- Details
- Category: Motorcycle
May 14, 2022
Lombardy, Ontario – Vincent Lalande won his third consecutive race in the Motul Canada Cup category to extend a dominant lead atop the Canadian Mini Superbike Championship on Saturday, again defeating rival Ben Hardwick in a thrilling third race at Lombardy Raceway, presented by the Super Sonic Road Race School.
In similar fashion to the season-opening doubleheader last weekend, Lalande and Hardwick emerged as the clear top two aboard their Ohvale machines, setting the pace early on and adding to their rivalry with numerous passes on each lap.
Hardwick, who finished second to Lalande in both races last weekend, appeared to be setting up a last-lap maneuver for the win, making a number of brilliant passes in turns three and ten in the dying stages. However, Lalande again managed to find just that extra bit more, exiting the final corner flawlessly as Hardwick was unable to execute the move he had hoped for.
Despite the third consecutive victory for Lalande, it’s another that he was forced to work extremely hard for, with Hardwick continuing to inch closer and closer to his debut win in the feature Canada Cup category.
Nevertheless, Lalande will take a growing championship lead into race two on Sunday, with Hardwick needing to change the momentum quickly if he wishes to keep his title hopes alive.
Behind the familiar foes up front, it was another podium charge for Merik Sommer, who looks comfortably clear of the “best of the rest” fight as he eyes an eventual battle with the championship leaders in front of him.
Sommer’s quest for a debut victory may be put on hold, however, after the youngster suffered a broken elbow in an unfortunate crash during one of his support races, which will surely sideline him on Sunday before hoping to return for round three in June.
As for the support classes, it was more dominance from Lalande, as the 14-year-old star comfortably won another pair of races in the Moto1 and GP-1 categories aboard his SpeedFactory67 Buccimoto machine, as he looks like a potential triple-championship threat in 2022.
Outside of Lalande’s expertise, both the Moto2 and Sport-2 categories were won by Michael Glavis, who is quickly emerging as another name to watch in the support classes aboard his Kawasaki KX65.
The inaugural Canadian Mini Superbike Championship will finish off their second weekend at Lombardy on Sunday, before a month away from the small, twisty circuit, returning for round three on June 25-26.
More information can be found on the series’ official website at www.supersonicschool.com.
For more information on the CSBK Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca
Add a comment
- Details
- Category: Motorcycle
May 14, 2022
Toronto, Ontario – Fourteen-time Canadian Superbike national champion Jordan Szoke was severely injured in a media event at the Walton Raceway motocross track just north of Stratford, Ontario, on Tuesday, May 10, and is currently recovering from surgery. Szoke was riding his personal Kawasaki KX450F at the time of the incident, and was transported immediately to a nearby hospital.
Since then, Szoke has been transferred to a hospital in London, Ontario, and on Wednesday, May 11, underwent successful surgery on both his injured legs and one ankle. The Lyndon, ON native also suffered damage to his jaw and chin in the incident.
“It’s going to be a long road to recovery, but with the help of my family, friends and fans, I will be back,” Szoke shared as part of an update on his Facebook account.
The Walton venue is home to one of the biggest motocross events in Canada, the annual Walton TransCan held each August.
On Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6, Szoke had started testing for the Canadian National Championship (CSBK) road racing season at Grand Bend Motorplex in southwestern Ontario, the site of the opening round. Szoke was working with his latest Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R superbike, sponsored by Canada General Warranty and S4R lubricants, and built by Scott Miller’s Fast Company.
The Canadian National tour kicks off at Grand Bend on June 9-12, and Szoke was expected to contend for his record 15th career national title. Overall, Szoke has scored 78 career Pro Superbike Feature race victories in Canada, more than double the number of his closest rival.
In 2021, Szoke placed third overall in the feature Pro Superbike category, scoring two wins at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in August. Szoke won the previous season’s COVID-affected Canada Cup, marking his record 14th overall crown in 2020. That most recent title campaign was also the fourth perfect season of his career, winning every race of the feature campaign.
For more information on the CSBK Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca
Add a comment
- Details
- Category: Motorcycle
May 8, 2022
Lombardy, Ontario – The inaugural round of the Canadian Mini Superbike National Championship series wrapped up in familiar but exciting fashion on Sunday, as rising star Vincent Lalande won another close Canada Cup battle at the Lombardy Raceway.
The season opening event, presented by the Super Sonic Road Race School, saw Lalande emerge as the early favourite in the paddock on Saturday after conquering race one of the feature Canada Cup and two other support races. His impressive form did not wear off overnight, however, as he entered Sunday with even more pace despite another stiff challenge from emerging rival Ben Hardwick.
Hardwick would start on pole position for race two by virtue of his qualifying performance on Saturday, but the pressure was on the youngster after Lalande won race one before setting a new outright lap record on Sunday morning. Nevertheless, Hardwick ignored the momentum as he grabbed the holeshot in race two, pacing Lalande in the early going aboard his mandatory Pirelli-mounted Ohvale machine.
After sustained pressure throughout the first four laps, Lalande finally made a move stick on lap five, forcing Hardwick into a rare mistake as he ran wide in the hairpin to fall roughly two seconds back of the lead. The pole-sitter would dramatically chip away at that deficit as he carved his way back to Lalande, but it ultimately was too little, too late as Lalande held on for a narrow victory to sweep the first-round doubleheader.
The duo was again joined on the podium by Merik Sommer, who continued to ride a quietly strong weekend and complete his double-podium debut in third. While Sommer remained firmly off the pace of Lalande and Hardwick, he was equally as impressive in his lonely ride for third, entrenching himself as the dark horse in the title fight should the front-running duo encounter any problems.
By virtue of the two victories, Lalande will exit the opening round with a championship lead atop the Canada Cup standings, with Hardwick and Sommer close behind as they prepare for round two at Lombardy next weekend.
