10 Tenths Motorsport Photography

24/03/2018

Had a great day at the 2018 QBE Insurance Australia International Festival of Speed, surely one of the great meetings on the calendar...

02/02/2018

No words needed...

21/12/2017

New Zealand & the United States have announced their teams for the up and coming 2018 AMCN International Island Classic, some big names from the American team in an effort to avoid taking home the wooden spoon next year! See the attached media release for more info...

Media release: December 18 2017

America and New Zealand name Island Classic teams

The final pieces have fallen into place for the 25th AMCN International Island Classic at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on the Australia Day long weekend (January 26-28), with America and New Zealand naming their teams for the showpiece MV Agusta International Challenge event.

America, in particular, has signalled that it’s not going to be an easy beat in 2018, with not only WorldSBK and MotoGP superstar Colin Edwards joining the team, but AMA stars Jason Pridmore and Jake Zemke are also making their debuts as well.

The addition of the highly rated trio adds even more intrigue into the International Challenge, with Australia also drafting in double WorldSBK champion Troy Corser to help out its cause, while defending champion United Kingdom has bolstered its ranks with some star British superbike and Isle of Man talent.

The United Kingdom won the 2017 International Challenge ahead of arch-rival Australia, Ireland, America and New Zealand.

Edwards, 43, hardly requires any introduction, with a stellar WorldSBK career producing two titles for the Texan followed by 12 years in MotoGP where he finished on the podium 12 times.

Edwards will ride a Suzuki XR69 in the International Challenge.

Zemke and Pridmore, who ae now both retired, may not have been global superstars in the Edwards ilk, but they did win AMA titles during a period when American domestic racing was extremely cut-throat.

Zemke twice finished third in the AMA superbike title, and it took riders the calibre of Aussie Mat Mladin and Ben Spies to beat him. Pridmore is also a world endurance champion.

Meanwhile, Dave Crussell, the talented Barrett Long and Aussie-based Robert Ruwoldt return from duty with the 2018 American International Challenge team, while the other new faces are Martin Morrison and Ed Haazer. Crussell also moonlights as the team captain.

New Zealand team
New Zealand has been an International Challenge staple since the concept was inaugurated in 2005, and in 2018 its team will feature Island Classic stalwart Damien Kavney, multiple Australian historic champion Glenn Hindle, Simon Richards, team captain Duncan Coutts, Trevor Taylor, Kerry Wilton, Alistair Wilton and Mat Ineson.

ANZAC pride will also be on the line for New Zealand and Australia in the International Challenge as they battle it out in the FIM Oceania Historic Road Race Cup. All team points accumulated in the International Challenge will also count towards the team’s Oceania score.

The Island Classic will begin with qualifying and racing on Friday, January 26, followed by two full days of racing from 9:00am on Saturday and Sunday (January 27-28) on a massive variety of historic machines from pre-WW1 up to 1990.

Tickets are on sale at www.islandclassic.com.au.

IMAGES: Supplied

21/12/2017

I Thinks I've just found my new motorcycle with news from Kawasaki Motors Australia that the Kawasaki Z900 will be making a return! From $17,990 ride away for the 'Jaffa', shut up and take my money! Someone else can have the CAFE RACER version...

14/12/2017

Southern 100 Road Races Solo Championship Race been voted the 'Race of the Year' by Road Racing News in the UK. Known as the 'friendly races' the Southern 100 takes place from the 9th-12th of July 2018 on the Isle of Man's Bilown Circuit. IMAGE: WP Fotos

13/12/2017

Aussie team announced for the 2018 AMCN International Island Classic! Gunna be a cracker this one. Read the attached press release for more info...
Media release 12 December 2017

Corser leads a star-studded Australian Island Classic line-up; Martin, Giles, Donald back on board

Australia is pulling out all stops to wrest the International Challenge trophy back from the United Kingdom, recruiting Phillip Island master and two-times WorldSBK champ Troy Corser to lead the team when the AMCN 25th International Island Classic is held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from January 26-28.

