Source: WorldSBK.

South Australian Billy McConnell will make a wildcard appearance in the Phillip Island round of the 2014 World Supersport Championship with the British-based Smiths Triumph Racing Team.

McConnell, 27, will ride a factory-supported Triumph alongside new British Supersport teammate Graeme Gowland in the WSS season opener on 21-23 February.

With traction control vital at Phillip Island due to severe tyre degradation at the high-speed Victorian venue, the Triumph team will be disadvantaged without use of TC with their BSS specification bikes.

“We’ve been thinking about doing the Phillip Island race for a while and now it’s all come together really quickly,” McConnell said. “I’m pumped to be racing at home, but it’ll be tough without the traction control.

“I’ve ridden in WSS on the Triumph so I know what to expect, I’ll just have to hang it out a bit when the tyre goes and hope for the best. I’m deadly serious about winning the British championship this year and this is an ideal way to start our preparations.”

McConnell and Gowland will be two of four wildcards expected to contest Phillip Island, with Motorcycling Australia selecting Ryan Taylor and Matthew Davies on privateer Yamahas. Yamaha Racing Team factory rider Rick Olson’s application was denied by MA (click here for details).