World superbike week kicks off today with the final official pre season test for the world’s leading world superbike and world supersport teams today and tomorrow, ahead of Australia’s QBE opening round of the 2014 Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island this weekend (Feb 21-23).
Bike fans keen to save should book today with just two days to go on the deal of the decade – a $99* THREE day general admission pass. The deal closes on Wednesday at 2pm local time from when gate prices come into play. All children 15 and under, accompanied by an adult, are FREE. Trackside camping is $80* for four nights per adult, with children 15 and under, accompanied by and adult, FREE.
Tickets are available now on www.worldsbk.com.au or by calling the hotline on 1300 372 007.
FINAL, OFFICIAL PRE SEASON TEST
In the final official pre season test, sorld superbike teams are on track at 11am and 3.30pm Monday; while world supersport takes the early 9am slot, and returns for a second session at 1.30pm. Testing continues Tuesday, before a lay day Wednesday, media day Thursday, and Australia’s QBE round one from Friday to Sunday.
Today’s test sessions will give a good indication of early season form and will feature all eight world superbike marques competing at Phillip Island including world champion Tom Sykes on the Kawasaki, Marco Melandri joining Sylvain Guintoli at Aprilia; and the new Suzuki pairing of Eugene Laverty and British superbike champion Alex Lowes.
Honda continues with their squad of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam; while Ducati moves forward with Brit Chaz Davies and Sylvain Barrier flies the flag for BMW with an EVO spec BMW S1000 RR.
New to the grid for 2014 will be the legendary grand prix marque, the Italian bike MV Agusta, with Claudio Corti at the helm; and American brand, Erik Buell Racing, with two Buell bikes campaigned by Geoff May and Aaron Yates.
Much attention will be focussed on the new Superbike EVO sub class, which will combine superbike-spec chassis with superstock-spec engines, and will become standard across the entire world superbike field in 2015.
In world supersport, Australia’s Bryan Staring will be on track on the Rivamoto Honda, as well at Aussie wildcards Melbourne’s Ryan Taylor (Yamaha) and Adelaide’s Billy McConnell (Triumph).
Australia’s fast flowing Victorian circuit on Phillip Island is a rider favourite, and after its 2012 resurfacing, produces the fastest average speed lap on the world superbike and MotoGP calendar. Phillip Island is the most visited circuit in world superbike history, and this weekend signals the 24th running of the event at the island.
Tickets are available now on www.worldsbk.com.au or by calling the hotline on 1300 372 007.
*plus processing fee
Ffi Ingrid Roepers on mobile 04 111 989 44 or iroepers@irpr.com.au
