World Superbikes... Get your tickets NOW & save $30 on a Three-Day GA
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| | | | | | | World Superbikes... Get your tickets NOW & save $30 on a 3-Day GA
Howdy high-horsepower heroes……
All we can say is THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN! Already the international WorldSBK riders are defrosting in the Australian summer heat, ahead of Phillip Island’s opening round of the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Yamaha Finance round, in just two weeks(February 22-24). |
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| In This Edition | » Get Tickets now & Save over $30! | | » Australian Fields | | » We NEED Volunteers! | | » Waters: Camping is the go! | | » Portimao test results | | » Camping made easy | | » Wear World Supers! |
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And last weekend, Phillip Island hosted the cream of Australian motorcycle racing for the final shakedown for Australian Superbikes, Supersport and Supersport 300. High-speed racing is in the Phillip Island air!
We’ve a World Supers schedule approved and ready to go with 13 races on the agenda, including the new ten-lap Sunday midday sprint to add to the 2 x 22 lap WorldSBK battles on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. So you are up to date read the schedule here.
All the stars of the production bike circus are coming to race, and here’s the entry list to the two big classes:
World Superbike
World Supersport.
Reigning world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) isn’t afraid of the argy-bargy, and he’ll be one of the riders pushing hard at the front alongside riders like WorldSBK rookie Alvaro Bautista (Ducati), Chaz Davies (Ducati), Tom Sykes (BMW), Leon Haslam (Kawasaki), Marco Melandri (Yamaha), Michael van der Mark (Yamaha), Alex Lowes (Yamaha and Leon Camier (Honda). The new Panigale V4R lands so that will make life interesting, Lowes is showing great pre-season form, BMW is back in the fray and then along comes our man, Australia’s Troy Herfoss.
Jonathan Rea back to defend his crown The 2018 ASBK champ has been awarded a wild card in world supers and he’s eying off some big international scalps aboard his WorldSBK-spec Honda. Lots of Aussie support is needed for Herfoss and also for 18 year old Tom Toparis, the young Goulburn gun, who’ll run a Yamaha against the World Supersport brigade. Hear what Troy and Tom have to say about their wild card campaigns. Here they speak to Steve Martin at last weekend’s ASBK test.
| | | Goulburn’s Tom Toparis – WorldSSP wildcard | Troy Herfoss for Australia – Wild Card for World Superbike |
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| | Get your Tickets NOW and Save! |
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| | | Now’s the time to get yourself sorted for tickets and camping or accom. Buy today – or before Wednesday February 20 - and you will save over $30 on the gate price of three-day passes! That’s a BIG saving, so get organised and book.
Any three-day ticket holder gets FREE Paddock entry, with Parc Fermé unfolding lock, stock and barrel in the heart of the paddock. The paddock is the only place to be to listen to the riders as they speak to SuperShow MC Michael Hill. You can win prizes, enjoy great commentary, and view race-team life at close-range.
Buy now and you'll get a three-day pass with Paddock entry for $120* plus booking fee; and if you add an on-circuit camp spot you'll sleep for four nights in peace, under the stars, metres from the track and enjoy three days of WorldSBK for the grand total of $230*. But delay and pay, because at the gate it costs at least $30 more per adult for a three-day pass. Our tip is to BUY in advance fromTicketek and click here to find out more.
Paddock is the place to be!
Don’t forget kids are FREE for entry and to camp! And you can bring your bike for FREE! At world supers there’s no parking charges. In fact, you can ride your bike to any spot on the outfield, park up and watch the action unfold.
Chaz Davies on the new Ducati Panigale V4R
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| | | | | There’s mega-fields in the Australian classes with an Australian Superbike field of 36 including all the names you know – champ Troy Herfoss, Josh Waters, Wayne Maxwell, Glenn Allerton, Alex Phillis, Dan Falzon, Cru Halliday up from Australian supersport, and returning from overseas adventures, Aiden Wagner and Lachlan Epis.
Dan Falzon and Cru Halliday for Yamaha in 2019
Bryan Staring and Lachlan Epis for Kawasaki
And of course, three-times world champion Troy Bayliss is back in Aussie supers on the Ducati. With a big birthday just a few weeks away, our 49-year-old father of three is a total freak. Third fastest at the weekend test if you don’t mind! Game is on!
The hard-charging kids are on the grid – 38 in Australian Supersport 300; 25 in Australian Supersport. Time to strap yourself in for a wild ride, trackside!
Click here for:
Australian Superbike field
Australian Supersport field
Australian Supersport 300 field |
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| | WE NEED YOU! Volunteer Track Officials required! |
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Get a front-row seat to the 2019 WorldSBK season opener from February 22-24 at Phillip Island, and be on pole position for the world launch of the three-race format.
Volunteer officials provide vital assistance to competitors. There’s a variety of roles, and volunteers receive benefits galore including:
· Two complimentary 3-day General Admission guest passes
· FREE Camping for Volunteer Officials and up to two guests
· Complimentary lunch provided each day of the event
· 10% discount on breakfast items for all Volunteer Officials
· 2019 Superbike World Championship Souvenir Pin
· Officials Thank You BBQ on Saturday Night
· Discounted Merchandise
· Complimentary event cap
Everyone’s welcome to apply! Roles exist that do not require experience and all applications are considered. Register as a volunteer official here. |
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| | Josh Waters says Camping is the go! |
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As Suzuki star, Josh Waters, says camping is the way to go at World Supers. It’s super affordable with four nights from Thursday to Sunday for $110, purchased as part of your entry ticket. Camping opens from 8am Thursday and there’s 24/7 access via gate 2 to the campground. It’s best to reserve in advance via www.worldsbk.com.au or when you buy your entry ticket at Ticketek.
