Copyright Robin Lewis printed on 250gsm Kodak paper
 
Mick Cole: “I borrowed a mate’s Kawasaki Z1-900 when I was in C-grade, and I finished second behind Ken Blake ‒ who I idolised ‒ on his Ducati 750 at Phillip Island in 1974. In 1977, Honda approached Ken about heading up their new team, but he told them that he was planning to go overseas. They asked him if could recommend anyone, and he said ‘Mick Cole’ even though I was still a B-grader. That was incredibly generous of him.”
 
Fast forward 12 months. Mick Cole is the toast of Honda Japan after securing the first ever victory for the all-new Honda CBX1000 in the Castrol Classsic. Tongues wagged about its chances in the Castrol Six-Hour. Blake returned for the Amaroo endurance finale after his first season in Europe where he contested the Isle of Man TT.  
 
Photographer Lewis says Ken satisfied his many followers at the '78 Six-Hour, passing many faster machines with consistent laps on a drying track.
 
After levering by third-placed Blake's BMW R100S later in the race, Cole (Team Honda CBX1000) finished third in the 1978 Castrol Six-Hour with co-rider Dennis Neill.
 
Ken Blake was a three-time Six-Hour winner in 1974, '75 and '77. This iconic image captured by Rob Lewis was made famous for appearing on the cover of the book 'The Castrol Six-Hour Production Race' by Jim Scaysbrook.