Photographer Stephen Hope caught up with
Mitch Cluff
How old are you? I am 15 years old.
Where are you from? Blackalls Park, New South Wales, Australia.
How long have you been riding for, and how did you get started in speedway? I have been racing bikes for 10 years, speedway for three. I’d always wanted to try speedway and I’ve loved it ever since.
What machinery do you use? I currently race a Jawa 250 in a Jawa frame .
Favourite subject at school? My favourite subject at school would have to be PE. I love to run around with my mates.
Do you play any other sport? I use to play rugby league, now I box five days a week to help with my race fitness.
Any embarrassing moments at the track? I’ve had a few embarrassing moments at the track, the most common one would have to be at the start of the meeting when we warm the engines up, forget to take the exhaust plug out and wonder why it wouldn’t start!
Who’s your biggest rival? My biggest rival would have to be Matthew Gilmore; it’s always a good race between us!
Who’s the funniest person in the pits? That would have to be Tim Heffernan; he is always good for a laugh.
The furthest you have travelled for a race meeting? North Brisbane or Victoria.
Racing goals for 2015? To win the Heffernan series, the Kurri-Kurri club series and become better known.
Worst injury? When I was six years, old I crashed and broke
both my collarbones and arm, other than that I haven’t had too many bad crashes.
What do you like most about speedway? I love the thrill of four hard and fast laps without brakes, and the super close racing.
Do you have any pre-race routines/rituals? I don’t have a lot of race routines, although my main ones are always stretch before a race and keep drinking water throughout the meeting to avoid dehydration.
Favourite track? That would be my local track at Kurri-Kurri. Peter Campton keeps the track in mint condition all the time.
Favourite rider? Darcy Ward, he is a freak on a speedway bike.
2015 SGP World Champion? I think it will be between Tai Woffinden and Greg Hancock, but I would love to see an Australian win it.
Shout-out to anyone? To my dad for always working on my bikes, Mum and Dad for driving all over Australia, Mark Penfold for the super-fast engines, all my sponsors, my trainers Shane Wells, Daniel Ford and Darren Monk from Westside Fighters and my best mate, Brady McRitchie, for helping me in the pits.
How could we improve speedway in Australia? By inviting riders from all over the world to come and race here and trying to televise more meetings.
Who deserves the Melbourne SGP wildcard? I believe it should go to Sam Masters as he was the first non-GP rider to finish in the Australian Championships, although if Darcy Ward is allowed to race it could go to him.
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