Lalande’s efforts weren’t limited to just the feature category, as he again stormed to a pair of support wins aboard his Speed Factory Buccimoto machine. The 14-year-old Mirabel, QC native won both the Moto1 and GP-1 class races to add to his trophy haul, beating Hardwick in both events as he displayed his proficiency on both bike types.
Sommer, meanwhile, captured another MiniSBK victory in the GP2 category, while Aaron Burns won the Sport-1 race and Michael Galvis won the Sport-2 category. Jacob Black did double-duty as both racer and announcer, winning the Moto3 class race after a spirited battle with Connor Campbell, while Campbell got his revenge later on to beat Black in the Sport-3 category.
The riders won’t have long to wait before returning to the Lombardy Raceway, with the second round doubleheader scheduled to get underway May 14-15, while the Super Sonic Road Race School will also host a customary track day on Friday.
The full season schedule, including registration details, can be found on the series’ official website at www.supersonicschool.com.
For more information on the CSBK Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca
Add a comment
- Details
- Category: Motorcycle
May 9, 2022
Shannonville, Ontario - With the start of the new Super Series season drawing ever so much closer, the 2022 schedule will see some of Canada’s finest Amateur and Pro riders take on five race weekends on three different Shannonville Motorsport Park layouts.
With the growing interest in grassroots motorcycle racing in Canada, the Super Series is excited to welcome in riders from all across Canada. This season is gearing up to be one of the best in recent memory.
“With the success of the 2021 season, it was an easy decision to add two more events to the 2022 schedule to bring it up to five,” said Super Series GM Dominique Bondar. “Shannonville was founded with motorcycle racing at heart, and we believe the three layouts used this season will provide not just a challenge to the riders, but fun and exhilarating races for spectators.”
The 2022 calendar will kick off May 13-15, with the Super Series Racing School spring session. Following that, the riders will take to the Long track for the first double header of the year. There will be another racing school session in July, before the Super Series returns to the Nelson track following its return to the calendar last season. The season will conclude on September 10-11 on the Pro track.
2022 Schedule
Spring Racing School – Friday, May 13
Summer Racing School – Friday, July 8
Round 1 – May 14-15 (Long track)
Round 2 – June 11-12 (Pro track)
Round 3 – July 9-10 (Nelson track)
Round 4 – August 20-21 (Long track)
Round 5 – September 10-11 (Pro track)
As another industry leader has joined the Super Series for 2022, we are pleased to announce a new partnership with Inside Motorcycles. This new partnership will directly benefit the competitors as they will get a one-year free subscription with their 2022 competition licence purchase.
To find out more about the schedule, competition licences or the racing schools, please visit our website at www.super-series.ca.
About Super Series
The Super Series is a grassroots motorcycle road racing series founded in the early 1980s. Created to fill a gap and a demand for amateur riders in the South-East region of Ontario, Canada, the Super Series is based and competes exclusively at Shannonville Motorsport Park.
Add a comment
- Details
- Category: Motorcycle
May 5, 2022
Burlington, Ontario — REV TV YOUR MOTORSPORTS & AUTOMOTIVE DESTINATION 24/7 is really excited to have the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup represented on the channel this year. The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup has been the launching pad for so many future Champions over the last 15 years, and we can’t wait to see who’ll shine in their 16th.
Riding Moto3 specification KTM RC 250 R 4-stroke machines across a 14-race, seven-round season featuring some of the most classic Grand Prix circuits of Europe, the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is a crucible out of which greatness is born. Their track record speaks for itself with the MotoGP™ paddock’s Johann Zarco, Brad Binder, Joan Mir, Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini and Pedro Acosta, as well as reigning WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, among the list of impressive former Rookies.
“The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is truly a birthplace of motorcycle racing champions and we are thrilled to add coverage of all 14 rounds to REV TV,” said Mike Garrow, President of REV TV. “Having the Rookies on REV is a great compliment to our MotoGP and WorldSBK coverage, which features a number of riders who cut their teeth in the ultra-competitive series, the future of fast rides on REV TV” he added.
“The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is one of the biggest and most successful paths on the Road to MotoGP, with so many former Rookies having gone on to incredible success in World Championship motorcycle racing. We’re delighted fans in Canada will be able to follow the progress of the Champions of the future on REV TV and enjoy the incredible racing in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup each and every round.”
Coverage of the 2022 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup begins on May 8th as a part of our Monster Moto Mother’s Day Weekend Marathon, which will feature the first four rounds of the series back-to-back at 8PM ET following a day full of two-wheeled action as we recap the MotoGP and WorldSBK seasons so far.
About the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup began in 2007 and has released new stars into the world of Grand Prix racing since. Former Rookies now compete with enormous success in all classes of Grand Prix racing. For five of the last six seasons, the Moto3™ World Champion has been an ex-Rookie and the 2020 Rookies Cup winner, Pedro Acosta, stepped up and won the Moto3™ World Championship in his debut season.
About REV TV
YOUR MOTORSPORTS & AUTOMOTIVE DESTINATION is available to over 6 million households across Canada and features over 200 races from around the world and right here at home. From two-wheels to four and so much more. REV TV showcases all forms of high-octane racing, such as MotoGP, Monster Jam, AMA Supercross, World Rally Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Indy Lights, World Endurance Championship, World RX Championship, IndyCar Classics, SPEED SPORT TV, along with news coverage such as The Inside Line (F1), Winged Nation (winged sprint cars) and Tuning 365 Performance Auto & Sound Magazine. We also have a slate of original programming with REV Culture with Todd Lewis that features interviews with motorsports luminaries, All North Racing which focuses on grassroots racing, a slew of how-to and behind-the-scenes programs, and so much more.
Add a comment