For the 2008 Parts Canada Superbike

Transcription

INTRODUCTION / TABLE OF CONTENTS
The
Golden
Age
Will this era be
remembered as
best ever?
I
BY JOHN HOPKINS
t is a good time to be a
fan of the Parts Canada
Superbike Championship.
As we enter the 2008 season the national series is
full of promise new manuPHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
facturers, new riders, a new
class, a new venue. This could be a season we end up looking back on as a
defining moment in the history of the sport.
The feature Superbike class will see a new challenger in the form of the exciting
Buell 1125R. Canadas most successful Superbike racer, Steve Crevier will spearhead the development of this program, which is essentially the only top level
national race effort for the Buell in the world.
The revamped Thunder class has opened the doors for a number of exciting new
motorcycles, including Buells 1125 and the Ducati 848. The class will also see the
arrival of KTM with its 990 Super Duke.
The sport is also going through a bit of a youth movement, with second-year Pros
Brett McCormick and Karl Daigle, along with Chris Peris threatening to shake up the
establishment. And the future looks particularly bright for the stars of tomorrow with
the launch of the Honda CBR125R Challenge Cup.
The dynamic Calabogie Motorsports Park venue joins the series this year, and
there is talk of a new facility at the former Mirabel Airport site in Quebec coming on
board for 2009.
But while there is a lot of exciting new stuff on tap for this season, some familiar
faces should be providing plenty of drama as well.
It seems every year opens with Jordan Szoke threatening to make history, and
this year is no different. He and Crevier are locked in a battle for the all-time national
Superbike wins mark, with the score currently standing at 26-23 in Creviers favour.
Szoke is also pursuing Creviers record of being the only racer in the almost 30-year
history of the Canadian Superbike class to win three titles in a row. The Maple Ridge,
BC veteran did it between 1989 and 91. No one had done it before, or has since.
And another Superbike title for Szoke would bring him to five for his career, just
one shy of Creviers tally.
Is this the year Kevin Lacombe or Clint McBain finally takes the national title? Will
Suzuki bounce back with Francis Martin, Matt McBride and Peris on board? How
will Womens Cup ace Marie-Josee Boucher fare as a rookie Pro?
These are just some of the stories that will play out between now and Labour Day
Weekend and it will be interesting to see what new tales have unfolded by the time
the dust settles at Shannonville.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride, and take the official Parts Canada Superbike
Championship souvenir program along with you. We think youll find its the perfect
complement to some exciting racing across Canada.
6 PARTS CANADA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
07
Parts Canada Superbike
Championship Schedule
08
Feature: Jordan Szoke
12
Feature: 2007 Season Review
18
Feature: Racers Racers
22
Feature: Inside Tech 2008
25
Parts Canada Spotters Guide
29
Sponsors
30
Team By Team
36
Support Class Previews
42
Track By Track
48
By The Numbers
50
TV Coverage
EDITOR: John Hopkins, [email protected]
SENIOR EDITOR: Colin Fraser, [email protected]
ADVERTISING SALES: David Weber, [email protected]
Laura Lang, [email protected]
Rob Morton, [email protected]
Derek Rockel, [email protected]
Chris Mann, [email protected]
Andrew Edwards, [email protected]
ART DIRECTOR: Mark Hoffberg,
[email protected]
PRODUCTION: Greg Calnan, Sherry Leavitt
WRITERS: Jeremy Fleming, John Hopkins, Rob OBrien
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Don Empey, Colin Fraser, Matthew Grant,
Rob OBrien, Paul Pedicelli, Keith Quade
Published by:
Inside Motorcycles
Inside Track Communications, Inc.
95 Trinity St., Toronto, ON, M5A 3C7
Telephone: 416-962-7223 Fax: 416-962-7208
E-mail: [email protected]
PRESIDENT: John Hopkins, [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT: Greg MacPherson, [email protected]
TREASURER: David Weber, [email protected]
SECRETARY: Rob Morton, [email protected]
COPYRIGHT: All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission of Inside Track Communications Inc. is prohibited.
PROGRAM PRODUCED BY:
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2008 SCHEDULE
PARTS CANADA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 7
JORDAN SZOKE FEATURE
Dream season
Career year for Canadian champ Szoke
T
BY JEREMY FLEMING & ROB OBRIEN
here wasnt too much Jordan Szoke
could complain about in 2007. He won
his second straight Parts Canada
Superbike Championship, and fourth
overall, and clinched his second Pro 600
Sport Bike national title.
Then there was the appearance at the
Trials des Nations on the Isle of Man, and
the fulfillment of a lifelong dream by testing
the Kawasaki MotoGP bike in Spain.
We looked back on a stellar year with the
Brantford, ON ace at the Moncton
Motorcycle Show in February.
Normally one of the first questions we
ask you during one of these interviews is
how your Fall went. Were going to do it a
little differently this time. This past Fall you
performed at the World Trials event and did
the MotoGP test with Kawasaki do you
think if you stacked up against everybody
else, do you feel like overall you performed
the best out of that group of people?
[Laughs] Yeah, I always say One day
when they have a championship for motorcycling overall, Im going to be World
Champion! I truly believe that. I push so hard
with my road racing, as everybody knows, but
when Im riding trials and all that and you
know I spend a lot of money and time with my
trainers and spotters and doing that as well
Ice racing you know, I always want to push. I
cant accept just staying where I am, even when
Im training. I really enjoy doing all of the aspects
of motorcycling, and my Fall was really busy
but cool, too. I went from riding Trials in the Isle
of Man to riding a MotoGP bike at Valencia.
The whole thing with you riding the
MotoGP bike at Valencia has been highly
publicized. What is it that you think about
when you think back to riding that bike?
Ummm I think about it and cry
[laughs]. I guess its just something that
you cant explain to people. The fans who
watch racing love it my favourite sport to
watch is Tiger Woods playing golf but Ill
never truly understand it. To finally get the
opportunity to earn the opportunity to
ride that bike definitely puts me at peace in
a way. Its all Ive worked for my whole life,
for that one moment. After it was over, I felt
like this weight was lifted off my shoulders.
Then about a week later, all I could think
PHOTO BY GOLD&GOOSE
PHOTO BY BOB SZOKE
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
(Opposite Page) The MotoGP test was a dream come true. (Above Left) Szoke changed pace at the Trials des Nations on the Isle of Man. (Above Right)
Szoke celebrates victory at Mont-Tremblant opener -- a quick start to the season was key. (Below) Pro 600 in Nova Scotia -- his greatest race of the year.
about was what I had to do to get that
opportunity again! [Laughs] Im right back
where I started! Hopefully this time it doesnt take 27 years to get there again.
Do you ever feel that if you were somewhere private that you got to ride, that the
test would have been more useful to you
as a rider?
Well, a bunch of things with that test it
was a promo thing, as well as a thank-you
and then a shake-down of me. They wanted to meet me, they wanted to see me.
They wanted to see how I fit in, and see
how the team ran. I was there in the tent the
whole weekend, not just for the press day.
That was the big thing, but youve got to
look at things like, I hadnt ridden anything
since the end of August I hadnt ridden a
sport bike, I hadnt ridden the track, I hadnt ridden the tires. I had all of this stuff
against me then, Go, youve got 10
laps. If they had said, Go out youve got
an hour and I could have gone out and
gotten used to it and come back in and
talked to the crew it would have been better. There was a lot of pressure, so I just
took it as it was.
I wish there had been a ZX-10R street bike
there just to go out and spend some time
learning the race track. Then, I just wish I
could have had even an hour on the
MotoGP bike to go out and show my stuff. It
was awesome, Im not knocking it. I just
wish I could have ridden on a day when
there werent all of these press people there.
Lets talk about 2007. You and your
Kawasaki team started off the 2007 season
so strong it seemed as though you guys
put your heads together and decided that
you had to get right back to winning races.
Going into 07 I had the number one
plate. Ive had the number one plate
before, and never retained it. So, I just
thought all winter. I thought of every scenario, every situation, every practice session what I was going to do in qualifying. I
was thinking about qualifying months
before we even got
to the first round.
What it was going to
be at the track and
how it would go and
what I wanted to see
happen. I spent a lot
of time with my trainer and trained so
hard in the gym.
Between my trainer
and my two closest
friends, we really
spent a lot of time
talking and trying to
figure it out.
And then, working
closely with the team and never letting off
the team. I put a lot of pressure on those
guys and pushed them and I lead by example they see me come there ready to go
and so they work harder. We came out of
there (the first round) like a gun and thats
what I wanted to do. I wanted to come out
of there and tromp on them early. I wanted
to put everybody down and say, Im number one and it wasnt an accident. That
was my thought.
Now, what about the McCormick factor?
Obviously that was a focal point. At the end
of the season, we talked to Jeremy
(Sharrard, McCormicks tuner) and we
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
Szoke (l) continues to be willing to provide a helping hand to young teammate Brett McCormick.
asked him, Does Jordan ever want to know what
youre doing before he makes changes? Jeremy
said, No. At that point, the information flow was a
one-way street. Do you anticipate that changing, or
are you so far along that you dont really want to talk
to anybody else about your setup?
No, I dont really care what anybody else is doing. I
might ask a gearing question, or something. But, really
I know what I want out of a motorcycle, and it might not
be what you want. So, Im not worried about you. Im
not worried about anybody else. I want my bike to do
this for me and Im going to figure out with my crew
what I need to do to get it to do that. Thats just how it
is. If they (McCormicks crew) want to use my notes
go right ahead. I dont care.
Its interesting that a year later how you feel about
Brett and your willingness to help nothing has
changed?
Well, no, I want to help the kid, obviously. And I
want to guide him a little bit which I did all year. Now,
hes got a good head on his shoulders and hes got a
year under his belt. Its going to change a little bit.
Now hes up to speed a little more and all that. I will
still be 100% with him with questions that he has. He
didnt win any races all year (in 2007) he was never
with me. Hes a young kid and hes getting cocky
thats what young kids do. Its different riding for
fourth and fifth than it is riding for first and second.
In 2007, what was the race that you were happiest
with your performance?
Theres two really that come to mind. One gives me
nightmares, believe it or not thats not good
[laughs]. I keep having the same nightmare over and
over again and I hate it. Its sunny out and its raining
at the same time and I highside I love that dream
[laughs]. For me to crash and come back from the
back of the pack and still win at Mosport its pretty
awesome. But, its still not the race that I think about.
The one that means a lot to me in my heart is
Shubie, for sure. Everybody jumped on the bandwagon and said, Oh, Crevier is coming hes going
to win the championship. And Im thinking, Well
what about Szoke? What about the guy whos won a
lot of races? Crevier is the greatest at Shubie. I go
out and crash in the morning warm up totally my
fault. I have a horrific crash and a few hours later I win
a race. I wasnt even shaken up from that. Thats really cool to me. It just took a lot to win that race (600
Sport Bike) at Shubie. I maybe made a few little mistakes and let Steve by in areas that I didnt think he
could by. So, on the last lap to do what I did, I was
very proud of that.
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2007 SEASON REVIEW
For the second straight year,
Szoke smoked the opposition.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
The Szoke show
Canadian Kawasaki rider adds to legacy
B
BY JOHN HOPKINS
rantford, ONs Jordan Szoke added a
few more pages to his historic
Canadian Superbike racing career in
2007.
The 28-year-old Canadian Kawasaki factory rider claimed his second straight Parts
Canada Superbike crown in impressive
fashion, and became only the second rider
to win four national number one plates,
breaking a tie with Michel Mercier. Only
Steve Crevier, with six championships, now
has more titles than Szoke.
