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2005
NEWS: AUS
MOTORSPORTS
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PRESS RELEASE MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA UPHOLDS PROTEST AGAINST BROOKES (AUG 1, 2005)
F3 / A1: ALAN JONES ANNOUNCED AS PATRON OF FORMULA 3 AUSTRALIA (JULY 24, 2005)
COOPER TO RIDE OPEN CLASS FOR NO FEAR HONDA (JULY 15, 2005)
HONDA AUSTRALIA’S YOUNG GUN SIGNED FOR SUZUKA EIGHT-HOUR (JULY 13, 2005) Honda Australia’s own Josh Brookes, current leader of the 2005 Australian Supersport Championship, has scored a ride for the highly prestigious Suzuka Eight-Hour, the race widely regarded in the eyes of Japanese motorcycle manufacturers as the most important event of the year. Scheduled for July 31, Brookes will race for Team Yoshiharu, a Japanese Honda dealer team where he will saddle up along side Japanese veteran Yoshiyuki Sugai aboard a factory-kitted CBR1000RR. The Eight Hour is a test of strength and endurance with riders racing in pairs and changing over at least every 50 minutes. Honda has won the Suzuka classic 18 times since it was first held in 1978 with Australians claiming 10 wins in that time, most notably Wayne Gardner four times in 1985, ’86, ’91 and ’92, and always on Hondas. Mick Doohan and Daryl Beattie were also successful once each, in 1991 and ’92, both with Gardner as their team mate. The Eight-Hour’s honour roll is a who’s who of grand prix greats such as Italian Valentino Rossi and Americans Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson. It is now essentially a superbike event, with over 70 Japanese entries and eight European teams. “We’ll be looking to be in the top five,” Brookes said. “Sugai was sixth last year, so finishing in the top-five is a realistic aim for this year.” “The combination of his knowledge and experience at Suzuka and my determination should be a good mix.” Brookes and Sugai will also have a high level of support from the Honda factory to boost their chances. “It’s a very big opportunity for me, and it’s ideal to be in a satellite team,” the 22 year old commented. “The Honda works bikes will be expected to win, so there will be a lot of pressure on those guys, but in my case the pressure will be more from myself to get a good result.” Brookes is off to Japan this week for two days of testing at Suzuka. It will be his third trip there in recent months, and he will have another go at the famous 5.864km circuit one week before the actual event. Now a rider for the Joe Rocket Honda team in Australia, Brookes raced a supersport bike in a round of the All-Japan Championship at Suzuka in 2001 however rain made it a fruitless adventure. He believes that his heavy domestic schedule of contesting two classes including Supersport and Superbike in the national stakes will stand him in good stead for the 50-minute stints at Suzuka. “I’m used
to lots of races of 25 to 30 minutes with one-hour gaps, so it shouldn’t
be too different,” he said. “The stints on the bike will be
a little bit longer at Suzuka though.” “I’m
always working on improving my fitness, so I’m just conscious of
being Ukawa will be on one of Honda’s CBR1000RR bikes with his countryman Ryuichi Kiyonari, while Australian Chris Vermeulen will be on the other factory bike with Katsuaki Fujiwara. In addition to achieving
his personal goals at Suzuka, Brookes is aiming this year to emulate Honda
Australia team mate Adam Fergusson’s 2004 feat of winning both the
national Superbike and Supersport championships. The young talent has
led the Superbike title chase most of the season, although he slipped
five points to second position overall at the recent fourth round in South
Australia. He currently leads Fergusson by 16 points in the Supersport
series. International
teams have already shown great interest in the New South Welshman who
hails from Bringelly in the west of Sydney. His successes at international
meetings such as the World Supersport Round held at Phillip Island last
year and continued domination in the domestic Championships Brookes said he was hopeful of at least landing a ride in the World Supersport Championship next year, “or perhaps something better.” “Doing well in the Suzuka Eight-Hour could help a lot with getting a good ride for next year,” he said. P.S (AUG 2, 2005): "Tony kirby from Sidetrack Magazine bet us a $1000 donation to the rfds that we couldn't do it in under a fortnite so he had to pay up. He is running a full story with some very good pics in next issue as well as an official donation form for the rfds, it will be in the stands early september" Phil Hodgens MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA: FOHVA joins forces with MA (JULY 7, 2005) With future access to off-road riding areas under continual threat from