International Challenge Race Two

Island Classic 2018

By Trevor Hedge

Images by TBG and Cameron White

Island Classic racers were dealing with the heat in race one at Phillip Island today, but this afternoon a strange fog crept across the circuit which brought with it a somewhat eerie feeling that spread throughout the paddock. Many people were thinking that there must have been a bushfire nearby as a fog like this, in the heat of a predominantly fine day, created a very strange sensation throughout the venue.

Jeremy McWilliams had won the first bout (click to read the Race 1 report) over David Johnson, the South Australian suffering with too high tyre pressure in his rear slick. Glen Richards had come from behind to snatch third place on the line from American Jason Pridmore, who had set the fastest lap in that first melee, a 1m37.294.

After race one Team UK and Team Australia were level on points.

The lights went out for the second six-lap stoush at 1506 with a track temperature nudging 50-degrees celsius.

Jason Pridmore and Troy Corser got great starts from the third and fourth rows, but it was Jeremy McWilliams and David Johnson tussling over the lead at the front of the field through the first turns as Corser, Glen Richards and Colin Edwards looked to join that party.

Richards tried for a move up the inside Corser around the back of the circuit but could not quite make it stick. Corser got a great run around turns 11 and 12 to close right on the tail cowl of McWilliams, getting a tow from the Northern Irishman as Corser fights against a fair horsepower deficit to the Team UK machines.

Corser then managed to slip past McWilliams then set about trying to chase down the race leader David Johnson. Glen Richards was still right in that game too while Colin Edwards tried his best to stay with that leading pack.

Jason Pridmore was in seventh position with four laps to go after setting the fastest time on the first flying lap, a 1m37.527 to the 48-year-old Californian.

As the race broached the halfway mark Jeremy McWilliams took his turn back at the front of the leading quartet. Richards was looming large in third place with Corser still in that game. Colin Edwards was in fourth place but was shuffled back to fifth as they crossed the stripe as both Pridmore and Glen Richards carded 1m37.4s laps.

Pridmore’s run looked to have been left a little late however as at the last lap board he was two-seconds behind the race leader. Colin Edwards pushed Corser back to sixth place early on the final lap.

The battle for the win was absolutely hectic throughout the final lap but an out of the seat moment for McWilliams allowed Johnson to sneak away and Richards to take second place.

Dave Johnson the winner from Glen Richards with Jeremy McWilliams rounding out the podium.

Jason Pridmore was fourth ahead of countryman Colin Edwards.

Troy Corser crossed the line in sixth, four-seconds ahead of Beau Beaton who in turn had a handy buffer over eighth placed Jake Zemke.

Steve Martin was ninth while Dan Linfoot rounded out the top ten ahead of Paul Byrne, Peter Hickman and Shawn Giles.

Island Classic 2018

International Challenge Race Two Results

1. Johnson – AUS
2. Richards – UK +1.398
3. McWilliams – UK +1.718
4. Pridmore – USA +2.668
5. Edwards – USA +3.347
6. Corser – AUS +4.403
7. Beaton – AUS +8.680
8. Zemke – USA +11.312
9. Martin – AUS +11.476
10. Linfoot – UK +11.531
11. Byrne – AUS +11.655
12. Hickman – UK +18.238
13. Giles – AUD +18.369

International Challenge Points TBC

1. Australia 341
2. UK 335
3. USA 288
4. NZ 174

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	—-	—-