Szokes run to the championship was
proof that often having a tried and true
package is more beneficial than racing the
latest and greatest machinery. While
Yamaha and Suzuki trotted out revised version of their 1,000cc weaponry, Szoke con-
tinued with essentially the same Kawasaki
ZX-10R that had helped him to a dominant
title run in 2006.
So while his rivals worked their way up
to speed on unfamiliar equipment, Szoke
made hay, winning the opening three
races of the seven-round series and then
holding off a late surge by Crevier on the
Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company
Yamaha YZF-R1.
There were some who felt Szoke had
enjoyed a relatively easy run to the title in
06. After all, Crevier had been absent and
Pascal Picotte, the 2003 and 04 champion
had been riding hurt. But Szoke silenced
the doubters in 2007, seeing of the challenges of past champions Crevier, Picotte
and Francis Martin, along with regular frontrunners Kevin Lacombe and Clint McBain.
After a year away from the Canadian
scene Crevier returned in 2007 armed with
Yamahas new YZF-R1 and the services of
ace tuner Scott Miller (who had helped
Szoke to the 2002 national title).
However, the program came together
late and, unlike his rivals, Crevier had
missed the first year of Pirellis tenure as
spec tire supplier to the series. As a further
complication, Crevier and the Fast
Company team had trouble coming to
grips with a new Ohlins rear shock. They
finally arrived at a set-up by the Mosport
doubleheader where, not coincidentally,
things turned around for the Yamaha
squad. Crevier claimed pole for the two
races (the only time Szoke would be beaten to the $500 Inside Motorcycles prize all
year) and in the first race finished third. He
won the second wet weather counter in
classic style.
At AMP, despite suffering from a nasty
stomach ailment and back injuries incurred
in practice, Crevier outfoxed Kevin
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2007 SEASON REVIEW
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Calgary, AB
(403) 269-2220
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Sport Cycle Ltd.
Calgary, AB
(403) 276-3385
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Harbour City Motorsport
Nanaimo, BC
(250) 754-3345
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John Valk BMW/ Ducati
Vancouver, BC
(604) 731-5505
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Richmond Motorsports
Richmond, BC
(604) 276-8513
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SouthWest Ducati
Kelowna, BC
(250) 807-2697
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Wildwood Sports
Winnipeg, MB
(204) 477-1701
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Atlantic Motoplex
Moncton, NB
(506) 383-1022
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Steve Crevier (14) was Szokes closest challenger in both the Superbike and Pro 600 Sport Bike class. Francis Martin (16)
enjoyed a better year in 600 than Superbike, as did Andrew Nelson (26), the 600 winner here at Mosport.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
Lacombe for the win to keep his title hopes alive. He
did everything he could at the Shannonville finale,
winning his third race in a row, but Szoke had simply
opened up too great a margin in the first half of the
season.
It was somewhat ironic that a season that had started out with so much uncertainty for McBain should
turn out to be his most impressive in the top flight.
Squeezed out of his longtime home at Blackfoot
Suzuki when it joined forces with Picotte Performance,
McBain managed to cobble together a Suzuki support
team that included highly regarded engine man
Patrice Goyette, former national Tuner of the Year
Chuck Downie and some suspension assistance from
Joe Skidd. He also elected to focus solely on the
Superbike class, despite his status as a former national 600 sport bike champion.
McBain was in title contention heading to
Shannonville, but settled for third in the standings.
Still, it was a great campaign from someone who had
to piece together a program from scratch.
If not much was expected of McBain in 2007, a
great deal was expected from Lacombe. The Granby,
QC rider had ended 2006 with consecutive victories
and second place in the championship behind
Szoke. However, the Team Toyota Yamaha / Brooklin
Cycle rider wasnt able to reproduce that race-winning form. He did finish on the podium in five of the
seven races and led half of the race at AMP, but like
Crevier and Fast Company the Brooklin squad struggled with the new Ohlins shock and poor finishes at
Race City and Mosport limited Lacombe to fourth in
the final standings.
No one was quite sure what to expect of Canadian
Kawasakis 15-year-old rookie Brett McCormick, but
the Saskatoon rider made an excellent impression. He
never finished lower than sixth in a race and ended the
season with a second at Shannonville after battling
Szoke for the pole in qualifying! Naturally, the youngster was a runaway winner of the HJC Pro Rookie of
the Year Award.
Suzukis high profile partnership of Blackfoot and
Picotte Performance failed to deliver. Time and
resources were lost when Picotte suffered a big test-
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Troy and the 1098 R:
smoking the
competition
Virtually identical to this year’s World Superbike dominating Ducati F08, the
Ducati 1098 R is undiluted yet street legal. The 1098 R, developed by Ducati
Corse to reclaim the world title, boasts a lineage far removed from standard
technology and replica paint schemes. Piloted by Ducati legend Troy Bayliss
in his ﬁnal World Superbike season, it is inarguable that the 1098 R is
realizing its sole purpose - to win. This homologation special is limited to
only 450 machines, bristling with carbon ﬁber, titanium, magnesium and
electronic wizardry. See your Ducati dealer to secure this piece of history.
2007 SEASON REVIEW
Rookie Pro Brett McCormick takes in the words of Pirellis Stefano Pena. The rookie Pro challenged
teammate Szoke for pole in the final Superbike round.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
ing crash at Jennings in April, then came a
fall at Race Citys Pro 600 round, where
Picotte suffered a broken collarbone,
elbow and foot injuries. Picottes teammate
Francis Martin had an up and down season
that started badly with an engine failure at
Mont-Tremblant.
For someone who doesnt consider himself much of a 600 rider, Szoke is starting to
earn quite a good reputation and he
notched up his second straight national
class title for the Canadian Kawasaki
Motors factory team, riding his ZX-6R to the
Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike crown.
The 28-year-old was even more dominant in 600 than in the Superbike feature
class, winning five of the seven races and
finishing second in another.
As in Superbike, Szokes main championship threat came from Crevier on the
Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company
Yamaha YZF-R6. The veteran claimed a
win in the back end of the doubleheader
at Calgarys Race City Motorsport Park,
but saw his title hopes dim at a bizarre
weekend at Mosport International
Raceway, where he was docked four positions for a jump start after appearing to
score the victory.
Andrew Nelson took third in the championship on the Z-1 Cycletech Yamaha and
was the other rider to win a round, inheriting the second Mosport victory after
Crevier was penalized.
Martin may have nipped Nelson to third
in the final standings, but he suffered an
opening lap DNF at the Shannonville
Motorsport Park finale and instead ended
up fourth on the GSX-R600.
Tied on points with Martin, but officially
ranked fifth on the countback of results was
precocious rookie teenager McCormick.
The Canadian Kawasaki rider found himself
on the podium in only his second race, in
Calgary, but a pair of rough races at
Mosport dented his otherwise excellent
season.
It isnt easy being a title favourite, but
Paul Glenn handled the pressure and won
the 2007 International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike crown.
Paul Glenn led the standings all the way to
take the Amateur 600 Sport Bike title.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
2007 SEASON REVIEW
The Keene, ON rider did it in style too,
winning the opening race of the year in
dominant fashion on his Go Big Racing
Suzuki GSX-R600 and staying in the top
spot in the standings the rest of the way.
The rider who proved to be Glenns
biggest threat was Kawasaki pilot Israel
Johnas from Oak Lake, MB. The lanky 19year-old swept the doubleheader at
Calgarys Race City Motorsport Park but then
showed he could go fast back east as well.
Last year definitely showed the rise of
women racers on the Canadian scene as
Catherine Nadeau and Marie-Josee
Boucher both demonstrated race-winning
ability in the Amateur 600 class. Only two
points separated the pair as they came to
the final round at Shannonville. Boucher
ran at the front but then went off the track,
while Nadeau battled for the lead with
Glenn and eventual winner Pedro Sousa.
Nadeau ended the season as she started it,
with a runner-up finish, and the Yamaha
rider secured third in the final standings
ahead of Hondas Boucher.
Michael Taylor claimed his first number
one plate in almost a decade when he
scooped the Thunder crown in 2007.
Riding a BMW R1200S for the BMW
Motorrad Canada factory team, the twotime national Superbike champion won
four times in the seven races to end the
reign of Buell and Darren James, winner of
FINAL STANDINGS
Parts Canada Superbike
1. Jordan Szoke (Kaw) 298; 2. Steve Crevier (Yam)
290; 3. Clint McBain (Suz) 254; 4. Kevin Lacombe
(Yam) 247; 5. Brett McCormick (Kaw) 224; 6. Francis
Martin (Suz) 164; 7. Andrew Nelson (Yam) 161; 8.
Pascal Picotte (Suz) 148; 9. Jean-Paul Tache (Suz)
133; 10. Frank Trombino (Suz) 125; 11. Ross Millson
(Suz) 81; 12. Erick Beausejour (Hon) 63; 13. Sean
Heydorn (Hon) 60; 14. Matthew McBride (Suz) 53;
15. Csaba Werner (Suz) 50; 16. Dave Young (Suz)
45; 17. Terry Steeves (Kaw) 41; 18. Dany Jourdain
(Suz) 37; 19. Dave Stokowski (Kaw) 30; 20. Adam
Roberts (Yam) 25; 21. Andrew Dunlap (Kaw) 25; 22.
Larry Orde (Yam) 25; 23. Jeremy Burgess (Kaw) 23;
24. Franklyn Dominguez (Kaw) 20; 25. Zenon Nelson
(Suz) 20; 26. Yoshi Hamaguchi (Yam) 17; 27.
Matthew Cooper (Yam) 15; 28. Jeremy Stepper (Suz)
13; 29. Bill Clark (Kaw) 13; 30. Chris Murray-Audain
(Kaw) 12; 31. Steve Bourdeau (Hon) 8; 32. Karl
Meema (Suz) 8; 33. Alain Campagna (Yam) 8; 34.
Rick Langille (Hon) 6; 35. Junior Dallaire (Suz) 6; 36.
Cory Canfield (Suz) 4; 37. Mark MacDonald (Kaw) 4;
38. Gene McKay (Hon) 2
Yoshimura Pro 00 Sport Bike
1.Jordan Szoke (Kaw) 311; 2. Steve Crevier (Yam)
(Main) Michael Taylor (15) outduelled Michael Leon (74) for the Thunder title. (Inset) Martin Grande (l)
nipped Derek Vammus for the Suzuki SV650 National Cup.
PHOTOS BY MATTHEW GRANT (MAIN) & ROB OBRIEN
the previous two championships.
The Buell threat came not from James,
but instead Michael Leon on the Laval
Harley-Davidson XB12R. The Montrealer
won the second Mosport round, then battled Taylor tooth and nail at Atlantic
Motorsport Park before settling for second
behind the BMW.
That set up a showdown at Shannonville,
but Taylor won the race to secure the title
and Leon was runner-up.
287; 3. Andrew Nelson (Yam) 224; 4. Francis Martin
(Suz) 203; 5. Brett McCormick (Kaw) 203; 6. Kevin
Lacombe (Yam) 193; 7. Pascal Picotte (Suz) 136; 8.
Karl Daigle (Hon) 134; 9. Matthew McBride (Suz)
119; 10. Stephane Chabot (Yam) 106; 11. Frank
Trombino (Suz) 101; 12. Jeremy Stepper (Suz) 86;
13. Zenon Nelson (Suz) 86; 14. Craig Atkinson
(Yam) 78; 15. Sean Heydorn (Hon) 67; 16. Alain
Larouche (Hon) 52; 17. Erick Beausejour (Hon) 46;
18. John-Ross MacRae (Suz) 44; 19. Andrew
Dunlap (Kaw) 44; 20. Ross Millson (Suz) 43; 21.