government regulation and the locking up of state and private land, an announcement that the Federation of Off Highway Vehicles Australia (FOHVA) had merged with Australia’s premier motorcycling organisation, Motorcycling Australia (MA), will provide some hope for more than half a million off-road motorcyclists. FOHVA’s strengths in ensuring ongoing access to off-road riding areas and the promotion of off-road tourism will be matched by its bigger partner’s substantial professional and financial clout. Moreover, the recent unprecedented growth in sales of trail bikes and ATVs has necessitated the need for a united approach in the best interests of all user groups. The alliance between FOHVA and MA aims to achieve better outcomes for recreational motorcyclists across Australia. The merger was consummated on July 1, 2005, with the Executive Officer of FOHVA, Daryl Petch, agreeing to join MA to manage the non-competitive off-road arm. “I am very optimistic that Daryl will be able to resolve some of the issues that have recently reduced the number of recreational motorcycle events offered,” said David White, the CEO of MA. The first event under the recreational off-road banner will be October’s Yamaha Wild Boar ride - https://tribe.yamaha-motor.com.au/ Petch acknowledged those who had supported FOHVA since its inauguration in 2001. He added that existing FOHVA members would have their membership transferred over to a recreational MA membership. MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA: Applications open for L2 Motorcycle Coaching Course (JUNE 23, 2005) Motorcycling Australia (MA) is now accepting applications from Level 1 Motorcycle Coaches for a Level 2 course to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra from October 24-28. To be considered for this course, applicants must be an accredited Level 1 Motorcycle coach and complete a Level 2 Coaching Principles course (see attachment for more details). There is a limit on the number of positions available, but a place will be allocated for at least one person from each state, providing they fulfil all the prerequisites. If the course is over-subscribed, applicants will be selected according to their coaching experience, qualifications and on recommendations from their State Controlling Body. There is financial assistance available for travel to the course. Applications are open forthwith, and close on Monday, September 19 For more information, contact Daniel Hutchinson at MA, tel (03) 9684 0500, or email daniel@ma.org.au. Royal Flying Doctor’s Service: UNIQUE POSTIE BIKE CHALLENGE COMES UP TRUMPS (JUNE 23, 2005) When dairy farmer Phil Hodgens and fellow Mackay, QLD based brothers Arron, Gavin, Willy and Cameron Wellsteed were presented with the dare of riding across Australia in under 14 days on Postie Bikes, they said, “sure, we can do that!” Not only did the group of die-hard riders achieve their goal last week, but they also raised $14,000 for the Royal Flying Doctors in the process. Theirs is an amazing story of both personal and mechanical prowess as the group of men braved some of the toughest conditions of the Australian outback, whilst relying heavily on the reliability of this country’s highest selling motorcycle. And how did the CT110 perform in such extraordinary conditions? Hodgens explains exactly what they put both themselves and their machines through. “We bought the bikes second hand from Australia Post Auctions with around 30,000 kilometres on each on them,” Phil said. “Two of them needed some minor work but the others were left as they were.” “Honda gave us a heap of spares to take with us including spokes and a complete set of wheel bearings per bike, needle kit, stator, CDI and coil but as it turned out, we didn't need to use any of them.” Phil and Co. decided to fit two bikes with old Honda XR tanks whilst the rest used saddle bags. This gave them a 25 litre fuel capacity, equalling a range of over 700 km's and over 30 km's per litre fuel economy. “We left Byron Bay, Australia’s most easterly point on Sunday, June 5th and headed west thru Casino, Tenterfield and Moree. We camped west of Collarenebri and then headed to Walgett and on to Bourke where we fitted new tyres.” “From there we went by dirt to Wanaaring and Cameron’s Corner. There was a lot of bulldust which was very hard on the little posties, but they held up fine.” “Then it was on to South Australia and down the Strzelecki Track to Lyndhurst. All of this was in the freezing rain mind you.” Once the group hit the Oodnadatta Track, they were presented with very sticky mud, jamming the tyres continuously and grinding them to a halt. “We were spending 20 minutes unclogging for every 10 minutes of riding,” Phil said. At the half way mark, the boys made it to the Kulgera