As the post-Covid return to something approaching normality continues to unfold, there are some events which sadly won’t be returning to brighten our lives just yet.
One of these should have taken place Down Under over January’s Australia Day weekend, but didn’t — though whether that’s because it’s gone into hibernation, or has been definitively cancelled, is still unclear. But for sure the absence of the 28th running of the Island Classic staged on the Phillip Island GP Circuit each January left a big hole in the 2023 Aussie two-wheeled calendar, both for those taking part in it, and avid race fans alike from all over Australia, and much further afield, too.
Because over the past decade this Festival of more than 50 — yes, 50 — races staged over the three-day weekend has progressively grown into the most spectacular yet improbable no-holds, nail-biting, tire-smoking, handlebar-rubbing festival of Historic motorcycle sport to be seen any-where in the world. That’s mainly (though not exclusively) because of the International Challenge heading the race program each year, pitting teams of riders from Australia, N.Z., the U.K. and U.S. against each other on what’s best described as Period 5-Plus motorcycles producing upwards of 180 horsepower. Think Superbike power transmitted through 600 Supersport tire sizes. P5-Plus essentially came about because the Brits wanted to be able to run the later Yamaha FJ1100 engine introduced in 1984, one year after the official P5 cutoff date in Australia, so to accommodate them this was permitted — but only for the Island Classic.
These Vintage Superbikes are ridden by a huge array of brave and illustrious riders including former World champions like Troy Corser, Colin Edwards, Jason Pridmore and Steve Martin, Isle of Man TT deities like John McGuiness and current 135mph-plus lap record holder Petermore races in more different classes than anyone else ever. Other racers include a plethora of former National Superbike champions like Shawn Giles (AUS), Josh Heyes (U.S.), Jordan Szoke (CAN), Richard Scott (N.Z.) and John Reynolds (U.K.). These air-cooled, twin-shock Vintage Superbikes may look anachronistic parked in the PI pit garages, but out on track their performance in the four six-lap races staged each year has been literally astounding. Lapping in a qualifying time for the World Superbike grid a month later is par for the course for those at the pointy end of the grid, despite those skinny tires and smaller brakes being obliged to work harder to haul down much heavier motorcycles, and the complete absence of any electronic rider aids beyond each jockey’s right hand. Nirvana for spectators, especially with the sight and sound of Beau Beaton on the Irving Vincent V-twin giving the hurry-up to the faster fours — and bloody good fun for those taking part. Historic racing’s big bike category — there’s a 1,300cc top limit to encourage tuners to go large on engine upgrades — recaptures the variety and thrills of Superbike’s early days, when Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki grappled with each other in a titanic struggle for street bike supremacy.