In addition, every child 15 and under (accompanied by an adult) gets to camp for free!!
Here’s Josh’s advice on camping...
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| | Two Day Portimao Test before the Boys head to Oz |
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| | | WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders completed the final European two-day test at Portugal’s Portimao on January 28, before packing their crates for Australia.
Despite strong winds, there was plenty of stiff competition with many riders showing similar pace and four different manufacturer bikes contending the top spot till the very last minute of on-track activity.
But in the end, it was reigning world champion Jonathan Rea on the Kawasaki who came out on top at the end of the two days, despite suffering a small crash in the final minutes. Working on finding a good base setup for his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, the Northern Irishman was happy with the improvement made with his crew during the off-season.
Jonathan Rea looking forward to some Phillip Island heat
On the other side of the garage, Leon Haslam who returns to the WorldSBK championship after four years, finished the European winter test in fourth position on his Kawsaki.
Leon Haslam – back with Kawasaki
Bringing on the fight to the green machines, Alex Lowes on his Yamaha continued with his stunning pace, as he closed in second position 0.959 s behind Rea. Together with his teammate Michael van der Mark, who finished fifth, the Pata Yamaha Team riders successfully completed their program, as they worked on confirming the new parts tested during the days before.
Alex Lowes with new team chief, Andrew Pitt
In the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati garage Chaz Davies and Alvaro Bautista were able to make consistent progress working on the base setup of the all-new Ducati Panigale V4 R. Testing different tyres and many aspects of his new bike, Alvaro Bautista set an outstanding fastest lap time of 1’41.934, taking the third spot of the timesheets, on a race track with such unique features, that he barely knows. Team-mate Chaz Davies who was still struggling with back pain put in 42 laps on the V4 R on the final day and finished a tough test in 11th position.
Alvaro Bautista – on the new Ducati Panigale V4 R
But it wasn’t just the green, blue and red machines to impress at Portimao. BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider Tom Sykes put in a sensational lap, conquering the sixth spot in 1’42.246.
The British rider was surprised by how close they were, considering they are still in their development phase. Also, Markus Reiterberger, who worked on the geometry of the bike and on testing different tyres, completed a positive test finishing tenth overall.
Continuing to adapt to the WorldSBK bike, 2018 WorldSSP World Champion Sandro Cortese on the GRT Yamaha set the seventh fastest lap time, while teammate Marco Melandri closed eighth overall.
Marco Melandri on his new Yamaha
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) had a strong pace on both days as he closed in ninth position. Working with a new crew chief, the Turkish rider worked on improving his feeling on board the Kawasaki ZX-10RR that will only be updated to the 2019 version at Phillip Island.
Independent team riders Michael Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) and Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven), both worked on the development of their Ducati Panigale V4 R. The Italian rider closed in twelfth position, while Laverty, who still has a lot of work to do with his new team, finished thirteenth.
Eugene Laverty will ride the new Ducati V4R
Developing the new Honda CBR1000RR, 2019 WorldSBK rookie Alessandro Delbianco finished fourteenth after two days trying to get acquainted with the WorldSBK machine.
Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) set the fastest lap time among the WorldSSP riders testing in Portugal. The Frenchman closed 0.573 secs ahead of the MV Agusta F3 675 of Italian rider Raffaele De Rosa (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse) and 0.879 ahead of Frenchman Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Next date on the agenda is with us at Phillip Island - with the final pre-season test Monday and Tuesday February 18 & 19, before the real action begins at the Yamaha Finance round, February 22-24.
| | | BMW back with World Supers | Tom Sykes, happy with BMW for 2019 |
Portimao Test Day Two Unofficial Times
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| | Camping made easy with a pre-pitched tent |
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Camping at the world supers has just gone up a notch, with pre-pitched tents now on offer.
Available in either the General Area or Quiet Area, campers can hire a range of one, two, three and four person tents at an affordable price.
Take the hassle out of organising your camping equipment for your summer superbike getaway and have your tent delivered and set up ready and waiting for your arrival trackside.
To secure your pre-pitched tent click here and return by Friday 15th February 2019, or alternatively call the WorldSBK Toll Free Hotline 1300 728 007 to book over the phone. |
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| | Wear World Supers on your back! |
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Event Merchandise for the world superbikes at Phillip Island is now available online. Visit the online store to secure your apparel before arrive trackside for the opening 2019 round.
Visit the official online store www.shop.worldsbk.com.au
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| | BUY NOW & SAVE OVER $30 on a 3-DAY PASS |
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| | | Remember buy now for the World Superbikes at Phillip Island, Yamaha Finance round, February 22-24. You'll get a three-day pass with Paddock entry for $120* plus booking fee; and if you add an on-circuit camp spot you'll sleep for four nights in peace, under the stars, metres from the track and enjoy three days of WorldSBK for the grand total of $230*. But delay and pay, because at the gate it costs at least $30 more per adult for a three-day pass. Our tip is to BUY in advance from Ticketek - click here to find out more.
Phillip Island – See You Trackside Feb 22 - 24
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