Yoshi Hamaguchi (Yam) 42; 22. Alain Campagna
(Yam) 32; 23. Steve Bourdeau (Hon) 31; 24. Adam
Roberts (Yam) 25; 25. Robert Busby (Hon) 15; 26.
Louis Raffa (Yam) 14; 27. Elie Daccache (Kaw) 13;
28. Junior Dallaire (Suz) 8; 29. Simon Blue (Kaw) 7;
30. Bill Clark (Kaw) 4; 31. Darren James (Suz) 2; 32.
Pat Barnes (Yam) 2; 33. John Bresnan (Kaw) 2; 34.
Mark MacDonald (Kaw) 2; 35. Rick Langille (Hon) 1
International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur
00 Sport Bike
1.Paul Glenn (Suz) 239; 2. Israel Johnas (Kaw) 207;
3. Catherine Nadeau (Yam) 178; 4. Marie-Josee
Boucher (Hon) 153; 5. Eric Moffette (Suz) 123; 6.
Martin Ricard (Kaw) 117; 7. Patrick Tetreault (Yam)
105; 8. Natalie-Catherine Provost (Hon) 99; 9. Brian
Derek Vammus edged Martin Grande for
the win in the first round of the Suzuki
SV650 National Cup at Mont-Tremblant, but
when the dust had settled at the end of a
wild season Grande was on top of the podium as the 2007 class champion.
The seven-race campaign was all about
Grande and Vammus, and they split the
victories evenly through the first six races.
Second in the season finale was enough to
give Grande his title.
Blaawendraat (Hon) 87; 10. Matt Schmidt (Suz) 84;
11. Yanik Goudreault (Suz) 82; 12. Genevieve
Lesieur (Suz) 64; 13. Marcel Irnie (Kaw) 58; 14.
Yvan Carrier (Yam) 58; 15. Nadine Lajoie (Hon) 57;
16. Rahul Dua (Yam) 56; 17. Allan Chaulk (Kaw) 54;
18. Alain Lefebvre (Suz) 52; 19. Pedro Sousa (Yam)
51; 20. Alexandre Guay (Yam) 36; 21. Efram
Ellenbogen (Suz) 31; 22. Andrew Carruthers (Yam)
25; 23. John Eamon (Yam) 25; 24. Frankie Horwath
(Kaw) 25; 25. Brad Haffner (Hon) 23; 26. Tim
Chemello (Yam) 23; 27. Amy Karthaus (Suz) 22; 28.
Jamie LeBlanc (Hon) 22; 29. Eric Tremblay (Hon)
19; 30. Eddie Campbell (Suz) 19; 31. Sean Huffman
(Suz) 19; 32. John Solowij (Hon) 17; 33. Jorge
Marques (Yam) 13; 34. Scott Redden (Suz) 13; 35.
Guy Labranche (Yam) 12; 36. Brett Birnie (Yam) 12;
37. Bill Shields (Yam) 11; 38. Jorge Valencia (Hon)
10; 39. John-Pierre Perusse (Suz) 8; 40. Shawna
Aron (Yam) 8; 41. Matthew Leahey (Hon) 6; 42.
Keith McPhail (Kaw) 6; 43. Dan Runciman (Yam) 4;
44. Greg Lively (Yam) 4; 45. Brian Kamp (Suz) 4; 46.
Daniel-Eric Ouimet (Suz) 2; 47. Vanessa Gareau
(Hon) 2; 48. Matthew Brewer (Hon) 1
Thunder
1.Michael Taylor (BMW) 293; 2. Michael Leon (Bue)
269; 3. Chad Pasowisty (Duc) 226; 4. Darren James
(Bue) 210; 5. Jim Proulx (Bue) 208; 6. Michael
Ferreira (BMW) 190; 7. Corey Warren (Duc) 165; 8.
Paul Penzo (Duc) 142; 9. Jim Dickenson (Duc) 130;
10. Stephen Walker (BMW) 121; 11. Olivier
Spilborghs (Bue) 107; 12. Yves Carrier (Duc) 77; 13.
Dave Estok (Bue) 74; 14. Dale Wood (Bue) 59; 15.
AJ Simiana (Duc) 46; 16. Joseph Rozinski (Bue) 29;
17. Chris Crump (Bue) 27; 18. Dino Paron (BMW)
26; 19. Sam Rozynski (Bue) 21; 20. Willie Geczi
(Bue) 15; 21. Ken Livingstone (Duc) 15; 22. Dan
Thomson (Bue) 15; 23. Pat Barnes (Yam) 12; 24.
Patrick Doyle (BMW) 10
Suzuki SV 50 National Cup
1.Martin Grande, 323; 2. Derek Vammus, 285; 3.
Francois Chartrand, 229; 4. Andre Talbot, 194; 5. Jeff
Fenwick, 173; 6. Nicky Poon, 151; 7. Brett Fenwick,
147; 8. Pierre Drouin, 102; 9. Robert Cousineau, 88;
10. Robert Busby, 79; 11. Clarke La Prairie, 68; 12.
Guy Legace, 58; 13. David Cote, 56; 14. Chris Dopke,
54; 15. Nuno Almeida, 53; 16. John Savoy, 42; 17.
Spiros Zoulas, 23; 18. Darryl Simpson, 21; 19. Joe
Rodrigues, 21; 20. Daniel Drolet, 18; 21. Stephane
Garand, 15; 22. Michel Sabourin, 12; 23. Vincent
Renaud, 9; 24. Adam Desrosiers, 8; 25. Anissa
Burachynsky, 4; 26. Edward Beck, 4; 27. David
Mongrain, 2; 28. Rick Simbirski, 2
RACERS RACERS
Ordinary R
heroes
Canadas top racers
reflect on past legends
BY JOHN HOPKINS
iders competing on the Parts Canada
Superbike Championship tour are
considered heroes to the fans who come
out watch them. Kids and adults alike
cheer them on, seek out their autographs
and hang posters of them on their wall.
But its easy to forget that these guys are
also fans themselves. There were times when
they werent unlike the folks standing on the
other side of the fence, hoping to meet their
heroes and watching in awe from the stands.
Jordan Szoke,
Brantford, ON
Don Munroe in the 1998 Canadian Superbike
season finale, Shannonville Motorsport Park
The 1998 Canadian Superbike season was supposed to be a learning process for 19-year-old
Jordan Szoke. The abundantly talented Brantford,
ON rider had moved into the factory Canadian Kawasaki Motors team,
joining two-time national champions Michael Taylor and Don Munroe.
But things didnt go quite as planned. Szoke took an early season win
in the rain in Calgary while Munroe suffered an uncharacteristic fall.
Coming into the season finale at Shannonville Szoke found himself with
a 15-point lead over Taylor, which was trimmed to just 13 after qualifying.
If Taylor won the feature race and Szoke finished third or lower, the
veteran would have his third Canadian Superbike title. While Taylor and
Munroe battled at the front, Szoke ran a cautious third.
I really admired Don that day because he wasnt worried about the
championship, Szoke remembers. He and Taylor went at it, and Mike
was a tough competitor.
Frank Trombino,
Kleinburg, ON
We asked four of todays racing stars to
look back to earlier in their careers, or
before their careers even started, to pick
out a rider or performance that left an
impression on them. It could have been the
moment they decided they also wanted to
be motorcycle racers, it could have been a
particularly brave performance that they
use as inspiration or motivation.
These are the moments that todays
heroes picked out as their favourites from
yesterdays heroes.
Don Munroe taking the Superbike and
600 class wins at Shannonville
PHOTO BY COLIN FRASER
Munroe eventually took the win after a pipe bracket broke on Taylors
ZX-9R, causing the exhaust to drag through right-handers. With third
place Szoke secured his first Canadian national title.
I knew I could decide it [the championship] but I didnt want to play it
that way, Munroe said afterward.
It was the final race of Munroes remarkable Canadian racing career.
He went out a winner on the track, but also respected as one of the true
good guys of the sport.
Scott Russell in the 1995 Daytona 200
It is probably the one race result that
makes British racing legend Carl Fogarty
wince, but it serves as the inspiration for
Canadian star Frank Trombino.
On the opening lap of the 1995 Daytona 200 Scott Russell
crashed his Kawasaki ZX-7RR but managed to rejoin the race,
and took advantage of a full course caution to carve his way
back through the field and win the classic event for a third
time, denying Fogarty a possible win.
Colin Edwards (45) and Scott Russell
Russells gutsy performance made a huge impression on
(4) lead away at Daytona in 1995
budding racer Trombino, who joined the Canadian Superbike
tour in 1998 and has three career wins to his credit in addition
and try as hard as I can.
to a pair of titles in the now-defunct Open Sport Bike series.
It just goes to show that you can do anything if you put your mind to
Ive raced at Daytona and I know the abuse a body goes through,
it, you just need to go out there and race your heart out. Ive been down
Trombino says. So to go through abuse like that, with your bike bent,
and out, had seasons where I didnt even think I would make it the last
and still win the race, thats what inspired me the most to go out there
round, but I always remember that performance by Russell.
© 2008 KTM North America, Inc. KTM is a registered trademark of KTM North America, Inc.
KTM recommends you: Take an approved training course. Read and understand your owner’s manuals and instructions.
Wear all protective gear. Respect all laws, the environment, restricted surroundings and noise limitations.
www.kiskadesign.com
»990SUPERDUKE.com
RACERS RACERS
Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON
were kind of rooting for both of them.
Lucchinelli won and Taylor was hooked.
I went reluctantly to the track, says the defending Canadian
Thunder champion. I probably spent $40 on a ticket and I had $75 in
my pocket, so that was a big investment. But after that race I knew I had
to get my [racing] licence when I got back home to Toronto.
Marco Lucchinelli and Gene Church in the 1986
Daytona Battle of the Twins feature
In March of 1986 motorcycle racing was possibly
the furthest thing from 20-year-old Michael Taylors
mind. He was traveling around
the U.S. on his motorcycle,
Battle of the Twins at Daytona 1986; Paul Lewis (610) on his
seeing the country, meeting
Cosworth-Norton, followed by Marco Luchenelli (618) and
people and working odd jobs to keep himself afloat.
Jimmy Adamo (26) both on Ducati TTF1 750s, with Gene
Chuch on the Lucifers Hammer Harley-Davidson XR1200
But while in Fort Lauderdale a new friend from
Quebec convinced Taylor they should ride up to
Daytona Beach and catch the motorcycle races at
the Speedway. Taylor didnt know what to expect,
but went along anyway. What he saw literally
changed his life.
Sitting high in the grandstands on a Friday afternoon Taylor watched Ducatis Marco Lucchinelli
and Harley-Davidson rider Gene Church fight for
victory in the Battle of the Twins feature.
It was totally inspiring, Taylor recalls. You
could sense the drama, and you really got connected to the two riders. It was unlike any sport Id ever
seen.
Church enjoyed a top speed advantage on the
Harley but Lucchinellis Ducati performed better
through the infield section of the track.
You really got to see the riders strengths and
weaknesses, Taylor says. You knew Church had
to lead out of the chicane to make enough ground
on Lucchinelli before they got to the infield. You
Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON
Miguel Duhamel in the 1999 Daytona 200 Superbike race
and 600 SuperSport race
Not much was expected from Miguel Duhamel in 1999, and
certainly not at Daytona.
