Phil Lovett
Motorcyclist
Inducted 15 December 2014
Phil Lovett was born in Cessnock, and is still a resident of the area.
From an early age, Phil demonstrated a passion and talent for motorcycling which he continues to demonstrate today.
Phil made his mark on motorcycling early, when he came outright second in the Hunter 500 two day event held near Cessnock in 1977. It was his first enduro, and he rode on a bike that he had borrowed from a friend.
The following year, he competed in the International Six Day Trial, now known as the International Six Day Enduro, an off-road endurance event which is regarded as the Olympics of motorcycling and is held in a different country every year. In 1978, the competition was held in Sweden, and Phil became the first Australian to win a gold medal in the event. Over the following three years, Phil won a further two gold medals, in Germany and Italy, and also a silver medal in France.
Phil also competed in the Enduro when it was held in Australia, in Cessnock, in 1992. In that event, Phil was awarded the bronze medal, after his bike seized in the final moto, unfortunately costing him the gold.
Having risen to international prominence, Phil turned his attention to desert motorcycle racing. The Finke Desert Race is an annual off-road, multi terrain two-day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the Aputula (Finke) community. The 460km round trip race has the reputation of being one of the most difficult off-road courses, in one of the most remote places in the world. Phil won this race three times, in 1981, 1982 and 1985. He was placed second in 1986 and 1988, and third in 1983 and 1992.
In more recent years, Phil has focused on road motorcycle racing. In 2009 he won the Pro Twins Class in the 6 hour race at Oran Park, and in 2011 was placed first in the Formula Extreme Formula Oz Class Series and also the Pro Twins Class in Formula Extreme Series.
Plaque location
49 Vincent Street, Cessnock (garden bed)