Roadhouse in NT where they enjoyed their first shower since the start of the trip. It was then time to head to the Yulara Resort and meet up with their Desert Horizons Motorcycle Tours support vehicle. On days 8 and 9, the Postie Challenge riders took the Docker River Road into WA, and on to Warburton and the Gunbarrel Highway where they found themselves faced with horrific corrugations. “We thought those corrugations would break the bikes in half but everyone survived. This was when we did our first oil change since the start of the trip.” With three days to go, they had to brave the freezing cold of the Carnegie Station camp and then Meekatharra where they found the water had frozen in their drink bottles. “The radio warned us of approaching storms and possible flash flooding as we were heading into day 12. We went up to Mount Gould then west on flooded station tracks, and eventually made the Overlander Roadhouse. On the final day, we made it to Steep Point, Australia’s most westerly point.” By meeting the challenge originally put forward by their friend Tony Kirby of Sidetrack Magazine, the men fulfilled a goal like no other. All in all, the group covered nearly 6,000 kms with not one mechanical failure, and raised a significant amount of funds for the RDFS as well. “I believe there are a lot of trail bikes which would not have made it even if bought brand new off the dealer’s floor,” Phil commented. “We couldn’t have been happier with the way the Honda’s performed for the duration. Just like clockwork” Anyone wanting to make a donation to RFDS in the name of the Challenge can contact Phil at email: philandjane@maleneynet.com Royal Flying Doctor’s Service: Three Determined Women Tackle the Desert on Honda 4-Wheelers (JUNE 21, 2005) On first glance, you might think Maria Ryan, Elaine Mollenhauer and Glenda Gleeson are just your average hard working, family oriented women, but ‘average’ is not a term one would use to describe them. In addition to living and working in Australia’s more remote regions, the three determined ladies have hatched a plan to ride quad bikes across the Simpson Desert to help raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service. After considering the preferred choice of transport, Ryan approached Honda to sequester their support in the provision of bikes that would be up to the task of travelling 3205 kilometers in 14 days over 11,000 plus sand dunes in the harshest conditions of the Australian outback. Honda immediately saw the opportunity the ‘Wings Across the Desert’ ride would provide, not only in terms of being involved with a worthy cause but also in promoting safety, and proving just how reliable and durable their 4-wheelers are. With only limited riding experience between them, Alice Springs based airport security workers, Ryan and Mollenhauer and Gleeson - a rural community health nurse based on the borders of South and West Australia - have every confidence in the bikes, particularly now that they have undergone Honda sponsored rider training. “I know the Honda bikes are the right choice because they are four-wheel drive bikes,” Maria said. “The sand hills aren’t going to hold them up and I’d say we’ll probably have more problems with our four-wheel support vehicles out back than the bikes.” Under the guidance
of HART Senior Instructor, Paul McVey, the three women recently travelled
to Kilsyth, Victoria to be fitted out with their new No Fear Gear and
participate in a full day’s training. “We’ve
practised emergency stops, hill climbs, evasive action and steering,”
Maria explained. “I know there are concerns in the community about
how safe ATV’s are, but I think they are incredibly confidence inspiring
if you wear the right gear, have proper training and ride them On June 28th, the
group will depart from the RFD Base in Alice with all of the local community
behind them. They have spent the last few months organising and promoting
their trip, securing fundraising pledges and selling raffle tickets. Their
first stop will be Lambeth, the centre of Australia, and then on to Dalhousie’s
and across the rig-road to Haddon, Poppel and Cameron’s, the Honda Australia will be tracking the group’s progress along the way as they pilot their Fourtrax 400 motorcycles for most of each day. According to Brand Manager Jason Nicholas, “we are thrilled to be involved with this particular project. We get a lot of various requests for sponsorship throughout the year, but this one was an obvious choice for us.” “These women are incredibly determined and very well organised. We want them to have the sense of security in their mode of transport that they need to accomplish this.” “We have been amazed at the level of support Honda has given us,” Maria said. “Ultimately the aim of this ride is to make city people aware that the RFDS is there to provide a vital service for everyone in rural areas.” “People who are 5 to 8 hours drive from a hospital rely on RFDS as well as travellers from other parts of Australia and the world. Their operating costs are unbelievable, especially in terms of affording new planes, and they get very little government funding.” “We could not be doing this for ourselves or the Flying Doctors without Honda’s support.” (HONDA) MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA - Suggested Junior rule changes for 2006 (JUNE 2, 2005) In the first quarter
