With six days to go until the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island, we get to know the six wildcards riders who will take the tally of
Aussie riders competing on the world stage during the weekend to 11!
WSBK: Jed Metcher
Team: Race Center Kawasaki
Bike: Kawasaki ZX-10R
Lives: Melbourne, Victoria
Age: 25
The 2016 event will be the second time in as many years Jed Metcher will line up on the World Superbike grid as a wildcard. This time last year in the opening race, the 2011 European 600 Superstock champion followed fellow Aussie wildcard and three-time world champ Troy Bayliss home to pocket two world championship points. Mechanical problems meant the likeable 25-year-old was forced to sit out the second race, but it will only make him and his team more determined to achieve their goal of a top-15 finish in the 2016 event.
WSBK: Mike Jones
Team: DesmoSport Ducati
Bike: Ducati 1199R
Lives: Brisbane, Queensland
Age: 21
The Australian round of the 2016 World Championship will represent plenty of firsts for the 21-year-old Queenslander; the first WSBK wildcard, his first outing as the reigning ASBK champ and his first race onboard the DesmoSport Ducati. Jones enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 which saw him clinch the Australian Superbike Championship and also win races in the Australasian Superbike Championship against much tougher opposition. His hard work earned him a spot in the Troy Bayliss-managed, factory-backed DesmoSport Ducati team to defend his title and will be looking to continue the momentum at Phillip Island.
WSS: Ant West
Team: Green Tea X50 Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZF-R6
Lives: Brisbane, Queensland
Age: 35
The wildcard rider that needs no introduction is the grand prix veteran and hugely experienced Anthony West. No stranger to the World Supersport class, West will be out to prove he hasn’t lost any of his race-winning form from 2007 where, on similar machinery, he won the British and San Marino rounds. No stranger to the Phillip Island Circuit either, the 35-year-old has produced some stirring Grand Prix rides at the picturesque circuit in the past, namely in the Moto2 ranks, and in 2015 was a substitute rider in the Marc Marquez-won MotoGP race. In the 2009 WorldSSP race at Phillip Island West, a two-time Moto2 race winner, finished third, just 0.153secs behind race winner Kenan Sofuoglu.
WSS: Mitch Levy
Team: Landbridge Racing Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZF-R6
Lives: Sydney, New South Wales
Age: 21
The 21-year-old Sydney-sider will make his world championship debut at the opening round of the 2016 World Superbike Championship after a solid 2015 domestic season earned him a wildcard ride in the Supersport category. He knows Phillip Island like the back of his hand, he knows his machinery and with nothing to lose, Levy will surely have a few internationals in his sights during the 21-lap race.
WSS: Kane Burns
Team: Burns Racing Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki GSX-R600
Lives: Kempsey, New South Wales
Age: 19
The only teenager in the wildcard mix, the talented New South Welshman will be determined to prove his mettle in the hurly burly of international competition on his privately entered Suzuki GSX-R600. The 19-year-old showed sizzling form in the support races during the 2015 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, so will have some solid base settings to work from during his maiden World Supersport event.
WSS: Alex Phillis
Team: Aark Honda
Bike: Honda CBR600RR
Lives: Kilsyth, Victoria
Age: 22
Alex Phillis saddles up in the Phillip Island WorldSSP round for the second year in succession, but this time much more battle hardened after seeing out the back end of 2015 in the WorldSBK ranks, and then logging plenty of laps as a frontrunner in the New Zealand Supersport title. Was just out of the points at Phillip Island in 2015, so a top 15 result is the target during the 2016 event. Alex is the son of Robbie Phillis, who finished third in the 1991 and 1992 WorldSBK titles.