A powerful Oceania team, including just one Kiwi rider, Waikato’s Jesse Stroud, looms large in the inaugural FIM Intercontinental Games in Spain this weekend.
A super-talented FIM Oceania team will attempt to make history in Spain on Sunday, December 1, as the first-ever winner of the FIM Intercontinental Games (ICG).
Representing a major element of the FIM’s 120th anniversary activities, the new initiative will see six FIM Continental Unions – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania – compete on identically prepared Yamahas at Jerez in the Supersport and Supersport 300 classes.
Each Continental Union will sport its own unique colours – green for FIM Oceania – with machines randomly drawn to each competitor.
Furthermore, each class must have at least one female competitor, with FIM Oceania using its selections on ASBK regular Tara Morrison and FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship campaigner Tayla Relph.
Morrison will be joined by 2024 Australian Supersport runner-up and European Stock winner Archie McDonald, Yamaha R3 World Cup race winner Cameron Swain and New Zealander Jesse Stroud (pictured here) in the Supersport 300 line-up.
The balance of the Supersport quartet is pure class: three-time Australian Superbike champion Mike Jones, two-time Australian Supersport champion Tom Toparis and emerging Superbike star Max Stauffer.
All three will be forfeiting large chunks of horsepower compared to their normal ASBK machines, which means that corner speed, braking heroics and canny slipstreaming will be the key pillars to success in Spain.
The two captains in each class will be Jones and McDonald, while FIM Oceania will be managed by former Australian and World Supersport champion Andrew Pitt. The Italian-based Aussie has been a crew chief in the WorldSBK paddock for many years.
Four races – two 12-lappers for Supersport 300 and two 17-lappers for Supersport – will be run at the iconic Jerez on Sunday to decide the inaugural winner. If two unions are deadlocked at the end of proceedings, the trophy will be awarded to the one with the highest-finishing female rider in the final race.
Following Jerez, the plan is to hold the ICG every two years, with more classes added as the concept becomes established.
FIM Oceania President, Peter Doyle: “The FIM Intercontinental Games is an exciting new concept, with a real Olympic-style vibe to it. All the FIM Oceania riders are excited by the opportunity, and with such a talented group I think they can do some great things at Jerez.
“And with the riders in both classes on identical machines, we know the racing is going to be super competitive with extremely fine margins.”
Photo courtesy FIM Oceania
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