Go Aussie, Go
The Phillip Island Classic was a bit different this year. Our man Hamish and our photographer Russell were on hand to see what was what‘darrrn unnderrr’.
As the young guns faltered due to mechanical issues, Australia’s grizzled old warhorses stepped up to hold off a determined Team USA and retain the International Challenge trophy.
Steve Martin and Shawn Giles, originals from the early days of the Island Classic’s showcase event, led Team Australia to victory, with Martin also winning the Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy as the highest individual point scorer.
Riding unfaired and unfancied Suzuki Katanas in a field of hybrid Yamahapowered XR69 F1 thoroughbreds, Martin and Giles proved experience, steady nerves and guts delivers glory.
Martin has raced at all the International Challenges, with Giles joining him the year he retired from racing. Team UK was absent this year but replacing it was a pumpedup Team USA, with riders boasting more than 30 national championships between them.
Here’s how the weekend unfolded:
Qualifying
Team Australia newcomer Aaron Morris took just four laps to grab pole position on a Suzuki Katana. Meanwhile Team USA was basing its challenge around last year’s standout rider Jason Pridmore, who qualified second in searing heat.
Team USA’S star signing, Joshua Hayes, who was riding both Phillip Island and a classic racing motorcycle for the first time, qualified 8th while Team NZ’S best rider, Alex Phillis, was 11th. Team NZ’S big name rider, British racing folk hero John Reynolds, was back in 13th.
Old dogs of war lead Australia to victory in the International Challenge at Phillip Island.
Race One
Disaster struck just two laps in when Pridmore highsided his Fj-powered XR69 at Turn 11, scattering the leading riders. Irving Vincent racer Beau Beaton got caught up in the crash, the race was stopped and both riders were taken to hospital with broken bones.
The sickening accident played out right in front of Josh Hayes but the four-times AMA Superbike champion put it out of his mind to charge through from 8th to finish 3rd in the restarted race.
Aaron Morris, who was struggling to get cleanly off the line, also had to fight his way through the field. By lap three he had overtaken early leaders Australia’s Jed Metcher and David Johnson to win by 1.2secs. Team NZ’S Phillis was 6th with Reynolds, a former BSB, 500cc GP and WSBK racer, 10th.
Race Two
After six laps and the chequered flag the weekend was starting to look like a Morris masterclass. The 26- year- old cruised to a four-second winning margin.
Aussie Steve Martin finished second, with team-mate Paul Byrne third and Hayes fourth. NZ’S Phillis was 5th and Reynolds 8th.
The Americans had become the main challenger to the Australians with five finishers in the top 10 being just 15 points behind.
Race Four
Amazingly, Hayes bounced back to take the final race by the scruff of the neck. Like an outback farmer dealing with a king brown snake, he was focused, fast and decisive. The American finished his baptism of vintage racing with a 4sec win over Martin, with a revitalized Team NZ’S Rob Phillis third. Morris, struggling to get his Katana out of third gear, finished 9th, just behind Reynolds. Hayes’ class effort deserved a better result for Team USA. If they bring this core of riders back next year, watch out, Aussies. Meanwhile, Team NZ, with the backing of Carl Cox Motorsport, showed real potential for the first time.
Race Three
The clock was turned back to the early years of the International Challenge as Katanas swept the podium (see main image). Martin, Giles and Morris crossed the line split-seconds apart. Unfortunately, early frontrunner Hayes finished 15th after nearly riding off the track, so Team USA needed something special for the final race. Reynolds, 10th, was the top finisher for Team NZ.