VOL. 53 ISSUE 4 FEBRUARY 2, 2016 P67
STORY BY HAMISH COOPER
PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL AYNSLEY
T
eam USA captain David
Crussell was on a high
after the final race of the
annual Phillip Island International
Challenge, held at the iconic
MotoGP venue two hours from
Australia's second largest city,
Melbourne.
"It's time for us to start break-
ing into the Pro ranks," he said
after defeating Team New Zea-
land for the second time.
The Americans had overcome
a rain-blighted practice, qualify-
ing cut short by a massive oil
slick and various mechanical
gremlins to finish fourth overall.
In an exciting two days of rac-
ing, Team UK beat Team Austra-
lia for the second year running
and Team Ireland finished third in
an amazing event debut, ahead
of Team USA and Team New
Zealand.
Crussell wouldn't go into detail
but with U.S. racing legends
such as Kevin Schwantz and
Doug Polen competing in clas-
sic racing events over the past
two years, you wouldn't have
to move heaven and earth to
get them involved. And let's not
forget Scott Russell and Jay
Springsteen.
Then, if Team UK can entice
top current racers over like TT
legend John McGuinness and
KTM factory tester Jeremy Mc-
Williams, it doesn't take a leap
of logic to start looking at the