of this year, Motorcycling Australia (MA) invited submissions, from any
party, for suggested alterations, deletions and/or additions to the Junior
General Competition Rules for 2006. General points of discussion pertinent
to Junior competition were also welcome. Those submissions are now available
for comment and consideration, and must be forwarded to MA, with a copy
to your relevant State Controlling Body (SCB), before July 31. The contact
details for the SCBs can be found by visiting http://www.ma.org.au/Content/MA/AboutUsLinks/StateControllingBody/State_Controlling_B.htm SUGGESTED RULE CHANGES 1. Rule 5.8.8.2. Current
rule reads: “Black and white chequered flag waved (means) finish
of race.” Proposed change of meaning to: “Finish of race,
practice or demonstration.” AGE CUT-OFF
FOR AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP PROPOSAL FOR
a 50CC JUNIOR ROAD RACING CLASS Changes to rule 6.7.3.
The Commission recommends that this class be introduced as a learner class for road racing. Introduction
of A 160cc Junior Road Race class Neck braces/supports
for junior competitors Classic Motocross MADDISON BREAKING RECORDS (MAY 6, 2005) In Brisbane, QLD on May 14 2005, Kiama’s Robbie Maddison, who is sponsored by Honda Australia, will be attempting to break two different world records. Robbie will be appearing in the Crusty Demons tour taking place all around Australia which begins in Brisbane before going to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and finally Sydney. In conjunction with the tour, Robbie announced today that he will be attempting under lights to break the 125cc World Record and the 250cc World Record with a trick at the Queensland Raceway in Brisbane. The 23 year old Australian super star has done his time on dirt, being the current “King of FMX” but these two extreme jumps will be his greatest achievements and his moment of glory thus far. The set up for Robbie’s world record jump has never been so elaborate for an FMX rider with 7,000 tonnes of dirt being brought in to purpose build a 150 foot long down ramp. Robbie’s efforts promise to be huge and the night will be one to remember as a total of six new world records will be attempted at the Crusty Night of World Records. Maddison said today, “I am just stoked to be involved in the night. Its cool to be jumping two of the six world records. Jumping this kind of distance is awesome. I have hit gaps like this a lot and it’s nice for it to be official this time.” “I want to break the 250cc longest distance record in the future too. I was hoping I would be able to attempt the 250cc record as well as the other two, but the man in the hot seat for that Jump is Larry Linkogle from the USA.” Robbie was recently re-signed by Honda Australia to compete in a number of freestyle events both here and abroad. He continues to cement his reputation as this country’s hottest freestyler. “Honda is very proud to be associated with this extremely talented young man,” Brand Manager Jason Nicholas said. (HONDA)
Team Australia to make its debut in Champcars USA (APR 8, 2005)
New appointments to Motorcycling Australia Sporting Commissions (MAR 29,
2005) The functions of MA sporting commissions are: To assist, advise and be responsible to the MA board and to act in the best interests of MA and the sport; To prepare and propose any amendments to rules, or any by-laws, so as to ensure the orderly conduct of competitions; and To assist and advise each other and any committee of the MA board. In other news, the MA board has also given the green light to the following: Sporting commissions will now consist of a minimum of three members, and a maximum of five – all of whom will be appointed by the MA Board; and Each sporting commission can also take on one additional member, who will be appointed by a collective decision from MA’s seven State Controlling Bodies (http://www.ma.org.au/Content/MA/AboutUsLinks/StateControllingBody/State_Controlling_B.htm) In light of the changes,
