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NEWS
Phillip Island circuit gets a facelift
The 4.445km grand prix track has been resurfaced -- for the first time since 1998 -- with over 5000 tonnes of asphalt poured over the sweeping layoutThe Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit received a major facelift on December 11-12 when it was resurfaced at a total cost of $3 million.
After months of preparations, site surveys and the milling of 40mm off the old surface, the paver machines layed about 300 tonnes of asphalt per hour, travelling at five metres per minute.
To ensure the quality of the high-grade asphalt, a portable batching plant was installed on site. The huge plant was shipped to the island last month from its last commission on the Hobart airport runway.
A fleet of construction equipment and up to 70 personnel were on site to complete the resurface work, which also included upgrades to other infrastructure while the circuit wasshut down.
“The circuit is used over 300 days a year and we have had a good 14 years from this track. It was time for a makeover,” said the circuit’s Fergus Cameron.
“The stresses and strains of Casey Stoner on a MotoGP bike or the world superbike riders going around this place at over 330km/h all take their toll.
“And then there’s Lowndes and Whincup and their rivals ripping round the track in the V8Superars, plus loads of other events, ride days and test days. The track has served us very well but it is time to give it a makeover.
“Because of the layout and setting of this track, Phillip Island is considered one of the world’s motorsport meccas. It never fails to produce awesome racing, and we want to ensure riders and drivers compete on the smoothest, fastest track in the world.”
Cameron assures race fans there will be no significant changes to the shape of the hallowed track, and all will be in readiness for the Island Classic for historic bikes in late January and for the world superbike riders in February.
The Superbike World Championship arrives mid February for testing, before what’s set to be a scintillatingly fast opening round from February 22-24. Expect the new race surface to deliver the island’s fastest world superbike race on record with tickets available at www.worldsbk.com.au.
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Written byBikesales Staff
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