So, it’s Monday and, were this a normal year I would be finalising my packing for the trip to Phillip Island and the Island Classic. But, with COVID, management changes at the circuit and budgetary constraints, the Classic won’t be happening this weekend and, probably, never again.
It is an incredibly sad thing to contemplate because the Classic was such a landmark on the local racing calendar that it’s hard to see how anything could replace it even if the conditions were to be favourable. Travel restrictions, for a start, would make it almost impossible for the overseas teams and stars to make the trip as we have seen in other, high-profile sporting arenas.
This is not to say that the spirit isn’t willing, anything but. I know of two overseas bikes at least that have undergone a complete refurbishment since the last Classic and are sitting there just waiting for the word go. And there certainly isn’t any lack of desire on the part of riders and teams. Given the right conditions they would be here in a heartbeat.
But current events suggest that, even if the conditions were better, the Classic might struggle. Given that local competitors make up most of the entry to these big events, travel restrictions even WITHIN Australia are working against the running of domestic meetings as well.
I certainly hope that the Classic IS run again, in its international form. Who knows how conditions may change in the future and allow this to happen. But, at the moment, my Australia Day long weekend will again be spent at home (not that there is anything wrong with that) and the confines of Phillip Island will not echo to the sounds of racing bikes. I don’t like it and I don’t think anyone else does but such are the harsh realities of the age.
Hopefully I’ll have something more cheerful tomorrow.