil; and of course, I also want to recognise Lectron Australia and all of the sponsors who support the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship.

“And most importantly, I must say thank you to my wife Katie Cassar for all of her support. Good luck to everyone heading out there this weekend, let’s have an epic weekend of racing to close out this season in the best way possible.”

The ANDRA Grand Final for the 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship at Dragway at The Bend will be held across April 25 and 26. For event information, visit www.thebend.com.au/dragway

The ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship is proud to have the support of series bracket sponsors Gallagher (Modified), the South Australian Drag Racers Association (Super Gas), Top Sportsman Competitors Group (Top Sportsman), the Super Sedan Competitors Group (Super Sedan), Lectron Australia (Competition Bike), Goodyear Racing (Super Street), Langtree’s Machinery Services (Junior Dragster), Huntsman Racing (Supercharged Outlaws); Ballistic Performance Parts (Modified Bike), and Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing (Super Stock); as well as Top Qualifier Medallion sponsor, New Gen Business Park. If you are looking for business opportunities within the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, please email info@andra.com.au

For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au