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themainstraight,risking
retributionfromtheofficials.
“Itwaswaytoodangerous
andbumpytogofull
noisedownthefulllength
of pitexitsoIdidwhatI
thoughtwasrightforthe
circumstances,”hesaid
later.Corserfine-tunedhis
angerintocontrolledrace
aggression,carvinghisway
up to 1 3thwithintwolaps
andeventuallyfinishedan
amazingeighthplaceand
recordingthesecond-fastest
lapoftherace.
UpfrontJohnsonwas
equallyimpressive.Heturned
a dreamstartintodominance
of theentireraceaftersetting
thefastestlaponhissecond
timearound.
McWilliamswasnavigating
uncharteredwaters.First
he hadtoshakeoffColin
Edwards,whohadaflierofa
start.Thenshouldhetryto
catchandovertakeJohnsonor
settleforsecondandvaluable
teampoints.
“Davoputthehammer
down,”hesaidlater.“Then
Colincamepastridingthe
wheelsoffthatthing.I’mnot
lyingwhenIsayIhadtouse
everythingIknewaboutthis
circuittogetpasthim.
“ThenIhadtoweighupthe
differenceswithDavo.Ireally
neededittobea 1 2-laprace
togivemeoptions.”Itwasa
spookyrideforJohnson.
“Ikepthearinganoise
behindmeandwasthinking
Jeremywascatchingme,”
hesaid.“Ilookedovermy
shoulderandcouldseehe
waswaybackbutIcouldstill
hearthatnoise.”AsJohnson
blastedhomeoverfour
secondsaheadofMcWilliams
allhellbrokelosebehind.
Pridmorewasrunningin
thirdwhenhisengineblewonthefinallap.Hecovered
thefollowingridersinoil,
includingEdwards,whohad
nowcompletedhisbaptismof
vintageracing.
Byrnefinishedthird,ahead
ofRichards,Linfootanda
hard-chargingBeaton.
AustraliawasleadingTeam
UKbysevenpointsbutTeam
USAhaddroppedrightoutof
contentionafterZemkealso
retiredwithabrokenengine.
RaceFourwasheldin
acauldronwithtrack
temperaturesover 6 0°C,as
hotasitgetsontheIsland.
OfficialspushedCorser
backanothertworowson
thegridaspunishmentfor
hisshortcutintheprevious
race.Thisonlyinspiredhim
togreaterheights,carving
hiswayuptofourthonlap
three,thenthird.Hewould
eventuallyfinishfifth.
“IfIfeelcomfortableonamotorcycleIcangookay,”he
saidlaterwithawrysmile
andsweatpouringoffhim.
Upfrontitbecameanother
Johnson-Jezzaduel.Davoled
forthefirstthreelapsbefore
McWilliamscaughthim.
Gettingpastwasanother
matter.Unabletopressure
himintoamistakeat
SiberiaorLukeyHeights,
McWilliamsblastedpast
downthemainstraightinyet
anotherslipstreamefforton
abikewitha 10 km/hspeed
advantage.
Hickmanwasalonelythird
withLinfootdispatching
Corserforthird.
AussiesByrneandShawn
GilesfollowedaheadofRutter.
HadtheAussiesdone
enough?
Ananxiouswaitwhile
officialsdidtheirsums
resultedinthenewsthat
Australiawasbackontop.He turned a dream start into dominance
① ②
③ ④
- It was fitting that Beau Beaton took out the Phil Irving Trophy 2. The Johnson / McWilliams fight
waswhat the crowd wanted to see 3. Engineering masterpiece - the Irving Vincent sidecar
4.Duncan Coutts’ Team NZ put up a gallant fight