| Stuck for a Christmas gift idea? Here’s a high horsepower answer that will thrill anyone that loves big time sport and can be purchased now at www.ticketek.com.au – a mega magical ticket to the World Superbikes next February 23-25 at Phillip Island complete with camping. |
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | Hi World Supers Fans,
Stuck for a Christmas gift idea? Here’s a high horsepower answer that will thrill anyone that loves big time sport and can be purchased now at www.ticketek.com.au – a mega magical ticket to the World Superbikes next February 23-25 at Phillip Island complete with camping.
For just $120* you can get a three day ticket to the Yamaha Finance opening round of the 2018 Superbike World Championship and with your pass you’ll get FREE Paddock access as part of our super, world superbike deal.
Package your gift with four nights of on-circuit camping, and you’ll sort your Christmas gift for $225* delivered straight to your email box to print off and wrap in a fancy ribbon. You’ll be done and ready to sit back and enjoy a Christmas bevvy - with no shopping queues, no endless searching, no Christmas crowds or parking nightmares.
For all information go to www.worldsbk.com.au
Read on for our latest news with the world superbike grid revealed and Aussie favourite, 48 year old Troy Bayliss making his return to racing with Australian superbike in 2018. He’s determined to add an elusive ASBK title to his mantelpiece of international trophies and his campaign starts at world supers from Feb 23-25.
In another special, the other Troy – Phillip Island master, Troy Corser, will be home from the UK and at world superbikes. You’ll hear him loud and clear with his expert commentary and get to meet him and chat bikes at the Paddock Show each and every day.
Nothing beat World Superbikes.. LIVE at the Island. Be There! |
|
|
|
|
| In This Edition
| » | Superbike Legend Troy Bayliss Ends Retirement to Hunt ASBK Success | | » | 2018 WorldSBK Grid Revealed | | » | 2018 WorldSSP and Supersport 300 | | » | Free Paddock Access Included With Your Ticket |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | |
|
| | Catch Troy Corser also at the Island for World Supers in commentary and at Paddock Show |
|
|
|
|
| | Superbike Legend Troy Bayliss Ends Retirement to Hunt ASBK Success |
|
|
|
|
| | | | Guess who's back! Troy Bayliss to race Australian Superbike at World Supers |
|
|
|
|
| Three-time World Superbike champion, Troy Bayliss, is coming out of retirement and at age 48 will don the leathers and contest the 2018 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship. He’ll launch his campaign at Phillip Island next February 23-25 at the World Superbike Championship giving fans another massive reason to head to the island to catch all the action LIVE at Australia’s motorcycling mecca.
Bayliss will continue his love affair with the Italian manufacturer Ducati, onboard a 1299 Panigale with the Desmosport Ducati Team, which he is also co-owner of. Bayliss and Ducati are synonymous with success, having won all three of his WSBK titles and a MotoGP race victory for the Italian brand.
Bayliss shared how the opportunity arose; “It was a situation we first considered when our rider Callum Spriggs was injured last year. Obviously, it was a big call and it didn’t quite feel right at the time.
“Initially, I did want to see another young guy on the bike but after I rode it, I felt that I needed to contest the championship and try and win myself the elusive ASBK title,” Bayliss continued.
“I definitely feel like I have some unfinished business. I have a bit of work to do in terms of fitness, but after testing the bike and running it at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, I feel I am up to the task," Bayliss finished. |
|
|
|
|
| | 2018 WorldSBK Grid Revealed |
|
|
|
|
| | | Green machine returns - Jono Rea and Tom Skyes
The 2018 WorldSBK grid has been unveiled boasting a crack field of world champions, multiple race winners and lighting fast privateers on machinery across eight different manufacturers, all debuting at Phillip Island February 23-25.
The 21-rider field will be headlined by three-time world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki), who will begin his title defence with not only teammate Tom Sykes, Aruba.it Racing Ducati stars Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri and Pata Yamaha pair Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes to deal with, but also the return of Loris Baz. |
|
|
|
|
| The flying Frenchman is making a return to the production-based series after three years in MotoGP, but won’t be heading back to his old seat at Kawasaki – Rea’s well and truly made that one his own – but instead replacing Spaniard Jordi Torres at Althea BMW.
Baz (pictured right in blue leathers) was a two-time WorldSBK winner, and finished fifth in the 2015 championship – with a few niggles with then teammate Sykes thrown into the mix.
After three years of racing in the cauldron that is MotoGP, Baz’s competitive instincts, speed and guile should be red-hot from the opening bounce in the 2018 WorldSBK title – and he’s already impressed in early testing on the BMW.