the nine sporting commissions will be structured as follows in 2005: For more information on the MA sporting commissions, contact Ross Martin, tel (03) 9684 0504, or email ross@ma.org.au AUSTRALIAN F3 RACE WINNER MARSHALL MOVES TO CHAMP CAR (MAR 26, 2005) Adelaide based Australian Formula 3 operation, Team BRM has produced two championship winners and a whole heap of success for its drivers since it began competing in Australian Formula 3 in 1998 and now it has had a guiding hand in the career of Australia's latest successful international export: Marcus Marshall. Marshall who last weekend confirmed that he has signed to compete with successful Champ Car operation Walker Racing for the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series powered by Ford - competed with team BRM in two out of the eight rounds that made up the 2004 Australian Formula 3 championship finishing sixth on the seasons' points tally. It was his drive at the Lexmark Indy 300, though, that pushed him into the spotlight in front of the American teams, the 26-year-old Queenslander crushing a competitive field by taking pole and winning all three races in front of the watching Champ Car teams and management. Team BRM owner, and chairman of Formula 3 Australia Bronte Rundle said that Marshall's leap to one of the world's premier open wheel series' was a great advertisement for Formula 3 Australia. "Australian Formula 3 and team BRM are delighted to have had a hand in developing Australia's latest International export," said Rundle. "Marcus is a true talent, and will go very well in the Champ Car World Series this season. "We had the pleasure of working with Marcus last year for two rounds, and to witness the change between the start of the season (In Adelaide) and when he came back to BRM at the Gold Coast was fantastic. He had really developed as a driver and really showed how good he could be in what was a very competitive field. "He ran with us at the Gold Coast with the sole intention of showing what he was capable of in front of the visiting American teams and there is no doubt he was able to achieve that. It's a credit to him that he has been able to follow it up and gain a seat in a very competitive top level championship series like Champ Car." Rundle said that Marshall's graduation to the ranks of the Champ Car World Series was proof positive that Formula 3 in Australia remains the best place for young drivers to develop their talent before heading overseas. "People like Will Power, James Manderson and Karl Reindler and now Marcus have all used this category in Australia as a stepping stone to bigger and better things either here or in Europe and America," he said. "The drivers we have in this series this year will also be looking to do the same thing, because they know that if you are successful in Formula 3 racing there is a very high chance that you will be successful elsewhere." Marshall will make his Champ Car World Series debut at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in California on April 10th, whilst the next round of the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship will be held at South Australia's Malalla Raceway a week after on April 16th and 17th. (BRM) TIM EDWARDS JOINS FORD PERFORMANCE RACING (MAR 10, 2005) Ford Performance Racing (FPR) announces a new senior appointment to take charge of the Prodrive owned Australian V8 Supercar Team. Tim Edwards joins FPR with outstanding motor racing and sports management credentials gained from his humble start as a Melbourne Ford dealer apprentice motor mechanic, to occupying several senior managerial roles with one of the world's most renowned Formula One teams. After successfully completing his apprenticeship at the Box Hill College of TAFE from 1984 to 1988 while working with Melford Motors, Tim pursued his ambition of working with a motor racing team in Europe. At the age of 21, Tim headed to England and joined compatriot Alan Docking's Formula 3 and Mazdaspeed Sportscar team as a race team mechanic. In 1989 Tim joined Richard Lloyd Racing as lead mechanic for their World Sports Prototype Team. He was responsible for ten technicians, playing a hands-on leadership role in car build and development processes while broadening his motor racing technical abilities. The establishment of the Jordan Formula One Grand Prix team in 1991 presented an opportunity for Tim to work in the world's premier motor racing category. He successfully applied for a position with the new team, starting as a race mechanic. This was the beginning of a 14 year career with Jordan Grand Prix that would cover every area of the team's ever expanding operations. The experience gained during the following decade resulted in his appointment as Team Manager in 2001, where he remained until 2004. Along the way to this role, Tim had occupied the positions of Number One Mechanic, Chief Mechanic and Technical Operations Manager / Test Team Manager. Tim returned to Australia in December 2004 