Cycle News Staff | January 27, 2019
2019 Island Classic Sunday Results—Team USA’s Josh Hayes went to bed last night convinced he could get an International Challenge win, but after finishing 15th in the today’s race three his dream looked dashed.
But the American didn’t give up and this afternoon he showed why he is a four-time AMA Superbike Champion with a resounding win in the fourth and final six-lapper at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.
The outstanding Hayes, on his first visit to the Australian high-speed circuit, led race four from the get-go and finished more than four seconds clear of Australia’s Steve Martin and New Zealand’s Alex Phillis, with the final International Challenge podium representing all three nations competing.
With three race wins to the Australians over the four-six lap battles, defending champions Australia walk away with the title once again finishing on 676 points, ahead of America on 634 points and NZ on 460 points.
2019 Island Classic Sunday Results
The International Challenge is the headline event if the Island Classic, presented by Visit Phillip Island, and one of the leading historic bike events in the world today.
In the individual standings, it was experience over youth when Melbourne‘s Steve Martin—a former world endurance champion in 2009—took out the Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy.
The race three winner took the title on 152 points, just two ahead of 26-year-old Aaron Morris, who had his day on Saturday with a perfect score of two wins.
Today was difficult for Morris with gearbox problems pushing him back to third in race three, and then for the final race, he rode with just three gears and only managed a ninth place.
“It is unbelievable, I’ve won this (Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy) before, but that’s a long, long, time ago now, so to win it today with guys like Josh Hayes, Jason Pridmore and all of the young chargers that we have got from Australia, it means a lot to me,” said Martin.
Hayes came in equal third with Australia’s Shawn Giles on 141 points; the USA’s Larry Pegram next on 130 points; followed by Michael Gilbert (USA) and the top finishing New Zealander, former BSB champ John Reynolds on 128 points.
Hayes was elated after his race four win, but his excitement was tempered with concern for his team-mate Jason Pridmore, who had invited him to join the US squad—but spent the last 36 hours in Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital with a broken leg after a nasty high-side in race one.
“I don’t necessarily feel like the first, I feel like Jason (Pridmore) was going to beat me to it, but with him being gone I am glad we were able to pull that off,” said Hayes of his race four win.
“I’m glad he (Jason) invited me and I hope he’s proud of what we were able to accomplish. We had our snafu’s in the second two races and stole some hearts and actually that’s the first time the right bike had run proper all weekend.
“We’re a lot more pleased with where the bikes at and it gives us a lot of hope that we can make this thing a bit better in the future and that was just our first shot at it.
“Everyone has been real nice to me, I’m hoping I’ve done enough that Dave and the boys ask me to come back,” said a modest Hayes of his achievements in the Dave Crussell captained Team USA.
Carl Cox spoke for Team NZ, with the international DJ bringing his Taupo based team to the Kiwi outfit and with a star roster of riders.
“Unbelievable! We got to see some really good battles, Phillip Island is always so emotional by the end of the day; the wins and losses, and things that do break down. It’s been a historic day with the Americans winning for the first time which is amazing, they’ve flown all the way over here and with all their efforts and passion to get to the top, they finally did it!” said Cox post-race.
“We’ll have to step up, the Americans are here now, their laying their flag down, it’s happening.”
International Challenge Qualifying—Race Three
- Steve Martin—1982 Suzuki Katana 1294
- Shawn Giles—1982 Suzuki Katana 1294
- Aaron Morris—1982 Suzuki Katana
- Jed Metcher—1982 Honda Harris F1
- Michael Gilbert—1983 Yamaha FJ1250
- Steve Rapp—Yamaha CMR FJ1100
- Larry Pegram—1983 Yamaha FJ 1250
- Craig Ditchburn—1978 Yamaha TZ 750
- Dean Oughtred—1981 Suzuki Katana 1100
- John Reynolds—1985 Suzuki GSXR1100
International Challenge Qualifying—Race Four
- Josh Hayes—1983 Yamahas FJ 1250
- Steve Martin—1982 Suzuki Katana 1294
- Alex Phillis—1980 Suzuki XR69 1170
- Jed Metcher—1982 Honda Harris F1 1100
- Shawn Giles—1982 Suzuki Katana 1294
- Larry Pegram—1983 Yamaha FJ 1250
- Michael Gilbert—1983 Yamaha FJ 1250
- John Reynolds—1985 Suzuki GSXR 1100
- Aaron Morris—1982 Suzuki Katana 1294
- Mark Miller—1984 Harris XR691200
INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE POINTS – Three Nations
- AUSTRALIA—676 points
- USA—634 points
- New Zealand—460 points
Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy – Individual Point Scores
- Steve Martin AUS 152 points
- Aaron Morris AUS 150 points
- Josh Hayes USA 141 points
- =Shawn Giles AUS 141 points
- Larry Pegram USA 130 points
- Michael Gilbert USA 128 points
- =John Reynolds NZ 128 points
- Mark Miller USA 121 points
- Craig Ditchburn AUS 120 points
- Barrett Long USA 114 points
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