The previous summer the Montreal rider had suffered critical injuries in a crash at New Hampshire International
Speedway. When he arrived at Daytona the following March
he was walking with the aid of a cane.
When Duhamel rode his Honda CBR600 to victory in the 600 SuperSport race
on Friday folks were impressed. But surely he wouldnt be able to repeat that performance over the grueling 57-lap grind of the Superbike feature two days later.
Apparently he could. Riding the race of his life Duhamel scored a momentous victory on the factory RC45, edging the Suzuki of Mat Mladin at the line by just 0.014 secs.
The performance left a big impression on Andrew Nelson, then a 14-year-old
Ottawa area kid just about to break onto the Canadian racing scene.
To see him walking with that cane, and then win both of those races was really
something, Nelson recalls. Just seeing and appreciating the desire he had to win
left a big impression on me.
In 2001 Nelson won the HJC Pro Rookie of the Year Award in the Parts Canada
Superbike Championship and last season he finished a career high third in the
Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike standings.
He will try to improve on that ranking this summer on a Yamaha YZF-R6, in addition for going for the Canadian Thunder title aboard an NCR Ducati 848.
Miguel Duhamel at Daytona 1999
EVERYONE CALLS IT A WINNER.
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GSX-R sales claim based on combined 2007 North American retail sales figures through October 2007. Specifications, product features and colours are subject to change without notice. PDI, Freight and administration fees apply.
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SUZUKI.CA
INSIDE TECH 2008
Riding high
Road racing and the world of electronics
F
BY JEREMY FLEMING
or the 2008 Parts Canada Superbike
Championship there are very few
changes in the equipment requirements
for the premier classes. The key standards for the Superbike Professional feature division remain in place: Pirelli spec
slick (or full wet) race rubber, 185 maximum horsepower on the official series
Dynojet Dyno, and no less than 360
pounds, wet, post race on the certified
series electronic Intercomp scales.
However, you could argue that major
changes have occurred in recent years,
when advance engine management systems were banned by the series. Currently,
only electronic aids that are part of the original equipment of a specific model are permitted. As far as data acquisition, only the
moderately priced, limited capability one
way AiM system is permitted.
The Rulebook specifically states that
traction control is not permitted.
The decision to restrict electronics in
Canadian road racing means the cutting
edge of performance evidenced in MotoGP,
World Superbike and AMA Superbike is not
available to Canadian competitors. Does
this mean that our racers must work harder,
or are they in fact simply cut off from an
important area of rider training?
Throttle control has always been a
strong suit of Canadian competitors, given
their typically wide range of riding experiences. Current Parts Canada Superbike
Champ Jordan Szoke spends his down
time riding trials, motocross, on the ice and
providing his own motive power on a variety of bicycles.
Traction control is something else
again, when you experience it on the level
of the top teams, explains Jordan of the
Jungle. Last fall, Szoke had the rare opportunity to test for the works Kawasaki Grand
Prix squad in Spain with its 800cc Ninja
racer and came away impressed, if not
exactly in love.
That bike, well, its a completely different kind of machine, confirmed Szoke.
You cant help but be amazed at its capabilities, and once you get to try it, of course
you want to ride it again.
Still, Szoke wasnt all that enamoured
with all those famous MotoGP world-level
electronics.
I can appreciate the performance, and I
recognize the potential advantages, continues the four-time feature class Canadian
National Champ. But I think it takes something away from your enjoyment, your control. We work so hard to get that throttle
feel, and in some respects, thats no longer
part of the package on the MotoGP
machine.
Ironically, Szokes first taste of the brand
new 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R at the annual
April JenningsGP Pirelli tire test did not
focus on the new machines much vaunted
advanced ignition controls. Szoke, instead,
was dazzled by the smooth operation of
the throttle, rather than the fuel-injection
that the barrel in his right hand controls!
With any brand new race bike, a works
team will be wary of matching the performance of its previous version, and this is
doubly true for the Canadian Kawasaki program its last model took the past two
Superbike titles, a perfect record for the
second generation Ninja thou.
But Szoke likes the new bike, loved the
throttle response and thought that the 2008
ZX-10R got along very well with the latest
generation of Pirelli race rubber. The
champ set the top time in the test, bad
news for his opposition.
Much attention has been focused on the
new Ninjas advanced ignition and engine
management, although the green guys
backed away from early hints of traction
control. Still, big bikes like Suzukis famed
Hayabusa and the ZX-14 have shown how
very quick, high performance machinery
can be made easy to ride at low speed with
variable, sophisticated engine controls.
These advances are coming to the
Superbike class, and in a big hurry.
Only a decade ago, the custom racing
smooth bore carbs used on the top
homologation special Superbike racers
made for bikes that required considerable
finesse to ride consistently. Allow your bike
to run low in the revs, cross the torque
threshold at full lean without absolute caution, and before you knew it your heels
might be passing your head!
Such highsides were the norm, and
many racers missed multiple weekends
INSIDE TECH 2008
(Opposite) Jordan Szoke was awed by the electronics of the MotoGP Kawasaki. (Above) Super tuner
Scott Miller (r) was a star of the unlimited era. (Below) Brett McCormick impressed in Nova Scotia.
PHOTOS BY ROB OBRIEN
recovering from airborne misadventure.
At some of our most challenging layouts,
like Shubenacadie, racers would actually
remove their expensive and hard to sort flat
slide carburetors. Instead, they would
mount the stock CV mixers in an effort to
smooth the delivery and produce manageable power. Hondas tractor-like v-four
RC30 was considered the bike of choice at
Shubie for almost a decade.
The smooth running, torquey big Desmo
v-twins from Ducati were the dominant
force on the world stage during this era. In
Canada, ultra smooth and disciplined racers such as east coast ace Don Munroe
showed the safe way to win on our often
tight and bumpy venues.
The bike that truly pointed the way in
Canada, on a number of fronts, was
Hondas legendary v-twin RC51. The
expensive fuel-injected works racer took
the Canadian crown in its debut in 2000,
although the bike was heavier and less
powerful than its rivals. The key was in the
very forgiving and predictable nature of the
sweet handling RC.
However, as is often the case, the fourcylinder brigade regained form with a
major technical step forward of its own.
Suzuki ushered in the era for the 1000cc
four-cylinder, its fuel-injected, dual butterfly
ground breaking 2002 GSX-R1000 showing the way.
Meanwhile, the Canadian series opted to
go with more production oriented rules,
just as the latest big four-cylinder OE
machines arrived on the scene to take control. The last full blown, unrestricted 1000cc
(and bigger) machines put out close to 190
horsepower, and kept super tuners like
Scott Miller and Paul Fournier very busy.
The new, production-based Parts
Canada Superbike Championship feature
class equipment is restricted to a stillimpressive 185 horsepower, and most of
the frontrunners are regularly in that ballpark. But now these bikes are much easier
to ride, far more manageable: their chassis
and performance are closely matched, in a
manner pioneered by the RC51.
Much debate surrounded the Pro debut
of Saskatchewan rising star Brett
McCormick in 2007, the 15-year-old leaving
the Amateur ranks after just one tour to join
Szoke on works Kawasaki equipment.
McCormick hardly put a foot wrong last
season, but nowhere was he more impressive than at the penultimate event of the
championship chase, at the tight and twisty
Atlantic Motorsport Park on the east coast.
McCormick showed very well at the
famously demanding venue, learning the
track on a factory Ninja that regularly measured over 180 horsepower on the official
series Dynojet Dyno. The power didnt
need to be restricted for the first timer
now these bikes are genuinely controllable,
if not exactly easy to ride!
Of course, teams still do their best to
INSIDE TECH 2008
improve throttle response, and even with
production oriented rules that mandate key
items such as stock bore and stroke, some
aggressive and secretive building programs still exist to try and make the most
out of the best.
These days, you hear riders discussing
chassis behaviour far more often than
power issues, and every rider has his or her
preferences in terms of set-up. With fork
mods available, aftermarket shocks
installed, new linkages and triple clamps
on hand, there are lots of ways to refine
your handling or get lost in the abundance of choices available.
The advent of Pirelli control or spec rubber
means there is no longer a tire war, and each
rider has the same choice of tire compound
and construction as his opposition. However
rider confidence can be very dependant on
the tire choice, and smooth riding as well as
smart chassis set-up can still lead to a bike
that will run stronger, longer, than the seemingly similar machine of a rival.
Nowhere should this be more apparent
than at Picotte Performance Blackfoot
Suzuki, where three A riders will represent
the GSX-R brand. It should prove most interesting to see the variety of set-ups displayed
by the diverse preferences of Francis Martin,
Chris Peris and Matt McBride.
Team owner Pascal Picotte, in semiretirement, is famed for getting the most
from his equipment, but is also among the
smoothest of modern racers can any of
his preferred set-ups transfer usefully to his
squad members?
On the flip side, there is a brand new program for Buell, certain to attract all kinds of
attention. Many American-based racing
insiders were shocked that Buell would
decide to develop its machinery on the Parts
Canada Superbike tour, but it makes more
sense for a new brand to run in a 185 hp
series than the all-out, 220 hp plus AMA tour.
The big problem for Buell will be the limited development time available the
Harley-Davidson owned brand has only
just completed street bike development of
the impressive new 2008 model 1125R
twin. It will probably take a season for
Steve Crevier, Darren James and Co. to
get the chassis set-up to their liking, and
during that time the engine development
program will be handled by OE powerplant
builder Rotax.
The Buell will be a work in progress, but
many insiders are looking forward to the
eventual competitive form of the series
leading twin.
Of course, Buell might have a jump on
the competition, if recent rumours are to be
believed. Both BMW (four-cylinder) and
KTM (twin) are said to be looking at the
Canadian Championship for their recently
announced Superbike programs. Expect
even closer racing at the front in the very
near future on the Parts Canada
Championship trail.
(Top) Can Pascal Picotte (c) transfer his setup magic to any of his three riders? (Above) The new Buell
1125R points to an exciting future in Canada.
