Webster revs up at the Island

By Paul Pickering
AUSSIE pride will be on the line when Pakenham motorbike rider Scott Webster returns to the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit this weekend.
Webster, 46, will be among a strong contingent of Australians defending their home track against the riders from the United Kingdom and New Zealand in the International Island Classic – for historic motorcycles – beginning on Friday.
Webster will climb aboard his 1980 Moto Martin Kawasaki to compete in the Forgotten Era category, having finished as the runner-up to Australian motorsport legend Wayne Gardner in the same event last year.
It will be Webster’s fifth ride in the International Challenge, but the experienced rider and auto-electrician last week admitted there was some added pressure this time around.
“There’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“But I reckon the level (of competition) has lifted again this year, so anything in the top five I’d be happy with.”
The Forgotten Era category caters for vehicles manufactured from 1973-1980 with 350-1300cc engines.
Webster rode his beloved bike to a second-place finish in the Crosby Cup vintage motorbike series last year, improving on a third in 2007.
And while Gardner will again be the biggest name on track this weekend, Webster says the entry list is one of the most impressive he has seen – including the likes of Australian superbike champions Malcolm ‘Wally’ Campbell and Robbie Phillis.
Meanwhile, the international stars will include Isle of Man Tourist Trophy winners Stan Woods and Geoff McMullan, current British Superbike rider David Johnson and leading Kiwi Vince Sharpe.
Webster said he would happily defer to the high-profile Aussies as long as it meant the trophy stayed ‘down under’.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie in the Australian team and it’s a really good bunch of guys,” he said.
“Our biggest rivalry is definitely with the Poms. There’s quite a bit of banter between the riders and the elbows are out on the track, but they come back in at the bar.”
The meeting will also include races in other historic categories, including classic, post-classic and sidecars.
Racing will begin at 9am on Friday and finish at 5pm on Sunday.