Aussie legends in historic rematch

January 9, 2009

Australian Superbike hero Robbie Phillis has declared war on 1987 World 500 GP champion Wayne Gardner and arch rival Malcolm Campbell as he attempts to reverse a recent losing streak against his high-profile adversaries.
 
The multiple Australian champion will join Gardner and two-time Australian Superbike champion Malcolm "Wally" Campbell on the grid at the Australian Motorcycle News-sponsored 2009 International Island Classic, to be held at Phillip Island on Australia Day weekend January 23-25.
 
The trio are three of the toughest competitors ever to pull on a set of motorcycle race leathers.
 
"Let's just say I'm determined to prove a point," said Phillis. "There are some egos on the line."
 
Phillis, third in the Superbike World Championship in 1991 and 1992 and the reigning Australian Historic champion, has yet to beat Gardner or Campbell in a head-to-head showdown in a major historic race meeting.
 
Gardner is the current lap record holder at the 4.45km Island circuit in the Forgotten Era class at 1:42.451 on a 1978 Honda CB900F Superbike, while Campbell took overall victory at both the 2008 International Island Classic and the 2008 Australian MotoGP support events on his 1980 Suzuki RG500 GP two-stroke.
 
Phillis's recent major-meeting drought against Gardner and Campbell also includes losing out to Karl Corpe (1978 Kawasaki Z1R) at both world Superbike support events at Phillip Island in 2007 and 2008.
 
"I rate Wally (Campbell) as the toughest and hardest rider I've ever raced against. He never gave an inch, and never asked for one either. We had some great races," says Phillis, who returned to Australian race tracks in 2006 after a decade-long absence from the sport.
 
"It's great to be back racing, and having Wally and Wayne on the grid makes it even better."

Phillis, who won five successive Superbike crowns in the early '80s before Campbell halted his run, will compete at the International Island Classic aboard the same Suzuki GSX1100 Superbike that took him to the 1981 title.
 
Campbell, a two-time Australian Superbike Champion, will race a four-cylinder Suzuki RG500 two-stroke grand prix motorcycle similar to the one that took the late Barry Sheene to back-to-back world 500cc GP titles in 1976 and 1977, while Gardner will race a 1980 Honda CB1100R Superbike.
 
"This circuit has lots of great memories for me, and I've had some of my best races at Phillip Island," said Gardner, who won back-to-back Australian GPs at the circuit in 1989 and 1990. "The chance to race at the Island is too good to pass up.
 
"This is the category of bike that kick-started my international career back in 1980, so I have to thank Rex (Wolfenden) for giving me the opportunity to ride his bikes," added Gardner. "It was a great era in Australian racing, and that's reflected in the crowd interest."
 
The International Island Classic will have a strong overseas contingent in 2009. Isle of Man TT winners Stan Woods (Suzuki RG500) and Geoff McMullan (Moriwaki Kawasaki F1) head the UK visitors, with a much-anticipated showdown in the 500 Classic category between UK star John Cronshaw (BSA) and South Australian Mandy Beales (Honda 500).
 
"We've got a container with 20 bikes from the UK coming to the event, with similar numbers from New Zealand," said Fergus Cameron, Managing Director of the Phillip Island Circuit.
 
Total entries for the meeting, Australia's premier historic event, are in excess of 200, but it is the International Challenge for Forgotten Era teams from UK, New Zealand and Australia which headlines the event. A record number of 108 riders have nominated for the 1973-1980 350-1300cc Forgotten Era category at the 2009 International Island Classic.
 
The International Challenge, a team event for the fastest 45 riders from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, is dominated by large-capacity 1980s-vintage four-stroke Superbikes and F1 machines. However, five Yamaha TZ750s and four Suzuki RG500 GP two-strokes will ensure a competitive mix of machines for the four International Challenge races.
 
The Australian team is the strongest yet assembled for the event. In addition to Gardner, Campbell and Phillis, multiple Australian Historic champions Peter Guest and Karl Corpe (both 1978 Kawasaki Z1Rs), Craig McMartin (1978 Irving Vincent) and Michael Dibb (1978 Honda CBX1000/6) are all potential race winners.
 
The meeting will also host events for the other major historic categories, including Classic, Post-classic and sidecar. More details are available by clicking here, or tel (03) 5952 2710.
 
FAST FACTS
What: Australian Motorcycle News International Island Classic
When: 23-25 January, 2009
Where: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
 
How much:
Friday - adult $15.00, children under 16 free
Saturday - adult $27.00, children 5-15 $7.00, under 5 free
Sunday - adult $37.00, children 5-15 $7.00, under 5 free
3-day ticket - adult $60
Tickets available at the gate
* Pensioner Concession available
 
General Information:
Gates open to the Public 8.00am each day
Practice commences 9.00am each day
Racing commences Saturday 11.30am
Racing commences Sunday 9.00am
Free Paddock access on all days
On-site parking in Gardner Straight spectator area
Walking access to all other spectator areas
Food and liquor sales on site

Pic: Gardner and Phillis talk turkey in the 2008 Island Classic