PHOTOS BY ROB OBRIEN (TOP) & COURTESY DEELEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON CANADA
WHO
WILL
BE
CROWNED
CHAMP
FOR
2008
PARTSCANADA.COM / CDNSUPERBIKE.COM
01 JORDAN SZOKE
14 STEVE CREVIER
KAWASAKI
BUELL
03 CHRIS PERIS
16 FRANCIS MARTIN
Age: 42 / Home: Maple Ridge, BC
2007 Results: Superbike 2nd, 600 2nd
SIX-TIME CANADIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPION
Age: 29 / Home: Brantford, ON
2007 Results: Superbike 1st, 600 1st
FOUR-TIME CANADIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPION
Age: 21 / Home: Calgary, AB
2007 Results: Did not compete in Canada
SUZUKI
Age: 34 / Home: Rock Forest, QC
2007 Results: Superbike 6th, 600 4th
TWO-TIME CANADIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPION
06 BRETT McCORMICK
26 ANDREW NELSON
Age: 16 / Home: Saskatoon, SK
07 HJC PRO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Age: 23 / Home: Kars, ON
2007 Results: Superbike 7th, 600 3rd
2001 HJC PRO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
KAWASAKI
YAMAHA
09 CLINT McBAIN
29 DARREN JAMES
SUZUKI
BUELL
13 MATT MCBRIDE
31 FRANK TROMBINO
SUZUKI
YAMAHA
Age: 35 / Home: Cochrane, AB
2007 Results: Superbike 3rd
2002 NATIONAL 600 CHAMPION
Age: 23 / Home: Mississauga, ON
SUZUKI
Age: 31 / Home: North Vancouver, BC
2007 Results: 600 31st, Thunder 4th
TWO-TIME THUNDER NATIONAL CHAMPION
Age: 34 / Home: Kleinburg, ON
WHO WILL BE CROWNED CHAMP FOR 2008
34 KEVIN LACOMBE
123 DAVID ESTOK
YAMAHA
BUELL
38 TERRY STEEVES
178 KARL DAIGLE
Age: 25 / Home: Granby, QC
Age: 38 / Home: Bathurst, NB
2007 Results: Superbike 17th
Age: 36 / Home: New Smyrna, FL
2007 Results: Thunder 13th
KAWASAKI
Age: 18 / Home: Granby, QC
2007 Results: 600 8th
2006 AMATEUR NATIONAL CHAMPION
81 JEREMY STEPPER
711 FRANKLYN DOMINGUEZ
KAWASAKI
Age: 20 / Home: Calgary, AB
SUZUKI
Age: 30 / Home: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2007 Results: Superbike 24th
2007 DOMINICAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPION
KAWASAKI
83 MARIE-JOSÉE BOUCHER
723 ANDREW DUNLAP
HONDA
KAWASAKI
98 TODD SCOTT
801 ALEX WELSH
HONDA
TRIUMPH
Age: 27 / Home: Montréal, QC
2007 Results: Amateur 600 4th
Age: 39 / Home: Bedford, NS
Age: 33 / Home: Truro, NS
Age: 20 / Home: Uxbridge, ON
WHO WILL BE CROWNED CHAMP FOR 2008
RD1: MAY 22–25
Calabogie Motorsports Park
CALABOGIE, ON
RD2: JUNE 26–29
Race City Motorsport Park
CALGARY, AB
RD3/4: JULY 17–20
Mosport Int'l Raceway
MOSPORT, ON
RD5/6: AUGUST 7–10
Atlantic Motorsport Park
SHUBENACADIE, NS
RD7: AUGUST 28–31
Shannonville - Pro Track
SHANNONVILLE, ON
SEE
YOU
AT
THE
TRACK
SERIES SPONSORS
Parts
Canada
Calgarybased Parts
Canada is
entering its ninth straight year as title sponsor
of Canadas national road racing series. Such
longevity is a rarity in motorsport, and almost
unheard of in Canadian racing.
Parts Canada was formed in December,
1997 when Powertwins Performance Parts
entered into a partnership with US-based Parts
Unlimited. Powertwins was started in Calgary in
1989 as a big twins parts distributor but gradually added product lines covering imported
motorcycles.
Parts Canada feels its involvement in the
Canadian Superbike series perfectly fits its
motto We support the sport.
www.partscanada.com
Yoshimura
Yoshimura R&D of
America is back as
title sponsor of the
Pro 600 Sport Bike
division. The company supported the class
from 1997-2002 and returned as sponsor last
year.
Based in California, the company was founded by Pops Yoshimura and taken over by his
son, Fujio, who distinguished himself in the
1970s as an innovative designer of performance products.
Yoshimura products are distributed in
Canada by Parts Canada.
www.yoshimura-rd.com
Armour
Bodies
Armour Bodies,
through its
Canadian distributor Riders Choice is the new
sponsor of the Amateur 600 Sport Bike category.
Armour Bodies is a North Bay, ON-based
company that produces bodywork for a wide
range of sport bikes. Based in Mississauga,
ON, Riders Choice opened its 6,000 square
foot accessory showroom and service centre in
March, 2005.
www.armourbodies.com; www.riderschoice.ca
Pirelli Tires
In 2008 Pirelli enters its
third year as the spec tire
supplier to the Parts Canada Superbike
Championship, and this year is also presenter
of the Pirelli Superpole, which will see the top
qualifier in the Superbike class decided in a single-bike qualifying session.
Pirelli is also a sponsor of the Pirelli Amateur
Tire Bonus, which awards $2,000 in Pirelli DOT
rubber to the previous seasons top Amateur
600 national class finisher for use in the
Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship
at each round of the series.
The company recently extended its deal with
the Parts Canada Series for an additional three
years. www.pirelli.com
HJC Helmets
The top performing
rookie Pro in the 2008
Parts Canada Superbike Championship will be
recognized with the HJC Pro Rookie of the Year
Award. The prize goes to the first year rider who
accumulates the most points based on his
scores in the Parts Canada Superbike or
Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike classes.
The racers best result from either class over
the race weekend counts to his point total.
The winner of the year-end award receives a
cheque for $2,500. If the top Rookie Pro used
HJC helmets at every round of the series the
prize doubles to $5,000. www.hjchelmets.com
Dynojet
Research
Las Vegas-based Dynojet Research will
again provide dyno services at all rounds of the
2008 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.
It has enjoyed this role since the current rules
structure was implemented in 1997.
This service includes the mandatory postqualifying and post-race technical inspections
as well as tuning services to series competitors.
Dynojet products are distributed in Canada
by Parts Canada. www.dynojet.com
Inside
Motorcycles
Inside Motorcycles continues its sponsorship
of the Team of the Year and Pole Position Award.
The Inside Motorcycles Team of the Year
award goes to the Superbike squad judged to
have performed the best over the course of the
racing season. The award is presented at the
final round of the Championship.
The Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award will
reward the fastest Superbike qualifier in the Pirelli
Superpole sessions at each series round with a
cheque for $500. www.insidemotorcycles.com
MPM Array
MPM Array continues its
long association with the
Parts Canada Superbike Championship as the
official clothing supplier to the national series.
All series staff at each round of the national tour
this summer will be wearing clothing produced
by MPM Array, as they have done at every
series event since 1997. www.mpmarray.com
Martin
Brickwood
Performance
Martin Brickwood Performance of Pointe
Claire, QC continues this year as sponsor of the
MBP/Brembo Performance award.
The award will consist of a $250 value in
Brembo Brake products to the Superbike tuner
who comes closest to reaching the 185hp limit
in post-race technical inspection on the official
series Dynojet Dyno. Similar prizes valued at
$150 will go to the tuners who do the same in
the Thunder and Canadian Sport Twins classes.
www.mbpducati.ca
Performance
Under Gear
Performance Under Gear will once again
sponsor the Performer of the Race Award in the
Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike class of
the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.
PUG will award a set of its high performance
base layer apparel to the rider judged to have
had the most impressive ride during the
Amateur 600 Sport Bike race.
www.performanceundergear.com
Tirox
Tirox World Class
Powersports Products will
sponsor the Tirox 360 Brush Award in this
years Parts Canada Superbike Championship.
The award will go to the winning rider at each
round who triumphs with the largest margin of
victory in their class. Winners in any of the six
national classes are eligible for the prize.
www.tiroxproducts.ca
TEAM BY TEAM
CANADIAN KAWASAKI MOTORS
When you had a season like these guys did last year, why
change?
Indeed, there isnt much new under the factory Kawasaki tent.
The ZX-6R that Jordan Szoke took to the 2007 Yoshimura Pro
600 Sport Bike crown is little changed from last year, and at the
official preseason test at JenningsGP in Florida Szoke was lapping quicker with it than he had last year.
Both Szoke and Brett McCormick reveled in the performance
of the all-new ZX-10R, which is ominous news for their rivals in
the Superbike class.
Szoke had considerable praise for the revised fuel injection
system, which he said made the throttle response much more
progressive through corners and gave him increased confidence
when leaned over.
And both riders marveled at how nimble the bike was, comparing it favourably to a 600 in its ability to change direction.
Szoke ended the two days of testing at JenningsGP with the
fastest overall time and, using a new Pirelli qualifier, was knocking on the door of the overall track record. If the Brantford, ON
whiz is to lose his crown in 2008, someone is going to have to wrestle it
from him.
McCormick spent the Jennings test playing himself back into game
shape, and his lap times dropped accordingly with more miles on the
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
bikes. After finishing last season with a runner-up Superbike finish at
Shannonville, expectations for the 16-year-old will be high when the
2008 season opens in Calabogie.
There is only one significant crew change, with Mark Douglas leaving
and Mark Orchard stepping in to help with McCormicks 600 program.
Riders: Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON), Brett McCormick (Saskatoon, SK) Equipment: Kawasaki ZX-10R; Kawasaki ZX-6R
TEAM TOYOTA YAMAHA FAST COMPANY RACING
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
The Team Toyota Yamaha Fast Company squad ended last season as
the closest challenger to Szoke and Kawasaki, and despite a change in
riders the squad looks well placed to carry on that momentum.
Despite losing old master Steve Crevier, Scott Millers crew has picked
up Kevin Lacombe, who remains one of Canadas rising stars on the rac-
ing scene. With a well-organized and efficient team behind
him Lacombe should be able to challenge for victories in
both the Superbike and Pro 600 Sport Bike classes.
The Granby, QC rider has stepped his game in the past
couple of years with a very aggressive off-season training
program. This past winter he spent time in Florida riding
motocross with the likes of Jean Sebastien Roy and
Colton Facciotti, and JSR in particular takes fitness very
seriously.
The YZF-R1 is essentially the same bike Crevier took
to wins in the last three rounds of 2007, and Miller is confident the development of the bike is right where it
should be.
There is a lot of talk about how good the all-new YZFR6 is, particularly in its mid-range engine performance
and torque. A 1-2 for the bike in its AMA season debut at
Daytona in March certainly raised a few eyebrows.
The team is essentially the same as the squad that
picked up the Inside Motorcycles Team of the Year Award
last season, with Grant Schwartz a new face in design and fabrication.
Lacombe feels this is the best opportunity hes had to pick up his first
national road racing championship, and looking at the preseason tip
sheet it would be hard to argue.
Rider: Kevin Lacombe (Granby, QC) Equipment: Yamaha YZF-R1; Yamaha YZF-R6
TEAM BY TEAM
TEAM SUZUKI / BLACKFOOT / PICOTTE RACING
turned the second best overall time in his debut with the team at
JenningsGP in April.
Peris has long been considered a rider with great potential, but he
has seldom dedicated himself to a full season with one program.
That has now changed, and this could be the year he breaks out in a
big way.
Also new to the team is Matt McBride, another young rider who
perhaps hasnt had the chance to display his full potential. Last year
with his own Suzuki program he showed flashes of pace but his
equipment was woefully unreliable. That shouldnt be an issue now.
Francis Martin returns, and the ever optimistic two-time Superbike
champion is a threat whenever he has the right equipment at his disposal.
With his mind fully focused on management Picotte can bring a
lot to the table with his experience and setup skills.
The team has hired suspension ace Dale Rathwell, who will work
as crew chief for McBride. Ex-racer Benoit Pilon will deal directly with
Martin.
The Suzuki GSX-R1000 is unchanged from 2007, which Picotte says
should help the team. The key challenge, he says, will be making the
power more user-friendly.
The GSX-R600 is all new, with a heavily revised chassis and improved
engine characteristics, Picotte says.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
After a disappointing 2007 campaign there has been a great deal of
change in the factory Suzuki program.
Perhaps most significant has been Pascal Picottes decision to step
out of his leathers for 2008 as he gives his body, in particular his oftinjured back a rest. Young Calgary rider Chris Peris was named as his
replacement, and he immediately gave a good impression when he
Riders: Chris Peris (Calgary, AB); Matt McBride (Mississauga, ON); Francis Martin (Rock Forest, QC)
Equipment: Suzuki GSX-R1000; Suzuki GSX-R600
DEELEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON CANADA / RUTHLESS RACING
Very few new race programs in the world, never mind
PHOTO COURTESY DEELEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON CANADA
Canada, have likely garnered as much curiosity as the
Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada Buell Superbike campaign.