Meanwhile, Torres has replaced Briton Leon Camier at MV Agusta, with Camier switching to Red Bull Honda. Camier’s teammate will be American Jake Gagne, who competed in a number of rounds for the team in 2017, including his home race at Laguna Seca.
At Milwaukee Aprilia, Eugene Laverty remains in the fold, as does Italian Lorenzo Savadori. |
|
|
|
|
|
New face... Jake Gagne joins Camier at MV Agusta |
Eugene Laverty remains with Aprilia
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Aprilia and Honda both had tough 2017 campaigns, but are expected to push much further up the grid in 2018 after solid pre-seasons behind them.
Yamaha also started to come on really strong at the end of 2017, and will fancy getting on equal terms with Kawasaki and Ducati on a more regular basis.
Xavi Fores (Barni Ducati) again looks to be the pick of the privateers, while American Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen (pictured right in red) graduates to WorldSBK with the TripleM satellite Honda team after four years in WorldSSP.
Jacobsen, 24, also has previous superbike experience, and was Aussie Josh Brookes’ teammate in the 2013 British title where he finished ninth overall.
Meanwhile, former MotoGP and Moto2 rider, Columbian Jonny Hernandez, makes the switch from grand prix racing to join WorldSBK, where he will ride a Pedercini Kawasaki.
Suzuki will also be back in the championship, with the Italian Grillini squad announcing it’s utilising the GSX-R1000R in 2018 – the bike which has won both the American and Aussie superbike titles in 2017. Veteran Italian Robert Rolfo is one of its riders.
Kawasaki will be the most represented manufacturer on the grid with six bikes, followed by Ducati, Yamaha and Honda with three apiece. Aprilia and Suzuki are next with two each, and then MV Agusta and BMW with the single entries.
There will be seven WorldSBK race winners on the Philip Island grid from February 23-25 next year: Rea, Sykes, Davies, Melandri, Laverty, Baz and Torres. |
|
|
|
|
| | WorldSSP and Supersport 300 |
|
|
|
|
| | | | Ant West back on WorldSSP |
|
|
|
|
| There will still be an Aussie presence in the WorldSBK paddock in 2018, with Anthony West and Lachlan Epis competing in WorldSSP, and youngster Tom Edwards in Supersport 300 (but the international Supersport 300 will not race at Phillip Island, but Edwards might make an appearance in a national class…we wait to find out!).
West will ride a self-funded Kawasaki ZX-6R, while Epis has moved to the Team GoEleven Kawasaki squad alongside Italian Michael Canducci.
There are 31 riders in WorldSSP spread across five marques, including defending champion Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha) and his teammate Federico Caricasulo, multiple champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Team GoEleven Kawasaki), Jules Cluzel (NRT Yamaha) and Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros Yamaha), who returns after a year in WorldSBK.
Edwards will ride for Benjan - Kawasaki in the massive 36-bike Supersport 300 grid on the world circuit in 2018. |
|
|
|
|
|
Lachlan Epis continues his WordSSP campaign |
Tom Edwards will race Supersport300 |
|
|
|
|
|
| | Free Paddock Access Included With Your Ticket |
|
|
|
|
| | |
In an absolute first for world superbikes, all three day ticket holders will be granted a free Paddock Pass at world supers 2018. Access to the privileged paddock was unheard of in the past – or cost a bomb - but now fans can get closer to the two wheel stars.
The free Paddock access makes a three day ticket at just $120* through Ticketek great value and is guaranteed to immerse you in the action. Surrounded by the colour of the international teams, paddock goers can experience rider media conferences, autograph sessions and on-stage entertainment from Friday morning through to close of play Sunday afternoon.
Camping is the easiest and cheapest accommodation option, with the circuit campground open for four nights from Thursday. With spectacular views over the track and Bass Strait, world supers is the perfect location for a summer long weekend away with your mates or family.
Tickets and camping are cheaper purchased in advance, so plan now for the season opener for World Superbikes at Phillip Island, presented by Yamaha Finance. February 23-25 is the date - all information at www.worldsbk.com.au
Nothing beats World Superbikes…LIVE at the Island. Be there!
*All ticket prices quoted purchased in advance and subject to Ticketek processing fee. Book now and save on gate prices.
^Children 15 and under are free and must be accompanied by a paying adult |
|
|
|
|
| | | | Photocredit: Graeme Brown and Andrew Gosling |
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | |
|
