Rob Phillis, one of the early legends of World Superbike racing, readies for the Canadian round of the series at Mosport Park in 1990. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rob Phillis is one of the true legends in Australian, and indeed World Superbike racing.
Phillis was a leading road racer in his native Australia throughout the 1980s. He won the Australian Superbike Championship in 1987, but Kawasaki had bigger things were in store for him. He was pegged by Team Green to race in the newly-formed World Superbike Championship.
Phillis was a part of the series from the beginning, scoring podium results and finishing the inaugural 1988 season ranked seventh in the final standings, even though he raced in only about half that season’s events.
In 1989 Phillis raced in just three rounds of WSBK (Japan, Australia and New Zealand), yet managed three podiums and again ranked inside the top 10 in the series standings.
Finally in 1990 Kawasaki put Phillis in World Superbike full time and he rewarded them with two victories that first full season.
He went on to finish third in the championship in both 1991 and 1992 and was the top non-Ducati rider during those two campaigns at a time when Ducati had a distinct advantage.
During his World Superbike career he earned four victories, three poles and a remarkable 27 podium finishes in all.
This photo was taken at the Canadian round of World Superbike in 1990.
Canadian round of World Superbike in 1990.