International Challenge Preview

Island Classic Race Schedule

Island Classic Entry List

Motorcycle legends from all parts of the globe have converged on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for the 2018 Australian Motorcycle News International Island Classic, one of the world’s largest historic bike meets to be held this Australia Day long weekend (January 26-28).

The 25th edition of the iconic historic motorcycle race meeting will not only see 15-time world champion Giacomo Agostini return to the event for the fourth time to wow spectators, but the showpiece MV Agusta International Challenge teams’ event will also feature multiple world superbike champions Troy Corser and Colin Edwards for the first time.

Corser, a former WorldSBK lap record holder at Phillip Island, will join the Aussie line-up on a Honda Harris F1 machine alongside long-time campaigners such as Steve Martin, Shawn Giles and Cam Donald, while 43-year-old Edwards will try his hand at the International Challenge on a Yamaha FJ1200-powered machine in an XR69-replica chassis.

And just to reinforce that it’s tired of being the International Challenge easy beat, Team America will also be strengthened by two other newcomers in former AMA stars Jason Pridmore and Jake Zemke, the latter a two-time top-three finisher in the national superbike title.

2018 Island Classic International Challenge Entry List PHILLIP ISLAND – January 26-28, 2018
FIELD FOR MV AGUSTA INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE
Australia				Captain: Rex Wolfenden
No	First Name		Last Name	Make & Model	Year		Cap
11	Troy		Corser	Honda Harris F1	1982		1150
99	Steve		Martin	Suzuki Katana 1294	1982		1294
19	Shawn		Giles	Suzuki Katana 1294	1982		1294
186	Beau		Beaton	Irving Vincent	1982		1300
86	Cam		Donald	Irving Vincent	1982		1300
52	Paul		Byrne	Mcintosh Suzuki	1982		1260
3	David		Johnson	Suzuki XR69	1982		1100
76	Scott		Webster	Suzuki Harris	1980		1200
39	Ken		Watson	Yamaha TZ31	1978		750
New Zealand				Captain: Duncan Coutts
No	First Name		Last Name	Make & Model	Year		Cap
50	Glen		Hindle	Suzuki XR69	1982		1170
10	Damien		Kavney	Suzuki XR69	1982		1260
55	Trevor		Taylor	Yamaha TZ500H	1981		498
211	Simon		Richards	Suzuki CMR XR69	1982		1170
31	Kerry		Wilton	Yamaha TZ350F	1979		410
335	Duncan		Coutts	Yamaha CMR F1	1984		1251
27	Mat		Ineson	Suzuki GSX	1982		1135
25	Alistair		Wilton	Yamaha TZ750	1979		746
United Kingdom				Captain: Keith Higgs/Roger Winfield
No	First Name		Last Name	Make & Model	Year		Cap
99	Jeremy		Mcwilliams	Yamaha Harris F1	1984		1297
62	Peter		Hickman	Yamaha Harris F1	1984		1260
75	Glen		Richards	Yamaha Harris F1	1984		1250
13	Lee		Johnston	Yamaha Harris F1	1984		1250
4	Daniel		Linfoot	Honda Harris F1	1982		1150
14	Michael		Rutter	Yamaha Harris F1	1984		1297
77	Derek		Brown	Suzuki Harris F1	1980		1260
31	Craig		Ditchburn	Yamaha TZ750	1978		750
331	Micheal		Neeves	Suzuki Harris	1980		1100
United States				Captain: Dave Crussell
No	First Name		Last Name	Make & Model	Year		Cap
178	Bruce		Lind	Yamaha TZ750	1975		750
17	Dave		Crussell	Yamaha TZ750	1978		748
29	Barrett		Long	Yamaha TZ750	1979		750
195	Martin		Morrison	Suzuki RGB500	1982		500
45	Ed		Haazer	Kawasaki Z1000	1979		1200
62	Robert		Ruwoldt	Kawasaki Harris F1	1980		1200
5	Colin		Edwards	Suzuki XR69	1983		1200
43	Jason		Pridmore	Yamaha FJ-1200	1980		1200
98	Jake		Zemke	CMB FJ1300	—-		—-

For the laconic Edwards, the chance to compete on a layout which he says is the best in the grand prix world is something he couldn’t resist.

