ISLAND CLASSIC / ISSUE 3 2019 / 51The torquey, carbureted FJ power delivery, however, will
quickly take you back to the ’80s. A long-pull throttle pairs
perfectly with the flat-slide Mikunis, helping with precision
and smooth power delivery. But that’s if you keep the feel-
ing in your hands after six laps of utter vibration. Brakes
are also a throwback, with a major handful at the front
lever not resulting in expected slowing on the XR or other
bikes in the class. All you have to see to truly understand
the challenge is to observe—with startling regularity—rid-
ers sailing beyond apexes in Phillip Island’s second-gear
Honda and MG corners, into the weeds. And despite the
great feeling tipping in to the corner and at max lean,
there is a tankish-feel from these 420-pounders that is
vastly different from a modern superbike’s. The fast, side-
to-side transitions at Phillip Island are strenuous on the
XR. Ask about arm-pump and the blisters on my hands.
I had the opportunity to compete in the Island Classic
because Dave Crussell, captain of Team USA’s charge to
conquer the International Challenge, had enlisted me to
compete aboard one of his personal XR69/FJ-hybrids.
ABOVE: The XR69’s cockpit is small in comparison to modern
sportbikes. An elongated tank and cramped seat limit body
position changes.
In fact, he was so passionate about a strong American
showing at the 2019 event that he also drafted Hayes and
AMA Superbike veterans Steve Rapp and Larry Pegram to
race his fleet of XRs, while former AMA and World Endur-
ance champion Jason Pridmore, plus Mark Miller and Dale
Quarterly, competed on separately owned XR platforms.
It was an honor and career highlight to represent the USA
alongside this caliber of riders, to say the least.
That degree of passion spreads far beyond Team USA’s
pit, which is what makes the Island Classic so special.
The racing is cutthroat and rubbing paint is standard,
but everyone involved is there for love of the sport, not
money, fame, or ego. Competing nations are the first to
lend a hand fixing bike issues and the first to congratulate
success. It’s a change of pace from current professional
racing paddocks, and quite honestly, rejuvenating in the
common spirit.
Team USA came up just short of capturing its first
International Challenge victory in 2019. A wicked high-
side crash in the opening race forced Pridmore out with a
broken leg, while mechanical gremlins plagued the team
in the final two races. Regardless, planning for Team USA’s
return to the 2020 Island Classic has already begun.
“It’s really addictive to be around people with a com-
mon enthusiasm for the thing that we love in this world,”
Hayes says. “I felt fortunate to be a part of it.”
Yeah, exactly. Q