International Island Classic
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
January 24, 2020
Provisional Combined Qualifying Results:
- Jed Metcher, Australia (1984 Yam FJ1200), 1:37.248
- Alex Phillis, New Zealand (1980 Suz XR69 1100), 1:37.354
- Steve Martin, Australia (1982 Suz Katana 1294), 1:37.870
- David Johnson, Australia (1982 Suz Katana 1100), 1:38.260
- Aaron Morris, Australia (1980 Suz Katana 1300), 1:38.266
- Larry Pegram, USA (1983 Yam CMR FJ1250), 1:38.388
- Josh Hayes, USA (1983 CMR FJ1250), 1:38.575
- Michael Gilbert, USA (1983 Yam CMR FJ1250), 1:38.966
- Shawn Giles, Australia (1982 Suz Katana 1294), 1:39.152
- Beau Beaton, Australia (1982 Irving Vincent 1300), 1:39.344
- Taylor Knapp, USA (1983 Yam CMR FJ1250), 1:39.513
- Craig Ditchburn, Australia (1978 Yam TZ750), 1:39.688
- Jordan Szoke, Canada (1983 Yam CMR FJ1250), 1:40.597
- Cameron Donald, Australia (1982 Irving Vincent 1300), 1:41.152
- John Allen, Australia (1978 Yam OW31 750), 1:41.736
- Brendan Wilson, Australia (1980 Harris Suz 1170), 1:43.729
- Michael Neeves, UK (1984 Harris Suz 1230), 1:44.301
- Scott Webster, Australia (1982 Harris Suz 1200), 1:45.498
- Jorge Guerrero, USA (1982 Suz XR69 1200), 1:46.523
- Joe Pethoud, USA (1984 Harris Yam 1250), 1:47.066
- Dave Crussell, USA (1978 Yam TZ750), 1:47.436
- Damein Kavney, Australia (1982 Suz XR69 1260), 1:48.174
- Robert Ruwoldt, Australia (1980 Harris Kaw 1200), 1:48.324
- Melissa Paris, USA (1978 Yam TZ750), 1:48.325
- Alexander Sinclair, UK (1982 Suz XR69 1080), 1:48.884
- Brian Filo, USA (1978 Kaw Z1 1260), 1:49.782
- Roger Gunn, Aiustralia (1982 Harris F1 1170), 1:49.842
- Tony Hart, UK (1982 Harris Suz 1085), 1:49.911
- Richard Peers-John, UK (1979 Yam TZG 347), 1:51.992
- Hasse Gustafson, Sweden (1972 Duc 750), 1:52.012
- James Agombar, Australia (1978 Yam TZ750), 1:52.784
- Richard Llewellin, UK (1982 Duc TT-F1 750), 1:53.679
- Laurie Fyffe, Australia (1980 Suz GSX1166), 1:54.198
- Johnny Nordberg, Sweden (1972 Duc V2 Imola 748), 1:54.572
- Bruce Lind, USA (1975 Yam TZ750), 2:03.544
- Paul Gaskin, UK (1978 Suz GS1000), 2:08.372
More, from a press release issued by Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit:
2020 Island Classic: METCHER TAKES POLE FOR AN AUSSIE FRONT ROW
Melbourne’s Jed Metcher heads a solid Australian showing in qualifying today for this weekend’s International Challenge at the 27th Island Classic for historic bikes at Australia’s Phillip Island, steering his 1984 Yamaha FJ 1200 to the top spot on the grid in afternoon qualifying with a time of 1m37.248s.
Following the 29 year old are a raft of fellow Aussies, with Alex Phillis (1m37.354s), Steve Martin (1m37.870s), David Johnson (1m38.260s) and Aaron Morris (1m38.266s) snatching the next four grid spots – all aboard Suzukis.
Johnson tackled brake problems, while Morris had an engine change to contend with, and his crew will install a new gearbox overnight to give the 2019 pace-setter a little more speed. It was Metcher though who snatched the top spot and will start on pole for the first six lap battle.
“I feel really good about qualifying actually,” said Metcher, a proven performer in International Challenge racing with a 2016 Ken Wootton trophy under his belt. “This is our first run out on the bike ever so really happy with the Yamaha FJ and I think it is obviously a little bit more of a modern bike and it’s a little bit easier to ride than the old Harris.