A lot of people will be watching to see how the stylish 1125R
performs against the likes of Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki.
Make no mistake, Buell has taken on a big challenge with
this program. Despite the noble pedigree of the Rotax-built
twin coaxing enough power to be competitive in the
Superbike class will be a big challenge, but having said that
there are tracks on the Canadian tour where horsepower is
not the be all and end all.
In Steve Crevier the team couldnt hope for a more experienced or savvy rider, and the Deeley folks can rest assured
the six-time Canadian champ wont leave anything on the
table. Three wins for the 42-year-old last season attest to that.
Unfortunately Crevier suffered a neck injury in a spring car
accident, so his health could be a concern, at least early in
the season.
Like Crevier, James is recovering from a spring injury, in his case torn
Two-time Thunder champion Darren James and fellow Harley stalelbow ligaments and a concussion suffered in a dirt bike crash.
wart Dave Estok are due to get on 1125R Superbikes later in the season.
James and Estok will run with the familiar Ruthless Racing line-up.
James doesnt have a lot of experience at the Superbike level, but both
Thomas Morin will work as crew chief, while Crevier has brought over
he and Estok were involved in the development of the machine and will
longtime tuner Pete Snell.
be racing it in Thunder, so there should be some familiarity.
Riders: Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC); Dave Estok (New Smyrna, FL); Darren James (North Vancouver, BC) Equipment: Buell 1125R
TEAM BY TEAM
ACCELERATION RACING
TROMBINO RACING
Rider: Clint McBain (Cochrane, AB)
Equipment: Suzuki GSX-R1000
After an impressive debut season
running his own Suzuki squad Clint
McBain will be back at it in 2008.
Although corporate cutbacks have
taken their toll, McBain will run effectively the same program he had in
2007, focusing on the Superbike
class.
Alberta Cycle returns as a major
sponsor, while a coalition of Suzuki
dealers have also come on board,
including Lachine Moto from
PHOTO COURTESY ACCELERATION RACING
Quebec, St. Onge Recreation in
Ontario, Battleford Supercycle in Saskatchewan and Pro Cycle of Nova
Scotia. Calgary-based womens track day program One Track Mind
and Motovan are also backers.
Patrice Goyette returns to the team with assistance from Tyler
Donnelly and Jacquie Matechuk.
McBain debuted his 2008 bike at Shannonvilles opening RACE
regional round in April and made a good impression, setting a lap
record on the Fabi Circuit. The bike was due for a final shakedown at
Shannonvilles Victoria Day Weekend event a week before Calabogie.
The team will also be running Cody Matechuk in the Suzuki SV650
National Cup.
Rider: Frank Trombino (Kleinburg, ON)
Equipment: Yamaha YZF-R1; Yamaha YZF-R6
Defending RACE SuperSeries champion Frank Trombino is back on
Yamahas in 2008, running his own team after a year with Ben Gartner
on Suzukis.
The Kleinburg, ON rider is always capable of producing a frontrunning effort, although the strain of looking after his own squad could be
an issue this summer.
Trombino will be assisted by Andy Cutler, who worked with him on
his 2001 national Open Sport Bike title-winning campaign. He has built
an R1 Superbike and also has an ex-Kevin Lacombe Superbike, as well
as an R6.
Backing for the program comes from Yamaha Motor Canada, Acme
Slate, Gord Bushe Performance, Pro 6 Cycle, Hindle and Nexo.
At press time the popular Trombino was coming off a broken collarbone and concussion suffered in a
highside at the second RACE regional
round, but he expected to be back out for
the Victoria Day
Shannonville round
in preparation for the
Calabogie season
opener.
NELSON YAMAHA
EXCEL MOTO HONDA
Rider: Andrew Nelson (Kars, ON)
Equipment: Yamaha YZF-R6
Although his focus will be on his Ducati 848 and the Canadian
Thunder title, Andrew Nelson will also make a bid for the Yoshimura Pro
600 Sport Bike crown aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6.
Nelson finished a strong third in Pro 600 points last year, and figures
with a couple of breaks he could have been in the frame for the title.
That combined with the potential of this years all new R6 whetted his
appetite for another run
at the championship.
This is very much a
family affair for Nelson,
with his Dad Richard
leading the program.
Yamaha has contributed a bike and Zaid
Saleemi of Z1 Cycletech
is building up an R6 for
Nelson as well.
Nelson expected to
debut the new R6 at
Shannonvilles Victoria
Day Weekend regional
before heading to the
first national on home
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
turf at Calabogie.
PHOTO BY DON EMPEY
Rider: Marie-Josee
Boucher (Montreal,
QC)
Equipment: Honda
CBR1000RR; Honda
CBR600RR
After an excellent
season in the
Amateur 600 Sport
Bike class last season
Marie-Josee Boucher
steps up to the Pro
ranks.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
The Montrealbased rider will be Hondas most visible challenger as she continues
with backing from Excel Moto. Supprot also comes from Hindle, Mimic,
Passion Moto, Pro Honda Oils and Chemicals and Via Trailers, among
others.
Alain Larouche is taking a year off racing and will assist on her crew
along with her father Roland. Daniel Martel handles the motors.
Boucher will focus on her CBR600RRs and the Yoshimura Pro 600
Sport Bike class although Excel Moto will have a 2008 CBR1000RR for
her to try later in the season.
Boucher impressed in her Pro debut at the opening Shannonville
regional in April.
TEAM BY TEAM
MOTO BUTLER KAWASAKI
PHOTO BY DON EMPEY
PERUSSE KAWASAKI
Rider: Karl Daigle (Granby, QC)
Equipment: Kawasaki ZX-6R
Highly touted teenager Karl Daigle enters his second Pro season
with a move to Kawasaki equipment.
After a game run last year that placed him a clear second in Pro
Rookie points, Daigle could turn into a contender this year. His team
was put together by Kawasakis Quebec district manager Stephane
Nadon and engines will come directly from the Canadian Kawasaki
Motors race shop.
He was the class of the Pro field at the opening two RACE regionals,
sweeping the Pro Superbike and 600 features at round 2 in early May.
Three-time Canadian Superbike champion Michel Mercier is heavily
involved with Daigles program and his FAST Racing School is providing backing along with Trois-Rivieres dealer Perusse Machinery.
Z1 CYCLETECH TRIUMPH
Rider: Alex Welsh
(Uxbridge, ON)
Equipment: Triumph
Daytona 675
The Triumph name
makes a return to the
Canadian national racing scene with 20-yearold Alex Welsh campaigning a Daytona
675 with tuning help
from Zaid Saleemi.
Welshs background
is in 125 and 250 twoPHOTO BY DON EMPEY
stroke competition,
and he was a USGPRU champion in 2006. At the end of last season he
ran a Yamaha YZF-R6 prepared by Saleemi in the final RACE regional
and raised a few eyebrows.
Welsh likes the Triumph, comparing the engine to a 250 with its
torque and linear powerband. A challenge has been adapting to the
engine braking and running on DOT tires. Saleemi has been working at
this seasons early regionals on improving the front end feel.
GP Bikes is helping out the team with bodywork.
Welsh was in the thick of the action in the Pro 600 class at the first
two RACE regionals of 2008, so if Saleemi can work his magic on the
Daytona it may be able to spring a surprise somewhere this season.
Rider: Franklyn Dominguez (Santo Domingo, D.R.)
The Parts Canada Superbike Championship gets a bit of Caribbean
flavour this summer as Dominican Republic champion Franklyn
Dominguez joins the tour.
The 30-year-old has purchased Jordan Szokes 2007 Kawasaki ZX10R and will run it in all rounds of the national series with backing from
Seamont Brokerage and Roy Performance of Montreal, and Moto
Butler of Santo Domingo.
Canadian women racers Vanessa Gareau and Josee Bouchard have
been frequent visitors to the Dominican Republic racing series in the
past few years, and last year Dominguez repaid the visits by coming
north to run at the Mosport International Raceway national doubleheader. He scored finishes of
16th and 14th on a ZX-10R.
In addition to winning
last years Dominican
Superbike title, Dominguez
was the Puerto Rican
champ in 2006.
Another Dominican,
Deivi Martinez, is entered in
Armour Bodies Amateur
600 Sport Bike aboard a
Yamaha.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
STEPPER
RACING
Rider: Jeremy Stepper
(Calgary, AB)
Equipment: Suzuki GSXR1000
Calgary-based Stepper
Racing returns to the Parts
Canada Superbike
Championship in 2008
with 20-year-old Calgary
rider Jeremy Stepper.
Stepper enjoyed a couple of top 10 results on his
way to 12th in the
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport
Bike points last year. Now he has traded in his Yamaha R6 for a GSXR1000 and made the move up to the Superbike class.
Experienced tuner Willie Vass, who has worked with Chris Peris in
the past, has joined the team and backing comes from Stepper Custom
Homes, Signetix, Mountain Toys, Bow Cycle, Parts Canada and VP
Fuels Western Canada.
Stepper already got some track time at the official series JenningsGP
test in April and he is also planning to take in some AMA events south of
the border this season.
TEAM BY TEAM
FREEDOM CYCLE /
VICIOUS CYCLE
Rider: Terry Steeves (Bathurst,
NB)
Terry Steeves is in for a busy
summer. In addition to his role
in the running of the new
Atlantic Racing League in the
Maritimes, the Bathurst, NB
racer will also be competing on
the Parts Canada national tour.
Steeves has upgraded his
equipment for 2008 and will
ride something of a hybrid
Kawasaki ZX-10R that is
equipped with a 2007 Jordan
Szoke motor in an ex-Brett
McCormick chassis. Steeves
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
reports the bike has been working well in early testing and he expects to be more competitive than he was in 2007.
Last year he managed 17th in the Superbike standings.
Support for his program also comes from Kawasaki and Mission
Trailers.
The Freedom Cycle / Vicious Cycle team will also be running promising Amateur Frankie Horwath on a ZX-6R.
PHOTO COURTESY FUNDY POWER SPORTS
FUNDY POWER SPORTS
Rider: Andrew Dunlap (Truro, NS)
Andrew Dunlap will try to build on a promising 2007 aboard the
Fundy Power Sports Kawasaki ZX-6R. The 33-year-old from Truro, NS
finished 21st in Superbike and 19th in Pro 600 Sport Bike points last
year with a top finish of 10th in last years Atlantic Motorsport Park 600
national round.
Now entering his seventh year of racing, Dunlap is also backed by
RAT Racing, CKM, Joe Rocket, SBS Brakes, Suomy Helmets and STS
Stands.
The Fundy Power Sports team is managed by Terry Davis and also
includes Roland Gauthier and Adrian Dunlap.
The squad will also be backing John Solowij and Angus Borland in
the Amateur 600 class.
SCOTT RACING
Rider: Todd Scott (Bedford, NS)
Equipment: Honda CBR600RR
Todd Scott has regrouped after a broken wrist spoiled his 2007 season and will campaign an ex-Erick Beausejour Honda CBR600RR this
summer.
Scott bought the bike last fall and initially wasnt planning to race it.
But after riding it he found it suited his style, which involves carrying a
lot of corner speed, and will see if that can translate into results in 2008.
PHOTO COURTESY SCOTT RACING
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
GORDS SPORT
CENTRE RACING
Rider: Mark MacDonald (Sydney, NS)
Second-year Pro Mark MacDonald will ride a Kawasaki ZX-6R for the
Gords Sport Centre team in 2008.
