The International Island Classic held this long weekend at Phillip Island will be a case of young guns and old timers working together to take out the prestigious teams’ event.
20-somethings Beau Beaton and Brendan Roberts will be riding with ‘veterans’ Rob Phillis and Malcolm Campbell, who are both over 55, as well as Cam Donald (30’s), Steve Martin and Shawn Giles (40-45).
Beaton “idolised” his older teammates growing up, he said, “racing with them at Phillip Island every year is a real privilege”. He also said that the riders bond was strong because of a shared goal “to make sure we keep on beating the UK.”
Beaton also has a ride at the famed Goodwood Festival in England, later this year.
Adelaide’s Brendan Roberts will be riding a 1294cc Suzuki Katana in his first international challenge race and admits “We’ll only have a few bugs to iron out,” and will look to the “greybeards” to offer him advice.
Roberts, now a part-time road racer after he was “knocked” about heavily superbike racing at Monza, Italy in 2009.
Also racing at this year’s event is Isle of Man hero John McGuinness, along with Jeremy McWilliams, Roger Gunn, Ryan Farquhar, David Crussell and Gary Johnson.
The Island Classic is the southern hemisphere’s largest historic motorcycle racing event, which includes solo and sidecar machinery from early last century to 1990.
Tickets are available at www.islandclassic.com.au
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