MCNEWS.COM.AU: Congratulations on the success you and the team have had in recent years with Shawn and the GSX-R Phil. Will you still only have one rider on the GSX-R 1000 next year? If you are putting another rider on the SuperBike who is going to occupy the other seat?

Phil: Thanks Trev, the new Suzuki's are a fantastic bike straight out of the box and of course Shawn is such a great rider and the package has been working perfectly over the last couple of years. We still haven't yet finally decided on the team structure as yet, but we are contemplating running two GSX-R1000's with Gilesy on one and we are still talking to a couple of other young riders for the other.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: Will Team Suzuki be doing both the Shell Advance Australian SuperBike Championship and the Formula Xtreme Series?

Phil: Team Suzuki's priority is to compete and defend our number #1 Australian Championship at the Shell National series, but a lot still depends on the overall MA package with TV etc. Terry O'Neil is doing a great job with the Yamaha FX Series and we are considering doing some or maybe even all of the rounds for added track time and exposure.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: Is your plan for SuperSport in 2002 once again a two rider and attack and who will be riding SuperSport for Team Suzuki next year?

Phil: We are considering the option of not running an official Team in this class, and leaving it to the privateer's as the new GSX-R 600 has proved to be the bike to be on if you want to win. Also the fact that there are an ever increasing amount of privateer teams in the SuperSport class is a factor. Suzuki will of course be offering contingency and support for privateer riders.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: Why do you think the WA round has been dropped from the calendar?

Phil: Purely financial reasons. The major teams don't want to pay the teams to go over to Perth any more. Personally, I think Perth is great and holds one of the best promoted rounds of the series, they have proved that time and time again. Wanneroo is also a great track that the riders enjoy. The reasons are purely financial, maybe WA can get something together with the state government or something to help finance the big teams coming over. It probably costs around $12,000 for one of the larger teams to make the trip and the companies are not happy to pay that cost at this stage of the game.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: You are now a member of the MA Road Race commission, how are you finding that role, enlightening or frustrating?

Phil: Well Trev, both frustrating and rewarding, it is good to have some input and to try and put something back into the sport that I have been involved in for so long. As we all know, motorcycle racing around the globe is going through some difficult times and it is no different here in Australia. I believe that Motorcycling Australia is very much in touch with all the issues of concern and have made some positive changes to keep ahead of some of these problems. I just hope that everyone can stay united and support our National series as we pass through these rough times.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: I have heard no rumour of this particular thing I am going to mention but as far as I can see one of the best things that could hope to happen to SuperSport (and 250 Production for that matter) would be a control tyre. I know in car racing control tyres lead to substantially reduced costs and great racing. In my opinion the tyre companies should be asked to tender for such a proposal and include the costs of policing and running the tyre changing service at each round. What are your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Phil: Yes, a control tyre has been discussed and could be trialed in a new 600 Super Stock class for C&D grade riders for 2002'. I think that a controlled tyre for the main classes, would be good in some ways as you suggest, but on the other hand would tend possibly to restrict other tyre companies from getting involved at all and there are some new brands getting involved again that we haven't seen for a few years and there are a few privateer's that rely on their support, which can only be healthy.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: What is one of the strong rumours at the moment is that MA may be making rule changes for SuperSport that would allow engine modifications. An extension of that rumour is that 2003 could see us racing full FIM spec' SuperSport bikes. I can't see the point in either of the above but what are your thoughts on this? Other talk hints at two SuperSport classes, one running modified machines and one for C & D graders running on standard machinery but all running in the same race.

Phil: Well Trev, yes the Road Race Commission did put forward the suggestion to add the FIM spec' cams and cylinder head work only to the existing SuperSport rules, which I might add was rejected, but I would like to explain that if these two items were added then our bikes here in Australia would be FIM spec', apart from the expensive gearboxes and radiators, which we were never going to introduce. The main reasons for our suggestions were the ease of scrutineering, be seen by the rest of the world to be inline with their rules, extend the racing life of a particular model as well as to help keep some of the other brands that fall behind in the horsepower stakes closer to the front bunch, all at the minimal cost of some head work and cams.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: What do you think about the 125 and 250 GP classes running in the same race for next year?

Phil: As the numbers have steadily been dropping off in especially the 250 GP class, then the combining of the two classes would give the paying public a more spectacular race to watch.

MCNEWS.COM.AU: Thanks for your time Phil and I look forward to catching up with you at round 1.