Brimming with talent and experience, the Australian nine-rider squad also includes former national superbike champions Steve Martin and Shawn Giles, Isle of Man winner Cameron Donald, Beau Beaton, 2017 race winner Alex Phillis and David Johnson, who returns to the Australian team for the first time since 2010.

Irish expatriate Paul Byrne and Ken Watson join the Australian team for the first time, while the Aussie offensive will be rounded out by long-time historic racing campaigner Scott Webster.

Corser, whose last appearance at Phillip Island was in the 2011 WorldSBK round, will ride a 1982 Honda Harris F1 machine prepared by Australian captain Rex Wolfenden in the International Challenge, which has been won by the UK the last three years.

“It’s time to get back and race at home in front of a Phillip Island home crowd. It's been a long time,” said Corser from his UK base, where he lives with wife Sam and two teenage kids, Kalani and Kelisa.

“I have been doing the Goodwood events with a great team at BMW Classic, riding some old museum bikes. It's been a lot of fun. Everyone tells me the Island Classic is a great event so with it being the 25th anniversary, it feels like a good time to come back and give it a go.”

While Corser is making his International Challenge debut – now to be known as the MV Agusta International Challenge - for Aussie veteran Martin it will be his ninth consecutive appearance.

“It’s always a special time of year, being part of Team Australia celebrating Australia Day and racing motorcycles,” said 48-year-old Martin, the 1999 Australian superbike champion and 2009 world endurance champion.

“We have a new line-up this year with Corser coming on board, making it one of the most competitive teams we have ever had.

“We need it too, because the Poms have a team full of current British superbike wannabes – and then there’s Jeremy (McWilliams). He’s a bit fast for my liking but I especially hate the fact he’s such a good bloke!”

In his first International Challenge way back in 2010, still the world endurance champion, Martin topped the individual standings.

Martin and Giles will ride their trusty Suzuki Katanas in the 2018 International Challenge, while Corser will be the only Aussie riding a Honda. Phillis will campaign a Suzuki XR69; Beaton and Donald will be Irving Vincent-mounted; Byrne will pilot a McIntosh Suzuki; Johnson will have a Ducati 750 Imola at his disposal; Webster will be on a Suzuki Harris machine; and Watson has the firebrand Yamaha TZ750 two-stroke in his corner.

All nine riders can take part in qualifying, but the Aussie team will be trimmed to eight for the four International Challenge races against the same sized teams from the United Kingdom, the Colin Edwards-led America and New Zealand.

The MV Agusta International Challenge is held over four races on the Island Classic weekend, reserved for machines manufactured between 1973 and 1984.

In 2017, the UK’s speed and consistency again came to the fore as it continued its International Challenge dominance. Five of the UK riders finished inside the top 10 of the individual standings, compared to three for Australia and two for Ireland – which will sit out the 2018 event.

As a result, the ruthless UK outfit retained the International Challenge trophy ahead of Australia, Ireland, America and New Zealand.

UK guru Jeremy McWilliams won the Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy ahead of Aussies Jed Metcher and Giles – as well as setting a new historic lap record – but his push for a clean sweep of victories was scuppered by a flying Phillis in the final race.

The International Challenge forms just a small part of the overall Island Classic event, with over 50 races for bikes from pre-WW1 bikes (Veteran) through to Vintage (1920-1945), Classic (1946-1962), Post Classic (1963-1972), Forgotten Era (1973-1982) and New Era (1983-1999).

Tickets are on now sale at www.islandclassic.com.au, with an advance three-day adult pass for $80* and children 15 and under free. Add on-circuit camping for four nights for $75* per person, purchased in advance.

VIP options are available in the Club Classic Hospitality suite above pit lane, while tickets are also available for the 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner presented by MV Agusta, featuring the greatest road racer of all time, Giacomo Agostini, as well as Corser and Edwards. Alan Cathcart will be the MC.

