Promising more bike action than ever before, Australia’s QBE Round of the 2014 Superbike World Championship next February 21-23 at Phillip Island will feature a new support category – a grid of high horsepower kids, aged from 12 to under 16 years, revved up and raring to showcase their skill and speed on the world championship stage.
Australia’s Motorcycle Road Race Development Association (MRRDA) Juniors will compete in three races combining two classes: the Australian Junior 2 stroke championship for 12 to under 16 year olds on 85cc bikes; and the Australian Junior 4 stroke championship for 12 to under 16 year olds on 160 cc machines.
As well as the addition of juniors – the class where many of Australia’s best senior riders such as Wayne Maxwell, Josh Hook and Josh Brookes began their road racing careers – the world superbike meeting will also host the popular historic bikes as well as the opening round of the ‘2014 Phillip Island Championship’.
The 2014 Phillip Island Championship will be open to Australian Superbike, Australian Prostock and Australian Supersport competitors, and the categories will have two races apiece at world superbikes and at October’s MotoGP.
Around 30 juniors are expected to front the Phillip Island grid, including the two riders who stamped their authority on the 2013 MRRDA titles: Jacob Whitehouse from Melbourne (12 -16yrs 85cc two-stroke), and Nick Liminton from Adelaide (12 – 16yrs 160cc four-stroke). Whitehouse particularly enjoyed a breakout year, and also rode to third place in the MRRDA 125 GP class for riders 14 years and above.
Other strong competitors to strut their stuff on the world championship stage will be Lachlan Epis from Sydney; and making it a family affair, Tayla and Jacob Street from Melbourne in the 80cc class.
Adelaide’s Olly Simpson, who will compete in the European Red Bull Rookies Cup again in 2014, supporting MotoGP rounds, will almost certainly be tempted to compete in front of his friends and family in a local cameo appearance hopefully joined by his younger brothers, Mitch and Jordy on the grid.
In all, there will be three world championship and ten national races at the Phillip Island world superbike round from Friday to Sunday, with the action starting no later than 8:30am on all three days. The world championship events will be held on Sunday afternoon: midday and 2:40pm for the 22-lap world superbike races, and 1:10pm for the 21-lap world supersport race.
Entries are open for the MRRDA Juniors and close mid January – with entry forms and supplementary regulations at www.worldsbk.com.au and Motorcycling Australia’s website www.ma.org.au
Tickets for the 2014 ein FIM Superbike World Championship, QBE Round, Phillip Island, 21 – 23 February 2014 are on sale now. Advance ticket buyers can take advantage of a super deal – $99* for a three day general admission pass, which is a massive $51 cheaper than the gate price. For further info go to www.worldsbk.com.au
*plus processing fee – valid to Wednesday February 19 at 2pm
Ffi Ingrid Roepers at mobile 04 111 989 44 or email iroepers@irpr.com.au
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