FIM OCamcn.com.au 121
Roads Road RacingDemmery eyes
Asia challenge
Brandon Demmery is using
the 2018 Asian Road Racing
Championship as a carrot to
assist in his quest to return
to full fi tness after suff ering
a horrifi c crash on the start
line of the 2017 Australian
MotoGP support race.
The talented Australian
rider has confi rmed he will
attend a test at Thailand’s
Chang International Circuit
Circuit on 27 February
before being fully fi t in time
for the opening round over
2-4 March.THE CARDS ARE beginning to fall on the
2018 Road Racing season with Aussie Dave
Johnson recently signing for the Shaun Muir
Racing-run Gulf BMW squad. The talented
Aussie has confi rmed he’ll contest the North
West 200, a handful of BSB rounds as well as
the Isle of Man TT on the German machinery.
“I’m very excited to be back racing on a
BMW with the full technical support of SMR
and BMW Motorrad Motosport, Johnson
said. “The bikes will be as good as they can
possibly be, and I am confi dent this package can push me to the
next level at the TT.”
At the same time, John McGuinness has confi rmed he’s split with
Honda and revealed he’s keen to make a competitive return to the
Mountain Course for 2018.
“I’ve shaken hands with Honda, we have made an amicable
agreement that it’s time for me to move on,” he said. “I’ve spoken
to TAS BMW, Kawasaki, Norton, and I’m considering running
something myself and I’ve chatted with Mugen too about getting
back on the electric bike and that seems to be looking good.
“At the minute I’m a 45-year-old ex-bricky with a manky leg, so I’m
keeping my options open,” he said.
Meanwhile Jamie Coward has been confi rmed as the third rider
in the Penz13 BMW squad alongside Derek Sheils and ex grand prix
rider Danny Webb for the 2018 Isle of Man, while BSB riders Tommy
Bridewell and Richard Cooper have announced they’ll both make
their NW200 debuts this year. KELLIE BUCKLEYTEAM AUSTRALIA DELIVERED
another blow to the opposition
at the AMCN Island Classic,
defeating Team New Zealand to
retain the FIM Oceania Historic
Road Race Cup.
The Kiwis, led by team captain
Duncan Coutts, were soundly
beaten 685 points to 319.
The Oceania Cup is made up
of all team points accumulated
by Australia and New Zealand
in the four-race International
Challenge. The Kiwis endured
a torrid International Challenge
with Damien Kavney recording
the teams best result in race four,
fi nishing in 17th place.
Team Captain Duncan Coutts
was still full of praise for his team.
“It’s very diffi cult for us Kiwis.
We’re all clubbies. We own our
bikes, we build our bikes and we
race our bikes. But we deal with
it okay, we might try and stash
some money out the back in the
shed. But then the wife fi nds that
jar with one thousand dollars in
it. She says, ‘honey, what have I
found here?’ and I say ‘That’s for
that ring I was going to buy you!’”
In a cryptic statement Cloutts
alluded to a brighter 2019, saying,
“The Americans stole a bit of a
march on us, bringing in a few
quick guys, but lets just say ... we
have plans!”
MATT O’CONNELLBOTH JACK MAHAFFYand Joel
Kelsowillcontestthesix-round
CIV Italian Championship for the
2018 season, as their Aussie-
based squad lead by Jake Skate
moves to Europe with the pair of
up and coming racers.
Mahaff y will ride the series’
Supersport 300 category on board
Yamaha YZF-R3 machinery, while
Kelso will race in the Moto3 feeder
category on board an RMU PM3
machine.
“The Team’s aim is to help
riders develop and prepare for
a future in professional racing,”
said Skate. “We hope our move
to a European championship
will continue to be available for
future riders from Australia, and
we are able provide a platform
from where the next generation
of Australian motorcycle racing champions can launch their
international careers from.”
Mahaff y said he’s excited to learn from the best, and eager to make
a good impression, while Kelso echoed his optimism.
“I have huge goals coming into this season, and think I’m going to
achieve a lot,” he said. “I’ll be competing against the best, and think I
have a strong chance of making my mark in Europe.” KBDJ to BMW while McGuinness
remains free agentAustralia takes second Oceania Cup trophy
JDS Moto take Mahaff y and Kelso to Italy
Kiwi captain Duncan
Coutts stashes
another $50 note in
his fuel tank, maybe