Australia has backed its tried and true warriors to win back the International Challenge from the United Kingdom when the AMCN 24th International Island Classic for historic bikes is held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from January 27-29.

Melburnian Jed Metcher, who finished equal first alongside UK stalwart Jeremy McWilliams in the 2016 International Challenge individual standings, will be joined in the Australian team by former national superbike champions Steve Martin and Shawn Giles, Isle of Man winner Cameron Donald, Beau Beaton, John Allen and Scott Webster.

All seven riders are backing up from last year, which saw the UK win the coveted teams' event for the second successive year – Australian having won the first 10 attempts stretching way back to 2005.

The new faces in the Australian International Challenge team for 2017 are Alex Phillis, the son of 'Mr Superbike' Rob Phillis, and Chas Hern.

Alex will ride the 1982 Suzuki XR69 that his dad crashed spectacularly at the 2014 International Challenge, but which has since been meticulously returned to its former glory.

"I am really excited to be racing at the Island Classic, 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." Said Phillis.

Phillis' last appearance on local shores was actually at Phillip Island's world supersport round in February 2016 when he finished in a point-scoring 14th position.

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.

The secret to International Challenge success is both speed and consistency, which were the UK's trumps cards in 2016 as it filled seven of the top spots in the individual standings, while the likes of Giles, Donald and Marty Craggill failed to land any real blows after a slew of mechanical problems.

As a result, the ruthless UK outfit retained the International Challenge trophy ahead of Australia, impressive first-timer Ireland, America and New Zealand.

In the individual standings, Metcher's two third and two wins produced the same number of points as McWilliams' brace of second places to produce the second tie in the prestigious Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy over the last five years.

The full squads for the other International Challenge will be announced shortly, but McWilliams will definitely be joined by long-time running mates Conor Cummins and John McGuinness, as well as extra star power in the form of a British superbike-winning rider making his first foray Down Under.

Meanwhile, Aussie-based expatriate Paul Byrne will return for his second tilt at the International Challenge with Ireland, Dave Crussell will captain the US team, while the New Zealanders will have Duncan Coutts at the helm. The Aussie captain is Rex Wolfenden, and for Ireland the head honcho is Mike Meskell.

The International Challenge forms just a small part of the overall Island Classic event, with 56 races to be held in total, all between four and six laps and catering for bikes from pre-WW1 bikes through to Vintage (1920-1945), Classic and Post Classic (from 1946 to 1972), and the more recent Forgotten Era and New Era classes.

But for many punters the chance to get up close with the machinery in the pits is just as magical as the on-track action, which is why the event is akin to a pilgrimage for so many.

As well as the Japanese Big Four, other manufacturers on the Island Classic grids will include BSA, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Matchless, Norton, Vincent, Ariel, Indian, Aermacchi, Bultaco and Adler, as well as a bevy of chassis specialists.


Tickets are on sale at www.islandclassic.com.au with an advance 3 day adult pass for $80 and children 15 and under free. Add On-Circuit camping for four nights for just $75 per person, purchased in advance.


VIP options are available in the Club Classic Hospitality suite above pit lane. Club Classic offers the flexibility of a single day starting from $150* or weekend package from $235*.

Gates open at 8am each day with qualifying and racing from 9am.

*All ticket prices quoted are in advance. Book in advance and save!

Jed Metcher and Jeremy McWilliams who tied for the International Standings in 2016

Alex & Robbie Phillis

Chas Hern who will join the Australian Team for the International Challenge

UK Island Classic Team Bolstered By BSB Star

Multiple British superbike race winner Peter Hickman has been drafted into an already formidable United Kingdom team to contest the 2017 AMCN International Island Classic at Phillip Island on the Australia Day weekend (January 27-29).

Hickman, 27, is one of three new faces in the nine-rider UK International Challenge squad, which is attempting to win the prestigious teams' event for the third successive year.

Alex Sinclair and Michael Neeves are the other new riders, while some of the other names in the UK roster are well known to Island Classic devotees: three-time individual winner and team kingpin Jeremy McWilliams, Conor Cummins, John McGuinness, Glen Richards and James Hillier. Keith Higgs is the riding captain.

Hickman is currently in the best form of his career, having won two races in the 2016 British superbike title en route to seventh in the championship. He's also a dab hand at 'pure' road racing as well, outlasting Michael Rutter in a cliff-hanger finish at the recent Macau GP. He was also fourth in the Superbike TT at this year's Isle of Man.

The rider from Burton upon Trent will be standing-in for Ryan Farquhar who was injured in this year's North West 200 road race in Northern Ireland. And he has big shoes to fill, as Farquhar took the individual honours at the 2015 Island Classic.


"It was John McGuinness who put me forward for the ride, as he thought I would be a good fit for the team, I’ve never been to Australia before, let alone Phillip Island, so I’m really looking forward to it.

It’s not going to be easy – I won't see my Harris Yamaha for the first time until I get there! However, I pick things up pretty quickly so I don’t think it’ll be too much of a problem. And 2016's been my strongest year to date, both on short circuits and roads, so I’m definitely feeling confident in myself and my riding."

Said Hickman.

The Island Classic will only be Hickman's second ride at a classic meeting, and he's really looking forward to the team element.

"The UK team does have some big names, but I know all the guys already so that helps. And it's the first time I am racing with Jeremy (McWilliams) so I am looking forward to that – and beating the Aussies as well!" Continued Hickman.

Like the majority of his UK teammates, Hickman will be relying on the benevolence of Sussex classic enthusiast Roger Winfield at the Island Classic. Every year Winfield ships bikes and spares over to Australia, and then a massive crew arrives in town to fettle the machines.

McWilliams, Hillier and Cummins will all also be riding Harris Yamahas, McGuinness will be aboard a Harris Honda, Neeves will be taking the 1981 Suzuki GSX1000 route, while Higgs and Sinclair are yet to announce their hardware.

Only eight riders from each country can compete in the International Challenge races, reserved for machines built between 1973 and 1984, with the UK and Australia to be joined by teams from Ireland, America and New Zealand.

After breaking Australia's domination of the International Challenge with a tight victory in 2015, in 2016 the UK was the master at all levels, with the hard-as-nails McWilliams not only sharing the individual spoils with Australia's Jed Metcher, but seven of his teammates also joined him in the top 10. The UK won by a mile over Australia, followed by Ireland, America and New Zealand.

Australia's team for the 2017 International Challenge is Jed Metcher, Steve Martin, Shawn Giles, Cameron Donald, Beau Beaton, John Allen, Scott Webster, Alex Phillis and Chas Hern.

Ireland, America and New Zealand will announce their squads over the next few weeks.

Outside of the four International Challenge races, there will be 52 other battles across the Australia Day weekend, starting with pre-WWI machines and then taking in different eras and capacities. Sidecars will also join solos on the program.