MacDonald has added a second ZX-6R to his stable and expects to
challenge for the podium in Atlantic regional events and move up the
order in the national rounds.
Gords will also be backing promising Amateur Scott Redden on a
Suzuki GSX-R600.
ARMOUR BODIES AMATEUR 600 SPORT BIKE PREVIEW
Fifteen-year-old Jodi Christie (main) has made
waves already in his short career. Pedro Sousa
(inset) came out of retirement to win last years
national season finale at Shannonville. Both
could contend for the 2008 crown.
Looking for a hero
Young guns battle to be next Canadian star
T
BY JOHN HOPKINS
he battle to become Canadas next
great road racing hope begins at
Calabogie Motorsports Park May 25 with
the kick off of the Armour Bodies Amateur
600 Sport Bike Championship.
A full field of hungry young riders will
attempt to emulate current rising Pro stars
Karl Daigle, Brett McCormick and Paul
Glenn during the course of the summer. At
stake is not only national recognition and a
piece of the Armour Bodies prize fund, but
the Pirelli Amateur Champion Bonus, which
awards $2,000 in Pirelli DOT tires to the top
Amateur 600 national class finisher for use
in their rookie Pro year.
Sizing up the competition and picking a
potential winner is a dangerous game.
Theres always a hot newcomer who flies
under the radar for the first round or two
before putting it all together and emerging
as a title threat, much like Israel Johnas did
last year.
And its always hard to tell how a preseason favourite will handle the attention and
pressure that comes with being on the hot
seat. Glenn wore that mantle bravely last
year and came through to secure the crown.
One rider who has gained a lot of attention over the winter and early in the new
season is 15-year-old Jodi Christie of
Keene, ON (Glenns hometown also!). In
last Septembers finale of the RACE Super
Series at Shannonville Christie won the
Amateur 600 race on a Yamaha YZF-R6
and also looked impressive in Amateur
Superbike action.
He carried that momentum into the 2008
regional season, winning both the Amateur
600 and Amateur Superbike RACE openers and at press time was second in both
championships.
In Superbike Christie was chasing Joey
McRae of Halton Hills, ON, who won the
second round on his Suzuki GSX-R600 and
could clearly also run near the front of the
Amateur national pack this season.
The leader of the RACE Amateur 600
standings after two rounds was Sean
Huffman. The Kemptville, ON rider, also
Suzuki mounted, made a few appearances
in the national series last year, with a top
finish of 15th in the red flag-shortened
Mosport round.
Rahul Dua of Brampton, ON is in the
thick of the RACE points battle this year,
and the Suzuki rider raised eyebrows by
qualifying on pole for last years national
season finale. That race was won by
Mississauga, ON rider Pedro Sousa on a
Yamaha, who came out of retirement to
score an impressive victory. If hes in for a
full national campaign in 2008 he could
well be a title threat.
There are a number of Quebec riders
worth keeping an eye on, all of whom have
prior experience in the Amateur 600 class.
Martin Ricard of Montreal is back with a
Kawasaki. He was third in last seasons
opener but missed a pair of rounds.
The Plessisville, QC pairing of Yvan
Carrier and Yanick Goudreault could figure in the championship. Goudreault won
at Mosport while Carrier had a pair of top
five finishes. Both will be Suzuki-mounted
in 2008.
Atlantic Motorsport Park has seen its
Amateur ranks swelling recently and Brian
Blaawendraat showed the pace of the East
Coast Cartel when he won the national
Amateur round at AMP last summer.
The Truro, NS rider has gone Pro, but a
number of young guns are hoping to emulate his efforts this year, including Scott
Redden with the Gords Sport Centre
Suzuki, Frankie Horwath on the Freedom
Cycle/Vicious Cycle Kawasaki team and
the Fundy Power Sports-backed duo of
John Solowij and Angus Borland.
Top womens riders Marie-Josee
Boucher and Catherine Nadeau have also
moved up this year, and the door is open
for a new female star to emerge. Genevieve
Lesieur (Suzuki), Natalie-Catherine Provost
(Honda) and Nadine Lajoie (Honda) are
among the contenders.
Those are some of the names to watch
for, but by no means does it represent the
complete list of contenders. Keep your
eyes open for some surprises this season,
and in all likelihood we wont know until the
final checkered flag falls at Shannonville
who our Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport
Bike champion is.
CANADIAN THUNDER & CANADIAN SPORT TWINS
Twins multiply
New look class attracts big names
I
BY JOHN HOPKINS
ts all change for the national big
twins class in 2008. After three successful years the rules for Canadian
Thunder have been redrawn, opening up
the category to a host of exciting new
motorcycles and creating a second division, Canadian Sport Twins that will
resemble the previous Thunder class.
The result of this shuffling around points to
a very exciting year for the category, with four
manufacturers putting forth serious efforts in
the headline Thunder division and a wide
selection of talented riders vying for the title.
The new Canadian Thunder class will be
open to motorcycles producing up to 122
hp and weighing no less than 380 pounds.
Air-cooled motorcycles producing 75 hp
and liquid-cooled bikes capped at 90 hp
will be eligible for the Canadian Sport Twins
division, with a minimum weight of 370
pounds.
BMW is the defending Thunder class
champion thanks to Michael Taylors efforts
on the R1200S last season, but the BMW
Motorrad Canada factory team has a new
bike and new rider as it
prepares to go after the
2008 title.
The recently
released HP2 Sport will
form the basis of the
German marques
campaign, and 2007 Amateur 600 Sport
Bike champion Paul Glenn will join Michael
Ferreira in the works team.
Glenn is well versed in racing twins, the
Keene, ON rider having starred in the
Suzuki SV650 National Cup in 2006 and the
SunTrust MOTO-ST Series (on an SV650)
last year.
Ferreira enters his second year with the
BMW program. The Kitchener, ON rider finished sixth in points last year with a pair of
thirds at Mosport as his top results.
BMW is also expected to be represented
by Steve Doc Walker on an R1200S. The
Carleton Place, ON rider finished 10th in
last years national standings.
(Top) Andrew Nelson - Ducati; (Above) Paul Glenn - BMW; (Opposite Main) Darren James - Buell
(Inset) KTM 990 Super Duke
PHOTOS BY ROB OBRIEN, MATTHEW GRANT (JAMES) & H. MITTBAUER/KTM
Leading the charge against the BMWs
will be the NCR Ducati 848 of Kars, ONs
Andrew Nelson. A former HJC Pro Rookie
of the Year and race winner in the national
600 Sport Bike series, Nelson must be considered a title favourite.
He will be joined on the team by 2007
European Supertwins champ Valter
Bartolini.
Founded in 1967, NCR has a long and
storied history with Ducati and racing, and
will bring a great deal of Italian flair and
prestige to the Canadian Thunder class.
Two-time Thunder national champion
Darren James will try to reclaim his title with
Buells new 1125R. The twin-cylinder, powered by an 1125cc Rotax-built engine, has
shown great potential in the opening two
rounds of the MOTO-ST Series (whose feature class is very similar to Thunder) and
James and teammate Dave Estok make a
formidable rider pairing.
The program will be run by Deeley
Harley-Davidson Canada through James
Ruthless Racing outfit. The squad will have
a busy year, as it is also building four 1125R
Superbikes, and hopefully that wont
detract too much from a title run in the
Thunder division.
A brand new challenge will come from
KTM with the 990 Super Duke. Not a lot is
known about the program and the bikes
havent seen much track time. This will be
the first foray for KTM into Canadian road
racing, although the Super Duke has competed in Europe for the past few years.
Riders for the factory effort were expect-
CANADIAN THUNDER & CANADIAN SPORT TWINS
ed to be Erick Beausejour and Michael
Leon, which should give the team a good
start. Beausejour was the 2005 HJC Pro
Rookie of the Year and Leon finished runner-up to Taylor in last years Thunder
standings.
Speaking of Taylor, the number one plate
holder looks likely to start 2008 on the sidelines, as he was unable to come to terms
with BMW on a new contract.
The Canadian Sport Twins class could
be a wide open affair. Ruthless Racings
Olivier Spilborghs should be a favourite for
the crown on a Buell XB9R. The Vancouver
racer finished 11th in last years standings
on a similar machine and is entering his
third year in the class.
Ottawa Buell rider Jim Proulx made a
strong debut in the class last year, finishing
fifth in points, and will be a title threat if he
decides to return.
The Ducati Paul Smart replicas should
also run well in this division, and last year
Calgarys Chad Pasowisty won two races
and placed third in points aboard the popular Italian bike.
Ducati rider A.J. Simiana of Bowmanville,
ON led the RACE SuperSeries standings at
Shannonville after the first two rounds and
was 15th in last years national points.
You cant beat the sound of the twins,
and with a wide variety of manufacturers
and models sharing the track, this class will
be an interesting one to watch.
PREVIEW: SUZUKI SV650 NATIONAL CUP
Wide open
Suzuki SV650 Cup full of potential stars
I
BY JOHN HOPKINS
n its brief history as a national class the
Suzuki SV650 National Cup has quickly
established a reputation for developing
racing talent.
Its inaugural champion Karl Daigle is
now one of a promising crop of young Pros
making their mark on the Canadian scene.
Paul Glenn didnt quite win the 2006 title,
but he has used the series as a springboard to a factory ride with BMW Motorrad
Canada in the Thunder national series. Last
years champ Martin Grande is also looking
at stepping up in his career in 2008.
So the question is, whos next?
There are a number of likely contenders,
and as with any starter class you never
know who might pop up. No one had heard
of Grande when he arrived on the scene in
2006, yet the Montreal rider was instantly
competitive before going on to win the title
the next year.
The secret to the success of the Suzuki
SV650 National class is equality. All riders
compete aboard Suzukis very popular
SV650 sport bike.
Horsepower on the 650cc
twins is limited to 75 hp
and weight capped at 365
pounds. All bikes race on
spec Pirelli DOT tires.
An instant title favourite,
should he choose to
return to the class, will be
Orangeville, ONs Derek
Vammus. Unlike most riders in the class, Vammus
is a veteran of the
Canadian racing scene,
but he had things far from
easy in 2007 as he finished second to Grande in
the point standings.
One could argue the
presence of an established Pro like Vammus
did wonders for Grandes
development as a racer,
although Vammus may
(Above) Martin Grande went from obscurity to champion in two years.
feel Grande learned a little (Below) Western hope Cody Matechuk.
PHOTOS BY KEITH QUADE (GRANDE) & COURTESY ACCELERATION RACING
too much!
Others to star in the opening regional
Third in last years points was
rounds include Ottawas John Savoy, who
Francois Chartrand of Repentigny, QC,
placed second and third in the first two
who claimed five podium finishes.
events, and Brian Kamp of Woodstock,
Should he return to the series he will be
ON, who was runner-up to Jarvie in the secan instant threat for success.
ond Shannonville race.
Also in the mix would be fellow
Western Canada will be represented in
Quebec rider Andre Talbot of Deux
the series this year by 14-year-old Cody
Montagnes, who took fourth in last
Matechuk of Cochrane, AB. A star of the
years points despite missing a round.
western mini road racing scene, Matechuk
On the Ontario side of things, John
will be part of the Acceleration Racing team
Jarvie has won the opening two rounds
that features his stepdad Clint McBain. If
of the RACE regional series at
McBain proves to be as good a coach as
Shannonville Motorsport Park. The
he is a racer, then Matechuk could be in for
Morriston, ON racer did not run in the
a strong run.
national series last year.
