Mark Aitchison joins world superbike grid for 2011, bumping Australian entry for Phillip Island’s season opener to five
There will be a stellar cast of five Australian riders at this month’s Yamaha Australian round of the 2011 Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island (Feb 25-27), with confirmation today that Gosford rider Mark Aitchison has been contracted to race the season with the Italian based, Team Pedercini Kawasaki.
Aitchison, 27, will join Troy Corser (BMW) and Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki) as championship regulars in 2011; while the last two Australian Superbike champions, Josh Waters (Suzuki) from the 2009 title and Bryan Staring (Kawasaki) from 2010, have accepted one-off wild card rides to race at the island for the season opener.
The last time so many Australians competed in the local Phillip Island world Superbike round was way back in 2006.
After finishing second in the 2006 Australian Supersport Championship, the tertiary qualified Aitchison began his international career a year later when he was fifth in the FIM 1000cc Superstock Cup on a Suzuki. In 2008, he was Triumph-mounted in the Supersport World Championship, and he remained in that title the following year when he was eight overall on a Honda, with a number of top five finishes to his credit.
He competed in some season-ending Supersport races in 2010, before beginning negotiations to make the switch to world Superbike.
“To say I am excited now about my season ahead is a major understatement,” said Aitchison.
“To race in the world Superbike class has always been a dream of mine and to be given this opportunity with a team that has such long history in world Superbike racing is something I am very proud of.
“I look forward to repaying their faith in me by giving all my motivation and dedication toward this project. In Phillip Island I’ll be riding and racing the bike for the first time, so even though it will not be easy, I understand that this is a long season.
“I’m extremely looking forward to this new challenge, and I’m especially looking forward to getting back onto the Phillip Island circuit, which I love to race on.”
Aitchison will have his first ride on the new Kawasaki ZX-10R in the second and final official pre-season test at Phillip Island on February 21-22, before all the world Superbike and Supersport teams regroup for the opening round of the championship back at the spectacular seaside circuit on February 25.
Corser, Vermeulen, Waters and Staring (who’s also riding for Pedercini Kawasaki at Phillip Island) will all be at the final hitout, as well as Newcastle rider Broc Parkes (Kawasaki) who will be Australia’s sole world Supersport campaigner in 2011.
Meanwhile, Corser has already been testing with his factory BMW team at Phillip Island his week, but his two-day outing was cut short after he crashed at the fast turn nine and bruised his elbow. Corser’s new team-mate, world No 2 Leon Haslam, completed the test without incident.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW WITH GREAT DEALS
Fans can grab tickets now on www.worldsbk.com.au or on the circuit’s hotline 1 300 728 007. Buy now and save on gate prices, with a Sunday race day general admission (GA) ticket for $70*, a three-day GA ticket for $130*, and ticket options for families and concessions from Friday through to Sunday.
TRACKSIDE
World superbikes always delivers the island’s best bike racing of the year, and with six superscreens located trackside and a grandstand adjacent to the start finish line, no-one misses a second of the action.
It’s a bike friendly event, with fans allowed to ride their bikes through the outfield, pull up, get comfortable and enjoy the action trackside.
ON TRACK CAMPING IS THE GO WITH KIDS FREE
Accommodation options are endless, but if you want to experience racing in true island style go for the economical trackside camping at $95* per adult for up to four nights under the stars. As a first, in 2011 KIDS CAMP FREE making a weekend away at the races totally affordable.
If you love the speed and the tension of world class racing, and want to be the first to see live the new teams, bikes and rider line ups for 2011, plan now to head to the island for the 2011 Yamaha Australian round of the Superbike World Championship from February 25-27 2011. Tickets are available now www.worldsbk.com.au or telephone 1 300 728 007.