Island Classic 2018

Davo Johnson on International Challenge Pole

Images by TBG

Great track conditions greeted competitors at Phillip Island today ahead of much warmer conditions that are forecast for the remainder of the Australia Day long weekend.

The packed schedule of events and hundreds of competitors across dozens of classes means that things are busy all day at the picturesque seaside circuit.

Times today are an early indication as to the potential of some of the newcomers to the event as many of them are only now getting accustomed to the machines and the tyres they are riding this weekend. Thus despite final qualifying now being done and dusted, there is still much more potential to be realised from riders such as Troy Corser, Colin Edwards and Dan Linfoot.

Jeremy McWilliams is now a veteran of the event with the Roger Winfield prepared machines and held provisional pole for much of the final qualifying this afternoon but David Johnson tipped the Northern Irishman off pole in the dying seconds with a 1m37.352 on an XR69 Suzuki.

Paul Byrne also showed his hand with considerable pace to qualifying third quickest on a McIntosh Suzuki ahead of Glen Richards on a Harris framed Yamaha.

Colin Edwards was the quickest rider for Team USA by a slender one-thousandth of a second over countryman Jason Pridmore.

Team Honda UK British Superbike regular Dan Linfoot was eighth quickest ahead of Road Race legend Michael Rutter while Beau Beaton rounded out the top ten aboard the delectable Irving Vincent.

Jake Zemke qualified 11th ahead of Troy Corser with the Katana pairing of Steve Martin and Shawn Giles next best ahead of Lee Johnston. There is still plenty of speed to be realised from that group as they will get appreciably faster as the weekend progresses.

The full entry list and race schedule can be found further down the page.

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International Challenge Qualifying

1. David Johnson – XR69 Suzuki – 1m37.352
2. Jeremy McWilliams – Harris Yamaha – 1m37.642
3. Paul Byrne – McIntosh Suzuki – 1m37.892
4. Glen Richards – Harris Yamaha – 1m38.139
5. Peter Hickman – Harris Yamaha – 1m38.188
6. Colin Edwards – XR69 Yamaha – 1m38.423
7. Jason Pridmore – FJ Yamaha – 1m38.424
8. Dan Linfoot – Harris Honda – 1m38.569
9. Michael Rutter – Harris Yamaha – 1m38.712
10. Beau Beaton – Irving Vincent – 1m38.827
11. Jake Zemke – Yamaha – 1m38.924
12. Troy Corser – Harris Honda – 1m39.237
13. Steve Martin – Suzuki Katana – 1m39.565
14. Shawn Giles – Suzuki Katana – 1m39.713
15. Lee Johnston – Harris Yamaha – 1m40.620
16. Craig Ditchburn – TZ750 Yamaha – 1m41.421
17. Cam Donad – Irving Vincent – 1m42.871
18. Ken Watson – TZ750 Yamaha – 1m44.388
19. Scott Webster – Harris Suzuki – 1m44.639
20. Damien Kavney – XR69 Suzuki – 1m45.004
21. Glenn Hindle – XR69 Suzuki – 1m45.394
22. Michael Neeves – Harris Suzuki – 1m45.676
23. Dean Oughtred – GSX1100 Suzuki – 1m45.766
24. Dave Crussell – TZ Yamaha – 1m46.438
25. Brendan Wilson – XR69 Harris – 1m46.827

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		—-	—-

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