IN
THE
WIND
P42
TEAM AUSTRALIA RETAINS ISLAND CLASSIC
INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE TITLE
T
eam Australia has taken the
International Challenge Tro-
phy at the 2019 Island Classic,
held at the picturesque Phillip
Island Grand Prix circuit January
26-27, with Team USA taking a
best-ever result of second overall
ahead of Team New Zealand.
Headed by top overall indi-
vidual scorer and race-three
winner, former Endurance World
Champion Steve Martin (Suzuki
Katana), Team Australia took the
win with 674 points, 42 points
clear of Team USA with Josh
Hayes (Yamaha FJR1200) taking
a historic race win, a first for an
American rider, in race four in the
Island Classic.
Hayes proved to be the fastest
of the American contingent that
included Jason Pridmore (Ya-
maha FJR1200), Larry Pegram
(Yamaha FJR1200), Steve Rapp
(Yamaha FJR1200), Michael Gil-
bert (Yamaha FJR1200) and team
captain, Dave Crussell (Yamaha
TZ750).
There was early drama in race
one when Pridmore high-sided
at the fast turn 11 on the opening
lap, taking out Australia's Beau
Beaton (Irving Vincent). Pridmore
suffered a broken tibia and fibula
and separated shoulder, with Be-
aton suffering multiple vertebra
fractures and tailbone injuries.
Australian rookie Aaron Mor-
ris (Suzuki Katana) was the early
star of the meeting, taking the
first two race victories and look-
ing odds-on for the top point
scorer award when his Katana
lost third gear in race three, drop-
ping him to third behind winner
Martin. The mechanical gremlins
continued for the 26-year-old,
who finished ninth in race four
and second in the overall point
scores to Martin by two points.
Team Cycle News was there,
with Road Test Editor Rennie
Scaysbrook representing Team
USA, but suffered a variety of
mechanical gremlins on the Su-
zuki GSX1100 XR69 and Suzuki
Katana. Look for a feature in an
upcoming issue of Cycle News
magazine. CN
After a series of
mechanical problems,
Josh Hayes finally
had the FJR Yamaha
running correctly and
took a convincing
victory in race four for
Team USA, but Team
Australia eventually
took another Island
Classic title.
