Boasting a 27 year history of sensational historic bike racing, the International Island Classic held on the Australia Day long weekend, has held a spot at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit each year.  But in this brave new COVID world even long-held traditions are subject to change.

The Phillip Island Classic will be canceled for 2021 until further notice

The Phillip Island circuit management team announced the decision last week, saying the Island Classic will hopefully be held later in the year, but in 2021 would not feature the hotly contested multi-nation competition, the Phillip Island International Challenge.

General Manager of the circuit, David Bennett, said the ongoing complexities and risk associated with the COVID-19 pandemic had halted planning of the historic bike event.

The Island Classic has proved to be a popular event for 27 years.

“We had desperately hoped the situation would be different and would have loved to welcome everyone to another Island Classic.  But the worsening situation overseas and the ongoing restrictions impacting the events industry locally, has led us to making this difficult decision” said Bennett

“Scheduling though will be subject to state borders reopening, quarantine requirements being lifted and government restrictions easing sufficiently to run a viable event. We have to wait to see how the COVID situation evolves locally in the coming months.”

David Bennet says they will be waiting to see how restrictions change.

Run for the past 27 years on January’s Australia Day long weekend, the International Island Classic has attracted bike racers, their legendary historic bikes and hordes of race lovers to Phillip Island from around the world. Racers will be praying that it will find a spot on the 2021 calendar sometime during the year.

You can keep up to date with any developments through the Phillip Island Circuit website found here and their Facebook page.

UMI

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