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February 24, 2023
Toronto, Ontario – Bridgestone will support a Canadian super team at next month’s 81st running of the Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway, March 11. Reigning Bridgestone Canadian National Superbike Champion Ben Young of Collingwood, ON, and top Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike competitor Elliot Vieira from Claremont, ON, will both compete on Bridgestone slick-shod Yamaha YZF-R6’s built by Florida Bridgestone distributor BikePass Motorsports (BPM).
The Daytona 200 middleweight event, relaunched last year, is a rare top-level competition that allows for open tire choice – a spec tire is not mandated by organizers MotoAmerica at this specific, start of season event.
Scottish-born Young, age 30, has previously competed at Daytona in the prestigious 200-mile D.I.S. event.
In 2012, Young earned 8th in the 200 after starting from 17th. Young’s qualifying effort was disrupted by a red flag stoppage in very cold (4 degrees C) conditions just as he fitted fresh tires. That year, Young had two scheduled pit stops during the lengthy race, changing just rear rubber the first time, and both wheels and tires the second.
“It’s been ten years since my last 200, and back then I really was just a kid,” explained two-time CSBK overall national champ Young. “My riding has developed, and I’m wiser, so I think if the package is right with the bike and our pit stops are solid, there is no reason we can’t be with the lead group in the final stint of the race.”
Young’s sponsors will include Hindle Exhaust, Vass Performance Cycle and Scott Cartier Racing, and his family who will help as pit crew.
Vieira (middle) is the most recent winner in the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike class, having dominated the season finale at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. [Photo: Rob O'Brien]
Just turned 25, Guyana-born Vieira has never competed at Daytona, so will be on a steep learning curve at the famed high-banked Florida Super Speedway. At Vieira’s most recent race in August’s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park national, he scored a rare runaway victory in Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike on his Snow City/Brooklin Cycle Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.
“Obviously, this is just a great opportunity for me,” explained Vieira at the recent Toronto Motorcycle Show. “I know that Daytona is a really big event, the field is deep, and there are lots of little details that are crucial to success.
“As well, there is a team element to Daytona with the 200, both in terms of the pit stops and potentially working in tandem in the draft during Qualifying,” Vieira added. “Ben and I are ready to see what we can do together, and be ready to take advantage of pit stops, red flags, whatever.”
Vieira will campaign a GP Bikes-backed Ducati in Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike national action in Canada in 2023, and plans to ride the new vee-twin for the first time at the Bridgestone CSBK tire test at JenningsGP in north Florida, March 14-15, right after the Daytona 200.
Daytona Supersport Schedule for the 81st annual Daytona 200
Thursday, March 9
>Practice 1, Group B at 10:40 AM ET
>Qualifying 1, Group A at 2:40 PM ET
Friday, March 10
>Qualifying 2, Group A at 10:10 AM ET
>Time Attack at 1 PM ET
Saturday, March 11
>Warm Up 8:45 AM ET
>Daytona 200 – 57 Laps – 45 min to start from 1:10 PM ET
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February 23, 2023
Burlington, Ontario - REV TV CANADA'S MOTORSPORTS & AUTOMOTIVE DESTINATION 24/7 is thrilled to welcome back the preeminent production-based motorcycle racing series, WorldSBK.
REV TV is set to broadcast all twelve rounds of the WorldSBK season, which sees a continuation of the tremendous tussle between the aptly named titanic trio of reigning champion Ducati’s Álvaro Bautista, 2021 champion Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, and the most successful rider in WorldSBK Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea. Three champions and three manufacturers all vying to reign supreme in 2023.
“WorldSBK is truly in a ‘golden era’ and we are more than excited to be bringing live coverage of this incredible series to Canadians across the country,” said Ed Kanerva, Director of Marketing and Programming at REV TV. “Superbike racing has a fervent following in Canada, and if the last two seasons are any indication, 2023 is set to be another electrifying entry in a series filled with legendary moments.”
The first round of WorldSBK commences this weekend from historic Phillip Island in Australia. Race 1 leads the way on Friday at 11:30PM ET with Race 2 on Saturday also at 11:30PM ET.
