Team Australia have announced their line-up of victims who are set to be marmalised by Great Britain for the third year running at next month's Phillip Island Classic.
Led by Rex Wolfenden, the Aussies will be hoping to be slightly more successful than their Rugby Union side and have mixed youth with experience. Youngster Jed Metcher will be joined by Steve Martin and Shawn Giles, Isle of Man winner Cameron Donald, Beau Beaton, John Allen and Scott Webster. There are also two new faces in the shape of Alex Phillis, son of Robbie, and Chas Hern.
"I am really excited to be racing at the Island Classic," said Phillis. "I have been going to the event for about 10 years now without throwing on the leathers, so it's all going to be a unique experience.
"My dad was fast on the XR69 with the few laps he had on it in 2014, so I'd like to think I can be competitive. I'm looking forward to hanging out with my Aussie teammates and hopefully bringing the International Challenge trophy back Down Under."
Save for the two-stroke mounted Allen, who will ride a 1978 Yamaha TZ750, the balance of the Aussie team will join Phillis on four-stroke machinery, with Martin and Giles on 1982 Suzuki Katanas, Metcher and Hern on 1982 Honda Harris F1s, Webster on a 1982 XR69, and Beaton and Donald aboard the rapid-fire 1978 Irving Vincents.
The International Challenge is held over four races on the Island Classic weekend, reserved for machines manufactured between 1973 and 1984. Australia and the four other teams – the UK, Ireland, America and New Zealand – are allowed to field eight riders each to make up a maximum grid of 40.
