Racing at the Phillip Island Australian GP circuit, on post-classic bikes, against Australia and New Zealand, their hopes were realistically scuppered before they even left the UK after the ship with their own bikes on board was left stranded, leaving them to race on borrowed machines.
‘They had recently been raced, so they were all in reasonable race-ready condition, but the gears had to be set up for the circuit and our personal preferences,’ Allison said.
‘We suffered in the 40+ degrees temperatures on test day, but the day after it was sunny and a bit cooler, then we had a rainstorm, so we felt more at home and it gave us a level playing field.’ Allison’s borrowed bike was a Suzuki GSX 1100 which, he found, had a good engine: ‘but the suspension needed some serious attention!’he said.
He found himself racing against ex World Superbike racer Rob Philliss and former Australian champion Mal Campbell, among others.
‘We were up against some very good guys,’ he said.
‘The Aussies and New Zealanders were very impressed with how we did on borrowed bikes, and with the effort we’d made to get there, despite the problems.’ ‘We finished with our heads held high, but were very disappointed not to do better.
There were 13 points between New Zealand, who finished second, and us.
We could certainly have beaten them if everything for the trip had gone according to plan.
We’re already planning to go back next year – we want to grab the trophy off them and then they would have to come and race in the UK to try and get it back.’
