Martin-led Aussies win IC at Phillip Island
The Americans made the Aussies work for their International Challenge victory, thoughAustralia has won the 2019 Island Classic International Challenge at Phillip Island, defeating America and New Zealand in the four-race shootout on January 26-27.
With Australian riders winning three of the races – a clean sweep for Aaron Morris on Saturday and 50-year-old Steve Martin on Sunday morning – and solid back-up from a number of other riders such as Shawn Giles and Jed Metcher, the locals finished the International Challenge on 676pts, ahead of America (634) and New Zealand (460).
In the individual standings, Martin – the world endurance champion in 2008 – took out the Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy on 152pts from Morris (150) and American star Josh Hayes (141), who was awarded third on a countback from Giles.
John Reynolds was the leading New Zealand rider in seventh position.
“It is unbelievable, I’ve won this (Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy) before, but that’s a long, long time ago now, so to win it today with guys like Josh Hayes, Jason Pridmore and all of the young chargers that we have got from Australia, it means a lot to me,” said Martin.
“This game is all about a bit of luck, and I’ve had my bad luck in years gone by. Aaron (Morris) was definitely very very fast all weekend. He should have won it if his bike had of stayed together, he had a little problem and it allowed me to sneak through.”
In race three today, Martin, Giles and Morris claimed an Australian quinella. Giles also set the fastest time of the race – a 1:37.425 on lap four.
Morris looked set for another victory before his bike played on his final run to the line, allowing Martin and Giles the opportunity to fly past. Morris continued to struggle with his gearbox in race four.
Metcher came home in fourth, while the only real disappointment for the Aussies was the DNF of last year’s individual winner, David Johnson. He had struggled with his Suzuki all weekend, plagued by mechanical problems.
A day earlier, one of Australia’s leading lights, Beau Beaton, was caught up as collateral damage after American Jason Pridmore crashed at turn 11 in the opening race. Both ended up in hospital: Pridmore a broken leg and Beaton a fractured L5 vertebrae and also small fractures to his pelvis and sacrum.
Meanwhile, Team USA took the next three spots in race three on a fleet of Yamahas, with fast-starter Larry Pegram fifth across the line – before a jump start penalty pushed him back to seventh. Teammates Michael Gilbert and Steve Rapp then moved up the tally to take fifth and sixth.
Craig Ditchburn and Dean Oughtred took eighth and ninth, with first across the line for the Kiwis, John Reynolds in the 1985 Suzuki Katana. Alex Phillis, who was the best performer for the Team NZ on Saturday, sat out race three due to a problem with the cam chain.
For Team USA’s Josh Hayes, race three did not go as well as Saturday’s outings where he scored 3-4 results. He made an error that saw him drop back from the race leaders early and ended the bout in 15th place.
But the American did not give up, and in race four he showed why he is a four-time AMA superbike champion with a resounding win.
Hayes was in front from the outset, and finished more than four seconds in front of Martin, with Phillis third – the final International Challenge podium representing all three nations competing.
Hayes was elated after his race four win, but his excitement was tempered with concern for his teammate Pridmore.
“I’m glad he (Jason) invited me and I hope he’s proud of what we were able to accomplish,” said Hayes.
“We’re a lot more pleased with where the bikes at and it gives us a lot of hope that we can make this thing a bit better in the future and that was just our first shot at it.
“Everyone has been real nice to me, I’m hoping I’ve done enough that Dave and the boys ask me to come back,” said a modest Hayes of his achievements in the Dave Crussell-captained Team USA."
2019 International Challenge results:
1. Australia 676pts
2. USA 634
3. New Zealand 460
Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy results:
1. Steve Martin, Aus 152pts
2. Aaron Morris, Aus 150
3. Josh Hayes, USA 141
4. Shawn Giles, Aus 141
5. Larry Pegram, USA 130
6. Michael Gilbert, USA 128
7. John Reynolds, NZ 128
8. Mark Miller, USA 121
9. Craig Ditchburn, Aus 120
10. Barrett Long, USA 114
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