Racing: TT hero for Island Classic

Cameron Donald, the first man to lap the daunting Isle of Man TT circuit at an average speed of over 131mph, is the latest high-profile rider to enter the 2010 International Island Classic, to be held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from January 22-24.

The TT star will race a 1962 Manx Norton in the 500cc Classic events at Phillip Island in what will be the 32-year-old's comeback to racing after an injury-induced lay-off over recent months.

Donald set his benchmark lap aboard his TAS Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike during official practice for the 2009 IoM TT, but was ruled out of race day when a crash left the Australian nursing a dislocated collarbone and unable to defend his 2008 TT race victory.

Donald's record-breaking lap of the legendary 37.73-mile public road circuit was completed in 17 minutes, 13.25 seconds, which gave the Victorian an average speed of 131.457mph (211.559km/h).

"Last year was a very tough one for me after setting a new lap record at the Isle of Man TT, and then injuring my shoulder the very next day," said Donald. "The good news for me is that I had surgery on my shoulder and all went well."

Donald's record lap was later bettered by multiple TT winner John McGuiness (Honda CBR1000RR) in the 2009 Senior TT with a lap of 17 minutes 12.30 seconds for an average speed of 131.578mph (211.754km/h), but Donald's boasting rights to the first-ever 131mph lap remains.

Donald joins a star-studded line-up of riders for the Australian Motorcycle News-sponsored 2010 International Island Classic, Australia's major historic race meeting for motorcycles. The 2009 event attracted a record crowd of 18,000, making it Australia's biggest domestic motorcycle meeting behind only the MotoGP and World SBK events.

Other high-profile entries joining Donald in the capacity field include reigning world endurance champion Steve Martin (1980 Suzuki GSX1100), British superbike rider David Johnson (1980 Suzuki XR69 F1), multiple British classic champion Lea Gourlay (1980 Suzuki XR69 F1), Isle of Man TT victor Stan Woods (1980 Suzuki RG500), Formula Xtreme front-runner Michael Dibb (1978 Honda CBX1000/6), multiple Australian Pro-Twin champion Craig McMartin (1978 Vincent Black Lightning) and the two hardened warhorses of Australian racing, Robbie Phillis (1980 Suzuki GSX1100) and Phillip Island lap-record-holder Malcolm Campbell (1980 Suzuki RG500).

In addition to the International Challenge for 1973-1982 Forgotten Era motorcycles, a full support program for Veteran, Vintage, Classic and Post-classic solos and sidecars will ensure three days of non-stop on-track action at Australia's premier historic festival.

Click on the following link for more information on the Island Classic, or tel (03) 5952 2710.