About WorldSBK
Superbike World Championship (also known as WorldSBK, SBK, World Superbike, WSB, or WSBK) is a silhouette-class road racing series based on heavily modified production motorcycles, also known as superbike racing. The championship was founded in 1988.
Each round includes two full races making it a testament to rider and machine durability and speed. The hotly contested championship has been split between three riders representing three manufacturers the past two years and 2023 looks to maintain this incredibly competitive quality racing.
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July 11, 2022
Shannonville, Ontario – On a scorching hot July 9-10 weekend, over 70 riders came out to challenge Shannonville’s Nelson Circuit and brave the tough 1.8km layout which offers little room for mistake as the average lap time is under one minute. A circuit that has garnered notoriety for chewing up and spitting out even the best motorcycle racers in the country.
A notable change to the Super Series for round three was the absence of Sidecars as they took the weekend off, and in their place was the Ohvale Eurorace Minicup championship who hosted round three of their season on the Go-Kart track located within the Nelson itself. The series comprised of a variety of mini machines, serves as a launching point for many young and aspiring motorcycle racers; highlighting Shannonville’s reputation as the Birthplace of Champions.
Round three saw the return of Bruce Linn, Jack Newman and Kayla Hannaford, who made her first start since May after recovering from a broken collarbone and concussion sustained in a qualifying wreck on the Long track. Meanwhile in Novice, Yan Lavalée, Pedram Jajarmizadeh, François Boulais, Sergey Badekin and Kevin St-Germain made their Super Series debuts after graduating the race school earlier in the month.
Saturday’s races got off to an exciting start as 22 riders took to the track in Pro/Am Sportbike. Starting from the pole, Drew Weber had a rough outing as he went down on the second lap. The crash forced a red flag, opening the door for Alex Coelho to hold off Chris Fehr and Mike Raniowski to claim the victory. The Am Sportbike race was won by Jordan Decarie, claiming his fourth win of the season ahead of Eric Quintin and Adam Pearsall.
Jean-Pascal Schroeder picked up his first win of 2022 in Lightweight Sportsman, the victory was extra special as Schroeder had recovered from COVID-19 the week prior and wasn’t sure he was going to be able to race. Andrea Purdy logged her season best finish of second, with Dylan Leclair rounding out the podium.
In the Novice class, top two in points Ryan Dunwoodie and Alexis Beaudoin were locked in a spirited battle. Dunwoodie dominated the race until Beaudoin nipped him on the penultimate lap, earning the Quebec rider his first Super Series victory. Turning heads in his debut, Jajarmizadeh rounded out the podium finishers.
In Heavyweight Sportsman, Weber had another crack at taking a win on his backup bike. However, an off-track excursion allowed Raniowski to take the win with Pearsall and Barnes completing the podium. Elie Daccache took a dominant victory in Pro Superbike, gapping second place Coelho by a margin of over 30 seconds. Fehr completed the podium. In AM Superbike, Dunwoodie made up for his Novice defeat earlier in the day. Taking the class victory for a second time in a row ahead of Decarie and Matt Vanderhorst. Schroeder claimed the Lightweight Production win after outdueling his long-time friend Eric Quintin. Being locked in a tight battle, Quintin went for a pass but couldn’t make it stick and went off track in the grass. He still held on for second, while Purdy completed the podium for her second of the day.
Daccache once again dusted his competition in Sprint Cup, taking that Milwaukee Tools sponsored Yamaha to the top step of the podium ahead of Coelho and Fehr.
On day two, the racing was just as exciting as the first. Due to an injury sustained on day one, Martin Perreault was unable to complete the weekend while Weber was forced to sit out day two, following incidents in qualifying and Saturday’s races.
In Pro/Am Sportbike, the race was once again red flagged on the start. An incident involving Kana Matsumoto and Jose Azevedo, took both riders out of the race and, fortunately, they were both unhurt. Upon the restart, Coelho seemed destined for another win but due to a fuel issue it allowed Fehr to close in. The two fought hard, but in the end, Fehr got the better of Coelho in a tense battle. Raniowski finished the podium.
Decarie doubled up on his Am Sportbike win, making a case to possibly turn Pro in 2023. While the second and third remained unchanged from the previous day, Quintin in second and Pearsall in third.
