IT was another successful venture for Mount Gambier motorcycle racer Levi Day when he headed to the Phillip Island Classic on the weekend.
Day claimed eight wins from as many races, even with some engine concerns across the weekend on the 1989 Yamaha TZ250, in both the 250cc and 500cc New Era classes.
After some early runs on the bike, Day managed to qualify for the 250cc class on pole position in Friday’s qualifying sessions, before tweaking the bike and going faster, again securing pole position for the 500cc races.
Day claimed a win in the first 250cc race by 1.4 seconds, then followed up with a 3.99-second win in the first 500cc race, which included a new lap record of 1:44.851 seconds.
Race two saw Day set a new 250cc lap record of 1:45.590, with a 16-second victory.
The fast laps continued, as he lowered the 500cc class record to 1:44.716 in race two of the category.
However, with a nine-second gap back to his closest rival, the bike began to overheat.
Day nursed it home for a three-second victory, with work then starting to rectify the issue.
A head gasket was the offending part, with both cylinders and piston rings replaced overnight.
Sunday’s racing saw some issues with the bike at low revs, but after a win in the third 250cc race of the weekend, Day then claimed the next 500cc race by just 0.1 of a second.
The team then sorted out the issue and he claimed the remaining two races for a clean sweep of the weekend.
As a result Day shared the Phil Irving perpetual trophy, awarded to the rider with the highest points of the weekend.
Two other riders also managed clean sweeps of their respectively classes.
Day paid tribute to the bike’s owner Marty Fagg, along with Ed Cross, a well known two stroke tuner through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, who maintained the machine.
“It was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and I can’t thank Marty, Ed and Doug enough for all the help in preparing the bike before and during the weekend,” he said.
“I am proud to be involved with them and glad I could bring them home the results they deserve.”
Day first began racing at the Island Classic 2010, but his involvement with the event dates back further.
“My Dad first started racing there on a Yamaha TA125 and then a TZ350 and Honda CB72 350,” he said.
“Since 2010, I myself have had the opportunity of competing there, mainly on a pair of Honda’s built by Jerry Kooistra – a CB72 350 and 500 – then the same bikes for Ron Angel.
“I have also raced an Egli Vincent for Luis Gallur.
“I have been very lucky the bikes I have raced have been beautifully turned out machines.”
Day will now conduct his remaining three coaching weekends at McNamara Park, before returning to the UK to compete in the British Superstock 1000 season aboard an Aprilia.