to join the organising committee for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games in the role of Special Advisor - Sport. Tim Edwards will join FPR as Motorsport Director at the end of March. He will have total responsibility for all the team's technical and sporting activities while also representing FPR with AVESCO and TEGA. (FPR) MARCOS AMBROSE USA BOUND IN 2006 (MAR 5, 2005) Back-to-back V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose is to pursue racing interests in North America in 2006 and plans to leave the V8 Supercar Championship Series at the end of the current race year. Ambrose is discussing several opportunities with Ford USA and hopes to have a firm program in place within a few months. His eventual goal is a drive in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. In the meantime, Ambrose is totally focused on winning his third consecutive V8 Supercar title in his Pirtek Falcon for SBR, Ford and their fans in 2005. Ambrose is in the process of competing in three V8 Supercar support races at the Foster's Australian Formula One Grand Prix this weekend and will start his "three-peat" championship campaign at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 17-20. SBR co-owner Ross Stone said that Ambrose would move to the USA with the blessing of his team and sponsors and will release him from his contract a year early at the end of 2005. "Marcos has been a terrific part of this team for five years and has played a major role in our development and success," said Stone. "We would never stop a talented driver like Marcos from pursuing other opportunities. "We know Marcos is as focused as ever on winning a third consecutive title for Pirtek, Ford, SBR and our fans and we will be doing everything possible to make that a reality." Ambrose said it was important to make his intentions clear at this stage of the year to be fair to his fans and end any speculation with US testing expected to get underway in the near future. "The V8 Supercar Championship is a fantastic series and has been very good to me," said Ambrose. "I have to thank Ross and Jimmy Stone, Ford and Pirtek for their tremendous support and hopefully we can all share some future success. "While nothing has been finalised at this stage, it was important for everyone that my intentions were made clear before the start of the season so we can get on with the job of trying to win a third consecutive title." Ford Australia President, Tom Gorman, said Ambrose's ambitions were something that all Ford fans could share. "Marcos Ambrose is an important part of the global Ford family," said Gorman. "He has done a fantastic job for us since in the V8 Supercar Championship and we are confident he can continue his success as he chaces a third consecutive title this season. "His decision to pursue a career path in the US is going to offer an exciting adventure which Ford Australia supports and will assist with where we can." At this stage Ambrose is set to test with a tier one Ford NASCAR Busch team over a two-day period in the near future. Further tests will be arranged as Ambrose's V8 Supercar schedule permits, according to John Szymanski, Director, Sponsor Development, Ford Racing Technology. "Dan Davis (Director Ford Racing Technology) and I both have the utmost respect for Marcos' abilities on and off the racetrack," said Szymanski. "We feel Marcos' move to America underlines the synergy among the different Ford racing programs around the world and we look forward to helping him with our vast resources and relationships to ensure a high degree of success. "In the meantime we want to ensure that nothing detracts from Marcos defending his back-to-back V8 Supercar tiles in 2005. "As a valued member of the Ford Racing "family" we look forward to welcoming Marcos to the newest chapter of his racing career." (FORD RACING) EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUE CARS TARGA TASMANIA TOUR (MAR 1, 2005) With a new naming rights sponsor secured and an exciting new trophy incentive waiting on the other side of the chequered flag, participants in the Targa Tasmania Unique Cars Tour are ensured an exciting ride when the Tasmanian tarmac rally takes off this year from April 26-May 1. First introduced in 2003, the event's tour category invites all generations of motoring enthusiasts to drive Tasmania's spectacular winding roads, at street legal-speeds, without the pressure of competition or the hassle of having to modify their special interest vehicle. This year Australia's best-selling specialist automotive title, Unique Cars, will join Targa Tasmania as naming rights sponsor to the Tour. The magazine's Editor-In-Chief Mike Sinclair says it is more than a fitting union. "Targa Tasmania is an event that captures the imagination