Page 107 - Australian Motorcycle News (January 2020)
P. 107
Revolving Racer
JASON WYLLIE
Isle of right
IT’S GREAT TO be able to talk about the resurgence of racing in Mike’s presence certainly pumped up the publicity for the race
Tasmania. I have been road racing for four years now and I’ve and if we hadn’t had a couple of issues we were in with a good
seen it gaining more interest over that time. Next year we take chance for the win against strong opposition.
another step forward with a class for Juniors. The Ducati must have struck a chord with racing fans as my
I am also taking a big step forward, up from the Supersport Facebook diary on our preparation of turning a roadbike into a
class to Superbike on a Ducati Panigale V4. It’s the 1100cc version, racer got a lot of followers. Thanks for the interest!
which is eligible for club and state championship racing. As for the race, Mike qualified third and by lap five was in the
It sure is a dream bike and it was a dream to make its race debut lead. He pushed out a 6.5-second lead until we got hit with an
late last year at the Baskerville Two Hour with newly-crowned electronic issue. Once that was sorted we got back up to third
ASBK champ Mike Jones. It was a last-minute deal as but then more fuel stops than we wanted meant Mike
Mike’s nominated race partner busted his wrist a Our finished fourth despite a great display of riding.
couple of weeks before. The success of the Two Hour mirrors what’s
All I can say after racing with Mike is that I wish state title is happening in Tassie now. Our state championship
I was a few years younger and I’d definitely be is back; alive and well and certainly growing.
racing the V4 in ASBK. back; alive The two clubs organising it have included
As it is, taking over my parents’ 50-year-old a ride day in the program, which encourages
business and with a young family, it’s definitely and well and people who may not normally be interested in
a case of balancing work and play. certainly actually racing to get involved.
My intention is to attend events on the I understand several have got the bug and are
mainland as much as I can and I have brought growing planning to go racing this year at our first round
the Ducati over for the ride day after the Island for the 2020 season on 16 February.
Classic at Phillip Island. I will be racing Bill Well-run events like the Two Hour and our
Newton’s Suzuki GSX-R1100 in the Island Classic so revitalised state titles provide something to promote
right now life can’t get much better. and local media is starting to come on board.
Having Mike Jones on our team for the Two Hour was awesome. Out of this we are developing a Junior class and already have
He’s so easy going and with no airs and graces. I don’t think he’d seven riders keen to go on affordable Yamaha YZF R15 racebikes.
even ridden the new V4 before (Jones won the ASBK title on an FE One of them is my son, Chad. He’s 15 years old and raced go-karts
Panigale twin). We put him out for the majority of practice and he a few years ago. Chad’s been riding dirtbikes on our property and
set the bike up to suit him. now his mates have talked him into taking it to the next level.
When I went out late in the day I didn’t have much confidence Racing over here is certainly gaining momentum and the word
in the front end. To my great surprise, Mike said he’d be happy to is getting out.
change the settings back to suit me and just ride it as it was. But Like everyone racing I am dependant on family, friends and
I knew I wouldn’t be able to learn to ride such a powerful bike in long-term sponsors. I have all of this and feel very lucky to be
five minutes so we left it with his set-up. where I am at.