Schroeder doubled up on his Lightweight Sportsman victories, beating out both François Boulais and Andrea Purdy. For Boulais, it would be his first ever Super Series podium. Dunwoodie seemed destined once again for another Novice win. However, after high-siding the bike coming into the esses, Dunwoodie logged his first DNF of 2022. This allowed Beaudoin to go two for two in Novice, with Jajarmizadeh and Adrian Mitchell completing the podium. David Gosselin was checked and cleared from the at track medical facility after suffering a scary accident coming to the checkered while fighting for third.
With the absence of Weber, Raniowski took his second straight Heavyweight Sportsman victory. With Wes Barnes having an amazing run for second, beating out his friendly rival Pearsall by a few seconds.
With his bike being in desperate need of repair and roughly 80 minutes to fix it, Dunwoodie needed a miracle to be able to compete in the Pro/Am Superbike feature. When the bike came back to the trailer, Dunwoodie’s wife Candace immediately jumped into action looking for tools and with help from a troupe of fellow riders including Coelho, Weber, Azevedo, Daccache, St-Germain, Real Grandmont and Scott Szollos, Dunwoodie fixed his Ducati and rallied for a P3 finish behind race winner Vanderhorst and second place Decarie. Daccache went on to win the Pro Superbike feature ahead of Coelho and Fehr.
Schroeder took the win in Lightweight Production ahead of Quintin and Purdy, however this win was much more convincing, controlling the race from flag to flag. To end the day, Daccache dominated Sprint Cup ahead of Coeho and Fehr.
With the drama unfolding over the weekend on the tight confines of Nelson, two changes had to be made to the points standings. Beaudoin became the new Novice class points leader, while Coelho took over the Pro Sportbike points lead.
As the dust settles, the Super Series will return to the Long Track for round four this August 20-21. This visit will be the second and final time the Super Series will use the configuration this season, before concluding in September on the Pro Track.
Quotables
Ryan Dunwoodie: “When we saw the 5-minute board Scott [Szollos} said got it and we finally got pressure in my clutch lever. As soon as we heard that I got ready and we all started putting panels on the bike. I was heading out for pre grid when I realized had no front brake, so I immediately turned around and Drew Weber twisted a few things by hand and then I had front brake back. So to finish third in the Am Superbike race after all we went through, it is definitely the best podium of my career so far.”
Jordan Decarie: “We made significant progress in bike setup this weekend. Each session we set attainable and measurable goals and were able to acquire invaluable data each time we were out on track. We were able to make an informed decision for the races and set the bike up to match the conditions. The technical layout of the historic Nelson track suits our Champion Cycle tuned GSXR 600 very well. We are thrilled to celebrate two Amateur Sport bike victories with our amazing partners and we look forward to returning to the long track in August.”
Kayla Hannaford: “I think it’s natural to be a little afraid at first, when you come back from a big accident. I gave my family a good scare and I definitely didn’t want to do that again, but once I got back out there all those feeling dissipated. I was fighting through a little bit of pain in the collar bone and in the muscles, but once I hit race mode the pain seemed to melt away because my brain was focused somewhere else.”
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February 7, 2023
Toronto, Ontario – “We are pleased to confirm your application for FIM MiniGP Canada Series. We wish you a great racing season.” Quote from Svetlana Nazarova, FIM Circuits Racing Commissions Coordinator.
It was the news Toni Sharpless, organizer and owner of Super Sonic Road Race School, Mini Superbike Championship and Canada Cup Nationals was waiting to hear.
“After three years of building, all of us at the Super Sonic School are super excited FIM road racing is coming to Canada!” Sharpless said. “The FIM MiniGP Canada series is the crucible for young Canadian athletes to develop their skills and dream of MotoGP.”
The FIM MiniGP Canada Series with Pirelli and Motul support will kick off with a six-round, 12-race season stretching across the country from Ontario to British Columbia. Each event round will contain a pair of feature races with a doubleheader points structure.
The series will start at the familiar Lombardy Raceway near Perth, Ontario on May 13-14, the site where six races took place in the Canadian MiniSBK Canada Cup battle a year ago.