of many Unique Cars readers. We're very pleased to formalize our involvement in the event and look forward to working with the Targa team to bring the event even closer to the magazine's readership." General Manager Tasmania for Octagon, Rob McGuire, says that support of this calibre will assist in raising the profile of the tour category within the event proper. "Targa Tasmania's association with Unique Cars will raise not only the profile of the event, but will market the Tour as an equally appealing category of the event to a national audience." After entering the tour in 2004, Tasmania's own motor sport legend Scotty Taylor - whose motor sport resume includes 21 Bathursts - this year has entered into the competition proper in a 1977 Hatchback Torana, a shift he attributes to his experience in the Tour the previous year. "Doing the Tour was a great way to see if I wanted to get involved in Targa Tasmania as a competitor," said Taylor. "It gives you the 'nitty gritty' of what happens in the event which provided me with the information which helped me to decide to compete this year." Also, under a new incentive introduced in 2005, tour participants will be rewarded with a Touring Trophy if they are able to complete all stages of the Targa Tasmania Unique Cars Tour course. "This trophy is a wonderful incentive for our Tour participants," said Mr McGuire. "It provides recognition to entrants in the event who may not drive at high-performance levels but who very much contribute to the spirit of the event." Following a similar course to the event's competitive Historic and Touring Classic sections, Targa Tasmania Unique Cars Tour participants drive in convoy at the head of the field over a slightly altered course to the event's other categories. Participants in the Tour get the opportunity to mix with other Targa Tasmania participants, showcase their cars each night at the event's vehicle expos and attend all social and additional Tour-specific functions. Targa Tasmania is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania. (OCTAGON) Six-gun Aussie salute for world Superbikes (FEB 22, 2005) The 18th instalment of the Superbike World Championship will commence in Losail, Qatar this weekend, with a record number of Aussie aspirants in action - six. Four of the riders - Troy Corser, Steve Martin, Garry McCoy and Chris Vermeulen - will return from active duty in last year's championship, while Andrew Pitt and Karl Muggeridge will be making their first appearances in the resurgent 1000cc production-based class. In what has been one of the most frenetic off-seasons on record, 33- year-old Corser, the 1996 world Superbike champion, has switched loyalties from Foggy Petronas Racing to Alstare Suzuki for 2005, while Pitt has been drafted into the Yamaha Italia operation. Meanwhile, Martin and McCoy, who both competed on privateer Ducati 999RSs in the 2004 championship, have replaced Corser and Englishman Chris Walker in the Anglo-Malaysian Foggy Petronas collaboration. That leaves Vermeulen, the reigning world number four, as the only rider to maintain incumbency from the previous season, where he will be joined in the Dutch-based, Winston-backed Ten Kate operation by 2004 world Supersport champion Muggeridge on a pair of CBR1000RRs. With six Aussies on a championship quest, the number will exceed the previous best for full-time representation -- five riders in 2001 and 2004 respectively. In what is shaping up as one of the most hotly contested championships since the heady days of the 1990s, all four Japanese marques are capable of greeting the chequered flag in 2005 - especially Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda - against the established might of Ducati. Suzuki, without a race win since Italian Pierfrancesco Chili prevailed in 2001, has only two riders on its 2005 roster - Corser and Japan's former British Superbike punter Yukio Kagayama - but a brilliant pre- season on the all-new 2005 model GSX-R1000 suggests that the marque's ninth world Superbike race win may come as soon as Qatar. That was after Kagayama and Corser went 1-2 in a combined SBK test at Losail last weekend, with times just two seconds short of Colin Edwards' current MotoGP lap record. The duo also sizzled in testing at Phillip Island last December. The free-wheeling Corser, after three years on the underperforming Foggy Petronas triple, is relishing a return to top-shelf machinery, and the chance to add to his 23 world Superbike wins - the last coming when he was Aprilia-mounted in 2001. Corser is currently equal fourth on the all-time SBK winners' list behind four-time world champion Carl Fogarty (59 wins), and dual title holders Edwards (31) and fellow American Doug Polen (27). "I'm happy that we finished 1-2 because it is