Qualifying and racing will be from 9:00am from Friday to Sunday and tickets for the 25th AMCN International Island Classic are on sale now at www.islandclassic.com.au
*All ticket prices quoted are in advance.

IMAGES: Supplied

09/12/2017

Future Champs right here!

07/12/2017

Whilst England is looking on shaky ground when it comes to winning the Ashes Cricket they are taking no prisoners with their 2018 AMCN International Island Classic title defence. After receiving the following Press Release I'm itching for this years event!

Supplied: The United Kingdom has announced an experienced and talent-laden squad to contest the International Challenge at the 2018 AMCN Island Classic at Phillip Island on the Australia Day long weekend, again spearheaded by irrepressible 53-year-old Jeremy McWilliams.

With McWilliams a starter for the eighth year in succession, the UK will also welcome three new faces into its International Challenge team: Michael Rutter, Dan Linfoot and Lee Johnston.

The addition of the star fast trio more than helps to offset the loss of veteran duo John McGuinness and Conor Cummins.

The nine-rider UK team for the January 26-28 event will be completed by well-credentialed Peter Hickman who finished 4th in the BSB this year, Glen Richards, Michael Neeves, Craig Ditchburn and Derek Brown.

McWilliams is confident the UK can continue its winning ways in the International Challenge, with its undefeated streak stretching back to 2015.

“Team USA and Australia have realised that coming second or third isn't much fun and wheeled in the big guns for 2018,” said McWilliams, referring to Troy Corser joining the Aussie ranks and Colin Edwards bolstering the American stocks.

“With McGuinness missing through injury and Connor and James Hillier not able to attend we needed to recruit a few names of our own.

“Team UK have had it all our own way lately, winning the team and individual honours for the last three years, and hopefully with our new rider line-up we will be aiming to continue this winning streak.

“I still get butterflies before the Island Classic – but especially 2018 mainly because I haven't been training or actually riding much this year and the International Challenge requires a big effort.”

UK captain Keith Higgs says the 2018 International Challenge is “going to be the most competitive yet”.

“This event still gives me goose bumps even after doing it every year since 2005,” said Higgs.

“And once again, as it draws closer, the excitement is building. Luckily, the UK team is every bit as strong as ever – maybe even a little stronger, with three new recruits who will be very keen and eager to impress.

“In 2018 we have a great balance of experience and young, eager passion spanning the UK team. Just as well, given the names that have already been announced in the Australian and US teams!”

Rutter, 45, is the oldest of the UK recruits, and was a prolific winner in the British superbike (BSB) title in the noughties, although he won the last of his 29 races in 2010. He now competes in the National Superstock 1000 Championship, where he finished third in 2017 as well as victories in the Supertwin races at the Isle of Man and North-West 200 ‘pure’ road race events.

Rutter was also the first rider to complete a 100mph electric bike lap around the Isle of Man, which he achieved in 2012.

Meanwhile Linfoot, 29, is a current BSB campaigner, and rides in the factory Honda team alongside Australian Jason O’Halloran. He was 10th overall in 2017, six spots behind the mightily impressive Hickman.

Johnston, 28, is returning to action after a crash in 2017 Isle of Man practice saw the Northern Irishman sustain a broken back, coccyx and finger.

Images: Supplied

29/10/2017

close call!

We've seen some pretty insane things happen in between the walls at NHRA events and with the speeds that these guys reach, the action is usually nothing short of an adrenaline pumping slobber knocker that really tends put you back in your seat. When driving at over 200 mph, one false move could mean...

13/09/2017

Glenn Allerton Racing onboard the Yamaha Racing R1 during last weekends ASBK - Australian Superbikes at Sydney Motorsport Park

12/09/2017

Short Circuit style...

09/09/2017

A very focused Beau Beaton on board the North Coast V-Twins Racers Edge Performance Ducati in today's ASBK - Australian Superbikes qualifying at Sydney Motorsport Park