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2016 PI Classic: Aussie Beaton leads the way after two races

Beau Beaton showed that his pole position that he snared early this morning was no flash in the pan so to say as he scored two race wins from two starts at the Phillip Island Classic in the Mitchelton Wines International Challenge.

Beaton, the 2015 Australasian Pro-Twins/Nakedbike champion beat Team Winfield’s Jeremy McWilliams and T-Rex Racing/Race Center’s Jed Metcher in both races.

The New South Welshman was able to hold off a late charge from McWilliams as the pair were separated by just .313sec.
The ride of race however went to Metcher who stormed his way from nineteenth to third. The opening lap the 2011 FIM European Superstock 600 Champion was up to sixth place on the opening lap and by lap two he was up to third.

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“When I saw both Beau and Jeremy starting to make a break for it at the front I started to really push and started to feel a little bit more comfortable on the bike,” explained Metcher after race one, who finished .232sec behind McWilliams.

“On the second last lap coming into turn eleven when I was starting to close in on Jeremy I accidentally clicked into fourth gear which I’m pretty sure cost me the win, which is really, really disappointing.”

Metcher set the fastest lap of the race with a 1min37.727 on the last lap of the race, which handed him pole position for the second race. Rounding out the top five placing’s was TBR/D&D duo of Shawn Giles and Steve Martin.

In race two, Beaton was the early race leader when the lights went out. The race again was another three dice for the lead between Beaton, McWilliams and Metcher. A few laps before the chequered flag McWilliams was almost ejected out of the seat coming out of turn four.

However the final outcome was Beaton beating McWilliams by .508sec with Metcher a further .614sec down the road. While Beaton has got two race wins under his belt so far, he is not counting his chickens just yet.

“Anything can happen at the Island Classic,” Beaton told bikesportnews.com. “It’s a meeting that is so unpredictable. In saying that I am so ecstatic for the whole Austart Air Starters/K.H. Equipment team, as they all put in a massive effort! I just get the job and rock up and race.”

It was night and day between the front trio and fourth rider, Martin who crossed the line 9.228sec behind Metcher, while Glen Richards (Team Winfield) was in fifth place.

Rounding out the top ten was Conor Cummins, Paul Byrne, the first of Irish riders, Ryan Farquhar, Cam Donald and John McGuinness.
One rider who never made it out onto the track in race two was Giles. His Katana was pumping oil out of a breather pipe all over the pegs and his boots before he exited the end of pit-lane so the three times Australian Superbike champion made the decision to shut the engine down in the interests of safety.

James Hillier was forced to start from pit lane after he appeared to not have made it out of pit lane in time for him to make the grid for the start. Hillier did manage to make his way back up to fourteenth position in the five lap race.

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Another issue to deal with for the UK team was for Farquhar. The 39-year-old copped a penalty for starting in the wrong grid position, after an official actually told Farquhar which position on the grid to take up. The penalty was later removed after the race.
Heading into tomorrow’s two final races, Australia leads the teams challenge on 358-points, twelve points clear from the UK with Ireland in third on 225-points.

International Challenge Results:

Race 1:
1. Beau Beaton (AUS)
2. Jeremy McWilliams (UK) 0.313
3. Jed Metcher (AUS) 0.545
4. Shawn Giles (AUS) 5.83
5. Steve Martin (AUS) 7.00
6. Glen Richards (AUS) 7.59
7. John McGuinness (UK) 7.66
8. Conor Cummins (UK) 7.79
9. Paul Byrne (IRE) 9.20
10. Ryan Farquhar (UK) 10.87

Race 2:
1. Beau Beaton (AUS)
2. Jeremy McWilliams (UK) 0.50
3. Jed Metcher (AUS) 0.61
4. Steve Martin (AUS) 9.84
5. Glen Richards (UK) 10.11
6. Conor Cummins (UK) 10.79
7. Paul Byrne (IRE) 11.43
8. Ryan Farquhar (UK) 11.48
9. Cam Donald (AUS) 12.36
10. John McGuinness (UK) 13.10

International Challenge - Ken Wooton Perpetual Trophy after two races:
1. Beau Beaton 80
2. Jeremy McWilliams 78
3. Jed Metcher 76
4. Steve Martin 73
5. Glen Richards 71
6. Conor Cummins 68
7. Paul Byrne 66
8. John McGuinness 65
9. Ryan Farquhar 64
10. Cam Donald 62

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