“Honestly, it sounded like a fun event and the timing was right,” said Edwards, who’s kept busy these days tending to his ‘Texas Tornado Boot Camp’.

“Phillip’s Island’s a pain in the ass to get to from the US, but well worth it. I feel we have a solid team, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

“It will also be great hanging out with some old friends and great fans – and I’m looking forward to riding with Troy (Corser) again.”

5pm Finish – * Points awarded toward the Phil Irving Perpetual trophy

5pm Finish – * Points awarded toward the Phil Irving Perpetual trophy

5pm Finish – * Points awarded toward the Phil Irving Perpetual trophy

Back in the Aussie garage, Corser’s making his International Challenge debut full of anticipation.

“My last race at Phillip Island was in 2011 in world superbike, so I’m a really looking forward to getting amongst it,” said the UK-based Corser, whose first port of call when returning to Australia was to catch up with family and friends in his home town of Wollongong.

“I am confident the Honda that Rex Wolfenden has prepared for me will be on the pace, and it will just be a matter of making some minor changes to get myself comfortable on it.

“There’s no doubt the racing will be tight, and the weather’s going to be quite hot so I’m banking on some of the Poms melting!”

Corser still pumps out plenty of miles on race tracks around the globe these days, whether competing in classic races at Goodwood or turning laps at his race academy schools.

“Last year I did about 20,000km on race tracks, so I am bike fit and ready to go.”

Defending champion not resting on its laurels

The additional firepower for the Aussies and Americans will be required if the United Kingdom, the three-time defending champion, is going to be knocked off its perch.

That’s going to be extremely tough, as not only can the UK count on another appearance by its spiritual leader Jeremy McWilliams, but the team has also welcomed three new fast faces in the form of Michael Rutter, Dan Linfoot and Lee Johnston while holding onto British superbike star Peter Hickman.

McWilliams, 53, is a freak. He has finished on the podium in 24 of 28 International Challenge races since 2011 and, remarkably, he has yet to blot his copybook with a DNF. He has also won the Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the highest individual point-scorer in the International Challenge, four times.

In the 2017 International Challenge, five of the UK riders finished inside the top 10 of the individual standings. As a result, the UK retained the coveted trophy ahead of Australia, Ireland, America and New Zealand.

“Team USA and Australia have realised that coming second or third isn’t much fun and wheeled in the big guns for 2018,” said McWilliams.

“Team UK have had it all our own way lately, winning the team and individual honours for the last three years, and hopefully with our new rider line-up we will be aiming to continue this winning streak.

“I still get butterflies before the Island Classic – but especially 2018 mainly because I haven’t been training or actually riding much this year and the International Challenge requires a big effort.”

KIWIS RETURN

New Zealand will complete in the International Challenge line-up – as it has since the event was inaugurated in 2005. In 2018, the New Zealanders have Island Classic stalwart Damien Kavney in his 13th appearance at the classic, as well as multiple Australian historic champion Glenn Hindle, Simon Richards, Duncan Coutts, Trevor Taylor, Kerry Wilton, Alistair Wilton and Mat Ineson.

FOR THE LOVE OF BIKES

While the International Challenge is the headline act, the Island Classic boasts more than 500 bikes, 300 riders and 56 races for bikes from pre-WW1 bikes (Veteran) through to Vintage (1920-1945), Classic (1946-1962), Post Classic (1963-1972), Forgotten Era (1973-1982) and New Era (1983-1999). It’s a massive celebration of motorcycle history.

GIACOMO AGOSTINI, WORLD’S GREATEST GP RIDER RETURNS TO ISLAND

Seventy-five-year-old Giacomo Agostini will also be joined Down Under by a quartet of Milan-domiciled world championship-winning four-stroke MV Agustas, which will take to the 4.45km grand prix circuit for parade laps on Saturday and Sunday. Two of those MVs will be the ones that brought ‘Ago’ championship success: the three-cylinder 500, which he won the 500cc title on from 1966-1972, and the four-cylinder 350 which saw him beat all-comers on in 1972 and 1973.

GATE sales open at 8am Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a three-day adult pass $95 at gate, with the add on option of four nights on-circuit camping available ($190 for adult entry and four nights of camping). Children 15 and under free. Back to back racing from 9am-5pm over all three days.