Tyriani races to first state title

Tyriani Wood has won her first state championships, just eight months after getting a speedway kart racing licence.

The nine-year-old recently led from start to finish at Oakburn Park, Tamworth, to take the Speedway Karting Association of Australia New South Wales State Sub Junior Championship.

Hitting speeds of close to 80km/h in the class for 7-10 year olds, Tyriani had three heats and qualified first on the starting grid for the final on October 1.

The Woody Point racer’s dominant display also maintained her perfect race record, which now reads seven from seven since she started in February.

“I was surprised at her latest win,” mum Kelly said, “she’s still relatively new to the sport and I thought nerves might get the better of her.”

Mrs Wood said her daughter, who goes to Southern Cross Catholic College at Woody Point, initially hated kart racing.

“Then one day she said ‘Mum, Dad …. I’m going to go racing’ and has won all of them,” Mrs Wood said.

Speedway kart racing is very much a family affair for the Woods.

Brother Nate as won a succession of sub junior titles, mum Kelly competes in the Modified Class and dad Ben in the Standard Class.

Tyriani’s next outing will be in the Des Carsburg Memorial meeting at Mick Doohan Raceway in Banyo on October 22.