The championship then takes a dramatic swing for rounds two and three, with back-to-back weekends at Greg Moore Raceway in Chilliwack, British Columbia and Strathmore Motorsports Park near Calgary, Alberta, beginning from June 24-25 and going to July 1-2, respectfully.
The series then returns back to Ontario for another back-to-back set of weekend action at Lombardy Raceway. The sixth and final round will then head to historic Shannonville Motorsport Park near Belleville, Ontario, running in conjunction with the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) national final.
The feature champion of the newly minted FIM MiniGP Canada series will then be offered a spot in the world final at Valencia, Spain, just prior to the MotoGP finale in November 2023.
FIM MiniGP Canada Series 2023 Schedule
RD1 May 13-14 Lombardy Raceway Karting, ON
RD2 June 24-25 Greg Moore Raceway, BC
RD3 July 1-2 Strathmore Raceway, AB
RD4 July 29-30 Lombardy Raceway Karting, ON
RD5 Aug 5-6 Lombardy Raceway Karting, ON
RD6 Sept 15-16 Shannonville Motorsport Park, ON
The worldwide competition organization, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) sets the rules and regulations represented in Canada by its affiliate the Canadian Motorcycle Association (CMA).
“The CMA is proud to support the FIM MiniGP Canada Series. This series will present a fantastic opportunity for younger riders that hasn’t been available in Canada previously,” CEO Holly Ralph explained. “Toni Sharpless has dedicated countless hours to develop this series to FIM standards. The CMA applauds her efforts to put our young riders on the world stage and will continue to support the series going forward.”
The official tire and sponsor of the Canadian series will be Pirelli Tires, as per the global MiniGP structure.
“Pirelli is very glad to be working with Toni in hosting the Canadian FIM MiniGP series for 2023. We are in full support of the efforts from a global scale down to our local vendors,” said Oscar Solid, the Pirelli Moto Senior Race Manager. “We are very excited to assist in providing a pathway for these young racers to grow and enjoy the sport as we all do – one in which Toni is no stranger in supplying.”
The series will also be debuting with the continued help of Motul, a significant supporter of the previous MiniSBK series.
"The partnership with Super Sonic Road Race School, Canadian Mini Superbike Championship, and now the FIM MiniGP Canada series continues to be extremely successful in contributing to the growth in consumer awareness of the Motul brand among riding enthusiasts,” said Nolan Browning, Marketing Director for Motul USA. “The school and series continue to serve as a cornerstone in our strategy to support the next generation of riders. We are excited to continue the momentum of our partnership as we look to the future."
Ohvale brand manufacturer is the specified motorcycle of the championship world-wide. “We are excited to be part of this amazing project. The arrival of FIM MiniGP World Series in Canada is an amazing opportunity for young riders to get into racing,” said Ohvale Canada’s Michele De Rossi. “Thanks to FIM, Dorna, Road to MotoGP, and Ohvale for considering Canada for 2023.”
The bike and series are designed for riders aged 10 to 14 competing with the Ohvale GP-O 160cc mini-GP machines on paved circuits, typically such as go-kart tracks.
Any parents interested in enrolling their son or daughter in the series (or those just eager for more information) can start at supersonicschool.com.
For more information on the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca
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July 10, 2022
Calabogie, Ontario – The gap atop the Canadian Superbike Championship all but evaporated on Sunday, as Alex Dumas continued his perfect run at Calabogie Motorsports Park to pull within a single point of rival Ben Young in the feature Pro Superbike class.
Dumas entered with a five-race unbeaten streak on the line around Calabogie, though he was immediately met with his biggest challenge yet as Young grabbed the holeshot for the second day in a row. Unlike Saturday, though, Young maintained that lead for the first half of the race, denying a handful of pass attempts as he threatened to end Dumas’ perfect run around his home track.
The defending champion had other plans on lap seven, however, finally getting a move to stick in turn five and eventually peeling away, as the Liqui Moly/Fast School Suzuki rider will head to round three within a single point of the title lead.
“I tried the pass a few times, but Ben just kept slamming the door. It was really fun battling out there, but I’m happy to pick up another win for the championship,” Dumas said. “I’ve never been to Shubenacadie, so I’m looking forward to battling again at round three there in two weeks.”
