World Endurance Champ Steve Martin to race GSX1100 at Island Classic
Reigning World Endurance Champion Steve Martin and British Superbike star David Johnson head a star-studded line-up for the International Island Classic, to be held at Victoria’s Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 22-24 January, 2010.
Martin and Johnson join two-time Australian Superbike Champion Malcolm Campbell, multiple Australian champion Robbie Phillis, British champion Lea Gourlay and Isle of Man TT victor Stan Woods in a capacity field for the Australian Motorcycle News sponsored 2010 event.
The addition of Martin, who won the 1999 Australian Superbike Championship prior to embarking on a successful international career, adds further excitement to Australia’s premier Historic motorcycle festival.
In 2009 the International Island Classic attracted a record crowd of 18,000, making it Australia’s biggest domestic motorcycle meeting behind only the MotoGP and World SBK events.
Riders from UK, New Zealand, France, USA and Australia have entered the 2010 International Island Classic, the 17th running of the event, with the International Challenge for bikes built between 1973 and 1982 the feature event on the program.
Martin joins seven other Australian champions in the International Challenge, with national champions from UK, USA and New Zealand making the 2010 event the best-credentialed in the event’s 17-year history.
Martin will ride a 1980 Suzuki GSX1100 Superbike in his Historic racing debut, while fellow South Australian Johnson, who holds the Historic Period 4 (1963-1972) lap record for the circuit, is entered on a Suzuki XR69 factory F1 bike.
“I’ve attended past Island Classics as a spectator – it’s an amazing event,” said Martin. “I’ve always wanted to race in it.”
Joining Martin and Johnson on the grid for the International Challenge feature races will be two-time Australian Superbike champion Campbell (1980 Suzuki RG500), World SBK number three Phillis (1980 Suzuki GSX1100), multiple Australian Pro-Twin champion Craig McMartin (1978 Vincent), Formula Xtreme top gun Michael Dibb (1978 Honda CBX1000/6), 2009 Australian Superstock 1000 number three Beau Beaton (1978 Vincent) and Australian Historic champions Peter Guest (1978 Kawasaki Z1R), Karl Corpe (1978 Kawasaki Z1R), Laurie Fyffe (1980 Suzuki GSX1100) and Stu Loly (1980 Suzuki GSX1100).
The overseas challengers are headed by multiple British champion Gourlay (Suzuki XR69 F1), with IoM TT winner Woods (1980 Suzuki RG500) making his second trip to the Island Classic.
“In addition to Lea’s F1 Suzuki, there are F1 bikes from Harris, P&M and Moriwaki in the UK team line-up, as well as a 930 RPS Triumph, Suzuki RG500s and Yamaha TZ750s,” said UK team captain Keith Higgs.
“The Aussies won’t know what hit them.”
The outright Historic lap record for the 4.45km circuit – the fastest MotoGP circuit in the world – is held by Campbell at 1:41.953, a time he set at the 2009 event after going handlebar-to-handlebar with arch rivals Phillis and 1987 World 500GP Champion Wayne Gardner (1980 Honda CB1100R).
“We’re into the 41s, which isn’t too bad for a 29-year-old motorcycle,” said Campbell. “But I really believe 40s are possible.”
In addition to the International Challenge for 1973-1982 Forgotten Era motorcycles, a full support program for Veteran, Vintage, Classic and Post-classic solos and sidecars will ensure three days of non-stop on-track action at Australia’s premier Historic festival.
For further details on the meeting go to www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au, or tel (03) 5952 2710.
