Phillip Island Circuit revamped at an expense of $3 million ? MotoGP news
Located near Melbourne, the 4.445 km asphalt surface of Phillip Island Circuit underwent major refurbishment during this week.
It has been 14 years since the circuit was last revamped back in 1998.
Over 5,000 tonnes of asphalt was laid across the full length of the track which cost around $3 million. 70 personnel took part in the onsite resurface work. They had a fleet of construction equipment at their disposal. At turns 1 and 4 of the track, new asphalt run offs were installed. New barriers were setup and 1.3 kilometres of kerbing was removed and replaced as well.
It was not only the track which was resurfaced. Work was also done on the infrastructure of the circuit. New surface was laid on the paddock. Scrutineer?s area, fuel compound and Expo and Visitor Centre were also resurfaced.
Phillip Island hosts more than 7 major events throughout the year. These include Australian Grand Prix, Superbike World Championship, Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Australian Touring Car Championship and Australian Drivers' Championship. According to Managing Director Fergus Cameron the track is used over 300 days a year. 14 years from the old track was a good enough time according to Cameron. It was about time that the track got a revamp.
Cameron says,??The stresses and strains of Casey Stoner on a MotoGP bike or the World Superbike riders going around this place at over 330 km/h all take their toll. And then there?s Lowndes and WhinCup and their rivals ripping round the track in the V8 Supercars, plus loads of other events, ride days and test days. The track had served us very well and it was about time to give it a makeover.?
Now that the renovation is complete, the quickest MotoGP circuit is bound to get even faster following the work that has been done on the track.
This is what Andrew Fox of circuit owners Linfox Property Group had to say about the new track. ?This [new] surface is as smooth as a baby's bum, and I've got five kids, so I know!?
The next major event scheduled to be hosted at Phillip Island Circuit is the Superbike World Championship and it starts on February 24, 2013. With more than 2 month to go in the next major event, maintenance personnel have just about the right amount of time at their disposal to hone the track.
It is expected that MotoGP fans will get to witness quicker races in Phillip Island. Anticipation is of old records being challenged and new ones being formed. Casey Stoner, the home star, who also holds the record of six successive Australian Grand Prix wins at Phillip Island, although retired from his MotoGP career, may be seen racing V8 Supercars here.
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