a good reward to the team for all the work and effort we have all done," said the recently married Corser after testing in Qatar. "We've done a lot of work with altering the (engine) mapping and improved it considerably, though there's more to do. We also made chassis and suspension changes - not big changes - and we've improved in that area as well. "There are still a couple of sections on the track where I know I can go quicker, so Yukio had better watch out! Each day the track has felt different, so it's been really good to have some understanding about how it behaves. If it changes next week, hopefully we'll have the info to respond quickly and keep ahead of the rest." Meanwhile Yamaha, which hasn't enjoyed a factory presence in world Superbike since 2000, has welcomed back prodigal son Noriyuki Haga into the fold, where he will partner former Kawasaki MotoGP pilot Pitt on the rapid YZF-R1. Twenty-nine-year-old Pitt, who has won both the Australian (1999) and world Supersport (2001) titles, will, alongside Muggeridge and Martin, attempt to become the 11th Australian to win a world Superbike race, following in the footsteps of Michael Doohan, Michael Dowson, Peter Goddard, Rob Phillis, Kevin Magee, Anthony Gobert, Corser, Troy Bayliss, Vermeulen and McCoy. Spanish rider Joe Luis Cardoso (DFX Xtreme YZF-R1) also looks like adding to the Yamaha firepower after setting the third fastest time in last weekend's test, while SBK rookie Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France - IPONE YZF-R1), a former 500cc winner, cannot be discounted on pedigree alone. Yamaha, like Kawasaki, has won 34 world Superbike races in 17 years, well behind the all-conquering Ducati (235 wins) and Honda (80). Honda, courtesy of the supremely gifted Vermeulen - Mick Doohan's next Aussie tip to make the MotoGP ranks - will again be at the pointy end of proceedings, and the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer will also be banking on Muggeridge to make good on his accession to world Superbike duties, while American Ben Bostrom (Team Renegade KOJI CBR1000RR) will also re-join the fray for the first time since 2002, when he finished fifth on a Ducati. A year before, Bostrom finished third in Bayliss' world championship-winning campaign. Wily veteran Chili (Team Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR) has also defected to Honda in 2005, and is capable of pinching a win or two -- although his capricious ways always leave him short in the championship battle. Kawasaki's major hope in 2005 will undoubtedly come in the form of the talented Walker on the PSG-1 ZX-10R, with the former British Superbike champion cutting some great times in last weekend's test. Despite the increase in might from Japan Inc, Ducati will one again be the machine to beat in 2005, with reigning world champion James Toseland and number two Regis Laconi remaining in the Xerox-backed factory ranks. Yorkshireman Toseland, despite only winning three races in 2004, was a deserved world champion, and will be looking to get off to a flyer in Qatar. Spanish rider Fonsi Nieto, who finished seventh in last year's world 250 GP battle, has also joined the Superbike ranks in 2005, and will campaign a "customer"-spec Ducati 999RS - the same machine that Italian hotshot Lorenzo Lanzi will campaign for Team Caracchi. For the two remaining Australians in this weekend's 31-rider field, McCoy and Martin, 2005 may prove to be frustrating as the Foggy Petronas FP1 continues to search for that elusive top speed - the bane of Corser's three-year tenure with the team. McCoy, a five-time winner in the 125 and 500cc world GP titles, will race in round one after an injury-interrupted pre-season, while 1999 Australian Superbike champion Martin will be aiming to eclipse his seventh place finish in last year's championship. The Adelaide-born Martin, 36, is now entering his fifth year of world Superbike competition. In the corresponding Supersport World Championship, the battle to crown a seventh world champion will see two Aussie teammates to the forefront - the tireless veteran Kevin Curtain and reigning number two Broc Parkes. Both will compete under the aegis of Yamaha Motor Germany on YZF- R6s, with their main opposition expected to come from Parkes' erstwhile team, Winston Ten Kate Honda (Katsuaki Fujiwara and Sebastien Charpentier), former 500cc rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Ducati Selmat 749R), and former world champions Fabien Foret (Megabike Honda CBR600RR) and Stephane Chambon (Gil Motorsport CBR600RR). The opening round of the Superbike World Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 from 8.00pm (Eastern Summer Time) this Saturday night. (MOTORCYCLE AUSTRALIA) |
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