Despite another runner-up finish to his championship rival, Young will likely be pleased with his weekend overall, as he maintains his championship lead exiting the first four races – albeit in the finest of margins.
“I had another great launch like yesterday – the new ‘M’ BMW gets off the line really well – but Alex was a demon off the line as well which allowed him to stay with me,” said the Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider. “I knew it would be tough to win here, but we’re really looking forward to round three where we can hopefully build the gap back up in the championship.”
Joining the duo on the podium was Trevor Daley, who made up for a massive Saturday crash to run a comfortable race in third. The OneSpeed Suzuki rider remained slightly off the pace of the front two but continued to close the gap, while also climbing back into third in the overall championship.
“It was a bit of a lonely ride out there, but I was hoping I could just stay with them and pick up the pieces if they beat each other up a bit,” Daley said. “I still think we’re a lot closer than the gap will show, and it’s another good step forward so now we just turn our focus to round three in AMP.”
The double-podium for Suzuki will help trim their deficit to BMW to just six points in the Constructors Championship, but the German manufacturer will retain their lead thanks to a strong fifth-place charge from Samuel Guerin aboard his EFC Group machine.
Guerin was unable to get the better of Sebastien Tremblay, however, as the Turcotte Performance Kawasaki rider held on to fourth in the race and jumps to fourth in the overall standings in the process, while helping Kawasaki to third in the Constructors table.
Pro Superbike Feature Race 2 of 2 – Top Ten
1. Alex Dumas, Suzuki
2. Ben Young, BMW
3. Trevor Daley, Suzuki
4. Sebastien Tremblay, Kawasaki
5. Samuel Guerin, BMW
6. Michael Leon, BMW
7. Anthony Bergeron, BMW (Rookie)
8. Ernest Bernhard, Yamaha
9. Christian Allard, Ducati (Rookie)
10. Vivian Matthews, Yamaha
David MacKay reversed his championship fortunes after a difficult race one, winning on Sunday after a dramatic three-way battle with rivals Trevor Dion and Elliot Vieira.
All three riders swapped places multiple times throughout, with Dion leading across the line onto the final lap before MacKay launched a thrilling overtake in the final corners to seal his second victory of the season.
“These doubleheaders are working well for me,” MacKay joked, referencing his race two win in Grand Bend after a race one crash. “Yesterday wasn’t the best day for us, but we were able to learn so much which helped us today, and this one is huge for the championship."
Dion will ultimately see a win slip through his hands on the final lap for a second day in a row, but the LDS Consultants Kawasaki rider still held on for another runner-up finish and thus will retain a 13-point advantage over Vieira with MacKay a further two points back.
The trio will entrench themselves as the three championship contenders at the halfway point of the season, though MacKay will have experience on his side when the Fast Company Kawasaki rider returns to Shubenacadie in two weeks.
Julien Lafortune extended a sizeable advantage atop the AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike standings, winning for a second time after leading every lap on Sunday.
The Kawasaki rider will open up a 23-point lead over John Fraser, who finished second for Yamaha, a gap Lafortune will need as they head to Fraser’s stomping ground in round three on the east coast.
Paul Etienne Courtois will take over the championship lead in the Amateur Sport Bike class, as the first-year Amateur runner won his first national Sport Bike race after a close battle with hometown rider Guillaume Lavallee.
Courtois will carry a five-point lead over round one winner Sebastian Hothaza, who could only manage ninth in his second national appearance.
National debutant Andrew Cooney capped off a stellar weekend with a pair of victories in the Super Sonic Race School Lightweight class, winning both contests in dramatic fashion in just his third ever race weekend at any level.
Despite the double-victory, it was a successful weekend for championship leader Evan Moriarity, who exits with a 30-point lead atop the standings over Cooney in second.
Jared Walker continued his perfect run in the Pro division of the Pro/Am class, winning for a fourth consecutive time to extend his title grasp. Cooney would wind up the winner on both occasions in the Amateur ranks, with Bryce DeBoer grabbing a pair of second-place finishes to enter a tie for the championship lead.
The full results from Sunday’s racing can be found on the series’ official website at csbk.ca.
For more information on the CSBK Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca
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