“The boys are working pretty hard, we still have a few issues which I guess is a good thing in this case, cause we’re fastest and the front fork isn’t travelling all the way.
“I think we can definitely race in the 36’s tomorrow and maybe set a new benchmark for the Island Classic,” said Metcher.
For the Americans it has been a tough 24 hours, but despite a game of musical engines and bikes they have three riders in the top 10, with other experienced names sitting just outside the top ten. The new-look UK squad have their best riders sitting in position 16 and 17 followed by a squad of classic racers eager to perform at the island circuit.
US veteran Larry Pegram on his Mojo Yamaha (1m38.388s) will start sixth on the grid, while bike tester and racer Michael Gilbert with a 1m38.966s has scored eighth spot.
Sandwiched between them is multi-AMA champ and last year’s race four winner in the International Challenge, Californian Josh Hayes who blew an engine in the morning session on the second lap. With his bike in the repair shop, Hayes boarded Jordan Szoke’s bike for the afternoon session, and topped the “slow” chart with a 1m38.575s lap to secure position no 7 for tomorrow’s opening six-lap battle.
“Rolled out this morning pretty fired up and ready to go and did my out lap, and on my first flying lap and going into the Hayshed, I shifted up to 4th gear and it kind of went flat and I was thinking man I still need a time so I was trying to get to the line but by the time I got around to pit end it was pretty much done,” said Hayes
“Unfortunately we saw some of the internal parts on the external of the bike…so that one was done. They have sorted it out and are fixing the bike for tomorrow.
“They wanted to give me a fair shake with some qualifying at least to improve from where I was which wasn’t very well, so we decided I would just jump on Jordan’s (Szoke) bike which was a bit different to my bike and just tried to get a few laps in the books to improve the grid position for tomorrow where I will get my own bike back.
“I feel like tomorrow could be a good day. The lap times are about where I remember from last year and I think they are lap times that we can do to at least be in the mix…so we just got to get the bike back together,” said a confident Hayes.
Australia’s Shawn Giles will start in ninth position(1m39.152s), and team mate Beau Beaton is in 10th (1m39.344s), while the US’s Taylor Knapp who was 10th in the afternoon qualifying will move back to 11th on the grid to make way for teammate Hayes.
Thirteen-times Canadian superbike bike champ, Jordan Szoke, will start in 13th with a 1m340.597s time, strengthening further the American attack. He had lent his bike to Hayes for qualifying in the “slower” session, but his bike returned with some broken tabs affecting the steering for Szoke when he went out in the “fast” qualifying session. He expects to get more from the machine in racing, after mechanics sort his bike tonight.
The UK’s best was Brendan Wilson who qualified 16th on his 1980 Suzuki Harris, with road-tester Michael Neeves qualifying his Carl Cox Harris in 17th.
The first woman to race in the International Challenge’s 16-year history, Melissa Paris – wife of Josh Hayes – will start from position No. 24 on her 1978 Mojo Yamaha (1m48.325s).
The International Challenge now in its 16th year, will see defending champion Australia take on squads from America and the UK in four six-lap battles over Saturday and Sunday.
Historic racing across all eras
Honouring a century of motorcycling in three action-packed days, the 27th International Island Classic, is one of the world’s great historic bike meets.
In addition to the three-nation International Challenge battle over four races, the Island Classic features 50 races for close to 400 solo machines across the six historic racing categories: Veteran (up to 1919), Vintage (1920-1945), Classic (1946-1962), Post Classic (1963-1972), Forgotten Era (1973-1982) and New Era (1983-1990). Each class will compete in five races.
Apart from the International Challenge trophy, riders are racing for individual accolades – with the Ken Wootton Memorial Trophy for the most successful International Challenge rider, plusthe Phil Irving Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the rider who accrues the most points outside of International Challenge races.
Tickets at the gate
Tickets available at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit gate from 8am Saturday and Sunday morning. Children 15 and under are free, accompanied by a full-paying adult. On circuit camping is also available with 24 hour check-in from Thursday at 7am with entry via gate 2.
