Celebrating a record 25 years of staging the Superbike World Championship, Victoria’s Phillip Island has been inundated by the world’s leading production bike riders rolling into town for the weekend’s opening Swann round of the 2015 championship (Friday to Sunday,February 20-22).

Tickets and on circuit camping are at the gate with children 15 and under free for gate entry and free for camping. Action starts Friday at 9am with practice and first qualifying; final qualifying Saturday and the big races in world superbike and world supersport on for Sunday.

The world field for the Phillip Island opener boasts a tantalising mix of proven race winners and experienced world superbike campaigners including world champion Sylvain Guintoli who’s made the move to Honda for 2015; Kawasaki new recruit Jonathan Rea and longstanding campaigner Tom Sykes; and Suzuki speedster and pacesetter at the final pre-season test this week, Alex Lowes.

There’s also an exciting brood of new talent including Spain’s Jordi Torres on the Aprilia, and Australian wildcards – Melbourne’s Jed Metcher (Kawasaki) and Cessnock’s Matt Walters (Pedercini Kawasaki).

Racegoers at the Swann round will also be treated to the Baylisstic Scramble flat track event featuring Australia’s three-time world superbike champion Troy Bayliss and a host of Australian motorcycling talent including Chris Vermeulen and Jason Crump.

The three-day meet also features world supersport competition with Australians Glenn Scott, Alex Phillis, Sam Lambert and Aiden Wagner debuting in the class, and Australian national events in superbike, supersport, Moto3 and juniors.

Free Festivities And Fireworks Friday Night For Everyone

To mark the milestone 25 years, gates at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit will be thrown wide open at 7:00pm Friday night for everyone (ticketholder or not) to enjoy FREE festivities culminating in a fireworks display to light up Gardner Straight.  Prior to that, fans will meet motorcycling legends from the past 25 years, including Peter Goddard and Robbie Phillis – the winners of the very first round in 1990; former world superbike greats Troy Bayliss, Chris Vermeulen, Kevin Magee,  Karl Muggeridge and Andrew Pitt; and also be treated to stunt bike displays and kids’ activities.

Also performing will be Inverloch’s 18 year old songstress, Hannah McKittrick. Hannah has a big weekend ahead as she will sing the national anthem prior to Sunday’s season opening world superbike race.

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