Philip Island Classic - America & New Zealand Name Teams
Malcolm Offline
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Philip Island Classic - America & New Zealand Name Teams
[Image: PI2018logo.jpg]

The final pieces have fallen into place for the 25th AMCN International Island Classic at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on the Australia Day long weekend (January 26-28), with America and New Zealand naming their teams for the showpiece MV Agusta International Challenge event.

America, in particular, has signalled that it’s not going to be an easy beat in 2018, with not only WorldSBK and MotoGP superstar Colin Edwards joining the team, but AMA stars Jason Pridmore and Jake Zemke are also making their debuts as well.

The addition of the highly rated trio adds even more intrigue into the International Challenge, with Australia also drafting in double WorldSBK champion Troy Corser to help out its cause, while defending champion United Kingdom has bolstered its ranks with some star British superbike and Isle of Man talent.

The United Kingdom won the 2017 International Challenge ahead of arch-rival Australia, Ireland, America and New Zealand.

Edwards, 43, hardly requires any introduction, with a stellar WorldSBK career producing two titles for the Texan followed by 12 years in MotoGP where he finished on the podium 12 times.

Edwards will ride a Suzuki XR69 in the International Challenge.

Zemke and Pridmore, who ae now both retired, may not have been global superstars in the Edwards ilk, but they did win AMA titles during a period when American domestic racing was extremely cut-throat.

Zemke twice finished third in the AMA superbike title, and it took riders the calibre of Aussie Mat Mladin and Ben Spies to beat him. Pridmore is also a world endurance champion.

Meanwhile, Dave Crussell, the talented Barrett Long and Aussie-based Robert Ruwoldt return from duty with the 2018 American International Challenge team, while the other new faces are Martin Morrison and Ed Haazer. Crussell also moonlights as the team captain.

New Zealand Team

New Zealand has been an International Challenge staple since the concept was inaugurated in 2005, and in 2018 its team will feature Island Classic stalwart Damien Kavney, multiple Australian historic champion Glenn Hindle, Simon Richards, team captain Duncan Coutts, Trevor Taylor, Kerry Wilton, Alistair Wilton and Mat Ineson.

ANZAC pride will also be on the line for New Zealand and Australia in the International Challenge as they battle it out in the FIM Oceania Historic Road Race Cup. All team points accumulated in the International Challenge will also count towards the team’s Oceania score.

The Island Classic will begin with qualifying and racing on Friday, January 26, followed by two full days of racing from 9:00am on Saturday and Sunday (January 27-28) on a massive variety of historic machines from pre-WW1 up to 1990.

USA International Challenge Team

Captain - Dave Crussell

178 - Bruce Lind Yamaha TZ750 - 1975 - 750
17  - Dave Crussell Yamaha TZ750 - 1978 - 748
29  - Barrett Long Yamaha TZ750 - 1979 - 750
195 - Martin Morrison Suzuki RGB500 - 1982 - 500
45  - Ed Haazer Kawasaki Z1000 - 1979  - 1200
62  - Robert Ruwoldt Kawasaki Harris F1 - 1980 - 1200
5   -  Colin Edwards Suzuki XR69  - 1983  - 1200
43  - Jason Pridmore Yamaha FJ-1200  - 1980  - 1200
98  - Jake Zemke CMB FJ1300


New Sealand International Challenge Team

Captain - Duncan Coutts

50  - Glen Hindle Suzuki XR69  - 1982  - 1170
10  - Damien Kavney Suzuki XR69  - 1982  - 1260
55  - Trevor Taylor Yamaha TZ500H  - 1981  - 498
211 - Simon Richards Suzuki CMR XR69  - 1982  - 1170
31  -  Kerry Wilton Yamaha TZ350F  - 1979  - 410
335 - Duncan Coutts Yamaha CMR F1  - 1984  - 1251
27   - Mat Ineson Suzuki GSX  - 1982  - 1135
25   - Alistair Wilton Yamaha TZ750  - 1979  - 746
18-12-2017, 11:02 AM
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mcguyver Offline
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RE: Philip Island Classic - America & New Zealand Name Teams
Ill be there with Bells on. It is without doubt the best Bike event in Australia and this years is shaping up as epic.

I will Also be at the Cemetery street races in Whanganui New Zealand on Boxing day

Will take some pics and post here
19-12-2017, 03:35 AM
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