Gunnedah’s Balcary Park will once again anchor the Yamaha Aussie Flat Track Nationals in 2026, with the New England town set to host a high-stakes season finale that will decide the prestigious Pro 450 crown.
The 2026 calendar has been locked in, featuring 29 Pro 450 races across seven rounds. Six classes will contest national honours, with Pro Women returning as a support class alongside Junior Lites, Junior 85 and Pro Twins. A new Over 35s support class has been introduced, broadening the field and strengthening the sport’s family focus.
For New England fans, all eyes will be on the action at Gunnedah’s Balcary Park as it hosts the final two rounds of the season on 7–8 November. The Pro 450 champion will be crowned there, taking home the $5,000 gold and diamond Bunda Fine Jewels Championship Ring after what organisers describe as one of the most demanding schedules in Australian flat track racing.
Series organiser Dave Maddock said regional centres remained central to the championship’s identity.
“We’re very excited to officially announce our 2026 dates for the Yamaha Aussie Flat Track Nationals series. Last year, we continued taking national level flat track to the regions. Maryborough, Wodonga, and Griffith were very well received by locals, as well as our finale at Gunnedah.”
Gunnedah’s reputation for dramatic racing has grown in recent seasons, with Balcary Park’s layout regularly delivering intense head-to-head battles. Maddock said the format introduced in 2025 would continue.
“Having both flat track and the TT course on the one day at Griffith was a huge challenge for our riders but it turned into a great party in the evening with an electric atmosphere.”
While Griffith will again test riders with a combined flat track and TT program under lights on 10 October, it is Gunnedah that will ultimately decide the championship. Round 6 will feature the flat track layout, followed by the TT layout in the decisive final round.
Maddock said the addition of the Over 35s class reflected the sport’s grassroots strength.
“We feel that now we have hit on a strong combination of venues, the time was right to modify the support classes and introduce the Over 35s. If you’ve spent some time on the sidelines sorting out the kids, now is the perfect time to get back on track. Flat track is traditionally very family-oriented, and after the success of Pro Women last year, we keep striving to make the sport as accessible as possible.”
The expanded support program also provides a clearer pathway for junior riders progressing from Junior Lites to Pro 450 (b) and ultimately the Pro 450 class.
“With 29 races programmed for Pro 450, this series is seriously demanding, and the finale track at Gunnedah’s Balcary Park always produces intense action. We can’t wait to bring you the best flat track racing in Australia again in 2026!”
The 2026 season opens in Maryborough, Queensland, on 25–26 July, before heading to Wodonga on the NSW–Victoria border in late August and Griffith in October. However, for riders and fans across the New England region, the championship showdown in Gunnedah promises to be the defining weekend of the year.
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