2017 International Island Classic - Jeremy McWilliams in pole position

Gallery: 2017 International Island Classic – Saturday Wrap

By Bike Review • 8 years ago

Jan
2017

McWilliams sets down an impressive performance for races 1 & 2 of the International Challenge at the 2017 Island Classic, with the UK leading into Sunday by 24 points. Images: Kris & David Hodgson

Saturday of the 2017 International Island Classic has seen the great weather continue as the UK’s defense of the title continued with Jeremy McWilliams taking strong wins in both International Challenges of the day.

2017 International Island Classic – Jeremy McWilliams pulls an enormous early lead in Race 2

Competition started in ernest as all categories saw races on Saturday, with all races except the International Challenge being counted towards the Phil Irving Perpetual Trophy.

2017 International Island Classic – Beau Beaton

Australia’s day got off to a bad start when Cameron Donald (Irving Vincent) was a scratching because of mechanical problems, while his teammate Beau Beaton – a two-time race winner in the 2016 International Challenge – fared little better when he only lasted a few laps in race one and then didn’t start the second

In fact, Australia only had six finishers in race two after the aforementioned Irving Vincents didn’t make the grid and the retirement of John Allen (Yamaha TZ750).

2017 International Island Classic – Shawn Giles

In the first race McWilliams won by almost two-seconds from second placed Shawn Giles on his TBR/D&D Katana, while Peter Hickman and Conor Cummins helped ensure three of the top five positions went to the UK. In fifth was Jed Metcher, while Chas Hern, similarly mounted on a Honda Harris F1 1100, rounded out the top six.

2017 International Island Classic – Jeremy McWilliams

The International Challenge race was also proceeded by the Britten doing a parade lap, with the bike drawing huge attention in the pits prior to heading out.

2017 International Island Classic – Andrew Stroud on the Britten V1000

2017 International Challenge Race 1 Results:

Jeremy McWILLIAMS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yamaha Harris F1 1297 9:58.513
Shawn GILES (NSW) / TBR / D&D / Pablos M-cycle Tyres AUS 1982 Suzuki Katana 1294 10:00.765
Peter HICKMAN (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yamaha Harris F1 1250 10:01.914
Conor CUMMINS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yamaha Harris F1 1250 10:03.745
Jed METCHER (VIC) / T-Rex Racing / Race Center / ACID Australia AUS 1982 Honda Harris F1 1100 10:03.865
Chas HERN (VIC) / T-Rex Racing AUS 1982 Honda Harris F1 1100 10:03.930
Glen RICHARDS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1982 Suzuki Harris F1 1277 10:04.265
Paul BYRNE (IRE) / DMR Motorsport / Purgetec Pty Ltd IRE 1981 McInt. Suzuki 1260 10:04.325
Derek SHEILS (IRE) / Tom Dermody / DMR M-sport IRE 1982 Suzuki XR69 1260 10:06.714
John McGUINNESS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1982 Honda Harris F1 1150 10:06.891
Steve MARTIN (VIC) / TBR / D&D / QBE AUS 1982 Suzuki Katana 1294 10:13.549
James HILLIER (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yam. Harris F1 1250 10:14.068
Craig DITCHBURN (VIC) / Milspec Manufacturing / RKR Hydraulic / TC Weldpro UK 1978 Yamaha TZ 750 10:20.631
John ALLEN (QLD) / C&M M-cycle Repairs – PC’s AUS 1978 Yamaha TZ 750 10:25.206
Pat MOONEY (USA) / Dave Crussell / Pat’s Auto Sales / Vanson Leathers USA 1982 CMR Yamaha FJ 1200 10:27.077

2017 International Island Classic – Steve Martin (99), Shawn Giles (19), Chas Hern (2), Derek Sheils (82)

In Race 2 McWilliams would offer a repeat performance, pulling a strong lead that he would extend to over three-seconds, with Peter Hickman improving on his Race 1 result to take second, while Aussies Jed Metcher, Alex Phillis and Shawn Giles rounded out the top five, with Chas Hern taking sixth.

2017 International Island Classic – Jeremy McWilliams on the grid for the International Challenge

2017 International Challenge Race 2 Results:

Jeremy McWILLIAMS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yamaha Harris F1 1297 9:55.824
Peter HICKMAN (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yamaha Harris F1 1250 9:59.081
Jed METCHER (VIC) / T-Rex Racing / Race Center / ACID Australia AUS 1982 Honda Harris F1 1100 9:59.291
Alex PHILLIS (AUS) / Arnolds Fruit Market / RS Taichi AUS 1982 Suzuki XR69 1177 9:59.318
Shawn GILES (NSW) / TBR / D&D / Pablos M-cycle Tyres AUS 1982 Suzuki Katana 1294 10:00.585
Chas HERN (VIC) / T-Rex Racing AUS 1982 Honda Harris F1 1100 10:03.228
Conor CUMMINS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yamaha Harris F1 1250 10:04.627
Derek SHEILS (IRE) / Tom Dermody / DMR M-sport IRE 1982 Suzuki XR69 1260 10:05.053
Steve MARTIN (VIC) / TBR / D&D / QBE AUS 1982 Suzuki Katana 1294 10:05.222
John McGUINNESS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1982 Honda Harris F1 1150 10:06.392
James HILLIER (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1984 Yam. Harris F1 1250 10:07.221
Paul BYRNE (IRE) / DMR Motorsport / Purgetec Pty Ltd IRE 1981 McInt. Suzuki 1260 10:09.484
Glen RICHARDS (UK) / Team Winfield UK 1982 Suzuki Harris F1 1277 10:17.004
David JOHNSON (SA) IRE 1982 Suzuki Katana 1000 10:17.908
Craig DITCHBURN (VIC) / Milspec Manufacturing / RKR Hydraulic / TC Weldpro UK 1978 Yamaha TZ 750 10:20.468

The standings at this point see Australia in second place, a mere 24-points behind defending champions the UK, although the strong effort from the UK team ensures that competition tomorrow will be fierce if they intend to take back the International Challenge trophy.