Its wide open heading into the 2008
Jeff and Brett Fenwick finished fifth
national season, and well likely be waiting
and seventh in the national points last
until the final round to see who emerges
year, and Brett finished sixth in the second regional at Shannonville this spring. on top.
Starting out
PREVIEW: HONDA CBR125R CHALLENGE
New class aims to highlight young stars
I
BY JOHN HOPKINS
n 2003 the Parts Canada Superbike
Championship made a major investment in this countrys future road racing
stars with the launch of its Amateur 600
Sport Bike series. Two years later another rung was added to the ladder with the
introduction of the Suzuki SV650
National Cup.
For 2008 a new starting point has been
created. This season will see the debut of
the Honda CBR125R Challenge.
The new class is based around Hondas
distinctive CBR125R starter bike, which
was launched in the spring of 2007.
The class is designed to be very accessible to young racers or those new to the
sport. The bike has a suggested retail price
of $3,499 and a standard race kit is available through participating
dealers. The kit includes an
Elka shock, Mimic bodywork,
Arrow bolt-on exhaust canister,
Z-1 frame sliders, Parts
Canada work stand and a certificate for the series spec
Pirelli Supercorsa race rubber.
The little Honda is powered
by a 125cc liquid-cooled fourstroke single-cylinder engine.
Claimed dry weight is 118.kg
and horsepower is quoted at
13.4 at 10,000 rpm. As with
other Parts Canada Superbike
classes horsepower will be
regulated through the use of
the official Dynojet Dyno.
The bikes feature electronic
fuel injection and a six-speed
transmission.
The series should be attractive to those riders moving
through the burgeoning mini
road race scene in Canada.
Last years HJC Pro Rookie
of the Year Brett McCormick
was a product of western
Canadian mini road racing,
and no doubt this years
series will be full of riders
aiming to follow in his footsteps.
With not a lot of horsepower available the
series will place a premium on smooth riding
and racecraft. And if the non-championship
debut event at Shannonville Motorsport Park
in early May is anything to go by, the action
will be very close. Fourteen-year-old Aubry
Bailey of Parry Sound, ON (707, above)
edged Granby, QCs Jeremie Hade Precourt
and Lee Kuhn Jr. of Hamilton after the top six
bikes had swapped positions repeatedly
most of the way.
Another of the stars of Shannonville round
was Raphael Archambault of Ste-Colonban,
QC (185, above). The ice racing protégé of
Pascal Picotte led most of the laps.
The Honda CBR125R Challenge will follow the Parts Canada Superbike
Championship calendar, running at
Calabogie Motorsports Park, Race City
Motorsport Park, the Development Track at
Mosport International Raceway and
Atlantic Motorsport Park before wrapping
up at Shannonville.
The racing in the class looks like it will be
very good, and fans will want to pay close
attention, as there may be a future star or
two coming out of the mix.
TRACK-BY-TRACK
ROUND 1: CALABOGIE
MOTORSPORTS PARK
ROUND 2: RACE CITY
MOTORSPORT PARK
CALABOGIE, ON MAY 23-25, 2008
CALGARY, AB JUNE 27-29, 2008
National Superbike Events: 0
Track Length: 1.74 miles/2.81km (13 turns)
Tickets: www.calabogiemotorsports.com/tickets
Website: www.calabogiemotorsports.com
Location: From Toronto
take Highway 401 East to
Belleville, 3rd Exit Hwy 37
N through Tweed to Hwy
7; right on Hwy 7 to first
set of traffic lights at
Perth; left onto Highway
511 through to
Calabogie. Wilson Farm
Road is on the right side
as you enter Calabogie.
The facility is 2km down
the Wilson Farm Road.
From Ottawa/Montreal take Highway 417 West, continue past
Arnprior approx 7km; turn left onto Calabogie Road (Hwy 508) to
Calabogie. As you enter Calabogie, turn left on Highway 511.
Four kilometers out of Calabogie, turn left on Wilson Farm Road.
The facility is 2km down the Wilson Farm Road.
Tickets: 403-272-7223 or
403-236-7223 (fax)
Website:
www.racecity.com
Location: Race City
Motorsport Park is located
at 114 Ave. SE and 68 St.
SE. From Deerfoot Trail
(Highway #2) take the
Barlow Trail North exit
(South of Anderson
Road), then take the next
right onto 114 Ave. SE. Go east 3.2km to 68 St. SE and turn right.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
National Lap Records:
PHOTO BY DOUG HUNTER
No previous National Superbike events
Fast Fact: The layout was conceived by prominent track
designer Alan Wilson.
Magic Moment: Yet to come!
Superbike: 1:15.772 (Jordan Szoke, Kawasaki ZX-10R, June 29, 2007) Pro 00 Sport Bike:
1:17.110 (Francis Martin, Suzuki GSX-R600, July 1, 2007) AM 00 Sport Bike: 1:19.941 (Brett
McCormick, Yamaha YZF-R6, July 1, 2006) Thunder: 1:21.966 (Michael Taylor, BMW R1200S,
June 30, 2007) Suzuki SV 50 Cup: 1:25.055 (Paul Glenn, July 2, 2006)
Fast Fact: Race City is a multi-purpose facility that includes a
drag strip and oval.
Magic Moment: In the pouring rain in 1998 Jordan Szoke rode
a Kawasaki to his first career national Superbike win en route
to the Canadian title.
TRACK-BY-TRACK
ROUNDS 3-4: MOSPORT
INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
ROUND 5-6: ATLANTIC
MOTORSPORT PARK
BOWMANVILLE, ON JULY 17-20, 2008
SHUBENACADIE, NS AUGUST 7-10, 2008
Tickets: 905-983-9141 or
905-983-5195 (fax)
Website:
www.mosport.com
Location: Northeast of
Oshawa, approx. 10 miles
north of Bowmanville.
From Highway #401, go
North on Highway #35,
then exit at Highway #20
and go west. Mosport is
just south of Highway #20.
Watch for signs.
Tickets: 902-468-2518
(Pro Cycle) or 902-4685635 (Fax)
Website: www.atlanticmotorsportpark.com or
atlanticroadracing.com
Location: From Highway
#102 take Exit #9 or #10
to the town of
Shubenacadie. Follow
signs to McPhees Corner.
Proceed up North Salem
Rd. to Creighton Rd.
Atlantic Motorsport Park is at the end of Creighton Rd.
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
Superbike: 1:21.160 (Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R1, July 16, 2005) Pro 00 Sport Bike:
1:23.146 (Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R6, July 19, 2003) AM 00 Sport Bike: 1:26.044 (Brett
McCormick, Yamaha YZF-R6, July 14, 2006) Thunder: 1:28.425 (Darren James, Buell XB9R,
July 15, 2007) Suzuki SV 50 Cup: 1:32.458 (Paul Glenn, July 16, 2006)
Superbike: 1:07.425 (Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R1, Aug. 5, 2005) Pro 00 Sport Bike:
1:08.500 (Steve Crevier, Yamaha YZF-R6, Aug. 11, 2007) AM 00 Sport Bike: 1:10.623
(Brett McCormick, Yamaha YZF-R6, Aug. 12, 2006) Thunder: 1:11.302 (Michael Leon.
Buell XB9R, Aug. 11, 2007) Suzuki SV 50 Cup: 1:13.761 (Paul Glenn, Aug. 13, 2006)
Fast Fact: Mosport staged the first Superbike event in
Canadian history in the autumn of 1978, with John Long winning aboard a BMW.
Fast Fact: Some of North Americas most famous race drivers,
including Gilles Villeneuve and Bobby Rahal competed at AMP
when it hosted rounds of the Formula Atlantic Championship in
the 1970s.
Magic Moment: Jeff Sneyd on a Ducati scored his only national Superbike victory at Mosport in 1995 after an epic battle with
the Kawasakis of Michael Taylor and Don Munroe.
Magic Moment: In the 1999 Superbike feature Jordan Szoke
edged Michael Taylor and Jeff Williams in one of the most dramatic finishes in Canadian Superbike history.
TRACK-BY-TRACK
ROUND 7: SHANNONVILLE MOTORSPORT PARK
SHANNONVILLE, ON AUGUST 29-31, 2008
National Superbike Events: 42 Track Length: 1.53 miles/2.45km (11 turns)
Tickets: 1-800-959-8955, 613-966-7223 or 613-966-6890 (Fax) Website: shannonville.com
Location: SMP is located on the north side of Highway #2, just south of Highway #401.
Coming from the west, take the Shannonville Road exit and go South to Highway #2. Then turn
left (east). The track will be on your left (north). Coming from the east, take the Marysville Road
exit from Highway #401 and go South, then turn right (west) on to Highway #2 and proceed to
the track, on your right.
PHOTO BY KEITH QUADE
Superbike: 1:04.632 (Jordan Szoke,
Kawasaki ZX-10R, Sept. 1, 2007)
Pro 00 Sport Bike: 1:05.637 (Steve
Crevier, Yamaha YZF-R6, Sept. 1,
2007) AM 00 Sport Bike: 1:07.931
(Brett McCormick, Yamaha YZF-R6,
Sept. 2, 2006) Thunder: 1:08.551
(Chad Pasowisty, Ducati PS1000LE,
Sept. 2, 2007) Suzuki SV 50 Cup:
1:10.863 (Rob Busby, Sept. 2, 2007)
Fast Fact:
Considered the
home of
Canadian road
racing,
Shannonville
has staged more
Superbike
nationals than
any other facility.
Magic Moment: In one
of the most dramatic finishes to a Canadian
Superbike season
Pascal Picotte came
back from a fall in the
2003 season finale to
finish sixth and edge
Steve Crevier to the title
by five points.
BY THE NUMBERS
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
ALL-TIME NATIONAL
SUPERBIKE RACE WINS
Steve Crevier . . .
Jordan Szoke . . .
Pascal Picotte . . .
Rueben McMurter
Michel Mercier . .
Don Munroe . . . .
Michael Taylor . . .
Gary Goodfellow .
Francis Martin . . .
Kevin Lacombe . .
Miguel Duhamel .
Linnley Clarke . . .
Frank Trombino . .
Clint McBain . . . .
George Morin . . .
Paul MacMillan . .
Steve Dick . . . . . .
Jeff Gaynor . . . . .
Art Robbins . . . . .
Tom Walther . . . .
Marco Ferland . . .
Jeff Sneyd . . . . . .
Mark Kowalski . . .
Neil Jenkins . . . .
Benoit Pilon . . . .
Martin Gaudreault
Jeff Williams . . . .
Owen Weichel . . .
Jean-Francois Cyr
Tom Kipp . . . . . .
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
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.26*
.23*
.16
.12
.12
.12
.10
.8
.7*
.5*
.4
.3
.3*
.3*
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
* Active in 2008 season
Past Canadian National Superbike Champions
2007 Jordan Szoke
Brantford, ON
Kawasaki ZX-10R
2006 Jordan Szoke
Brantford, ON
Kawasaki ZX-10R
2005 Francis Martin
Sherbrooke, QC
Suzuki GSX-R1000
2004 Pascal Picotte
St-Cecile de Milton, QC
Yamaha YZF-R1
2003 Pascal Picotte
Yamaha YZF-R1
2002 Jordan Szoke
Brantford, ON
Suzuki GSX-R1000
2001 Steve Crevier
Maple Ridge, BC
Honda RC51
2000 Steve Crevier
Maple Ridge, BC
Honda RC51
1999 Francis Martin
Sherbrooke, QC
Kawasaki ZX-7RR
1998 Jordan Szoke
Brantford, ON
Kawasaki ZX-7RR
1997 Don Munroe
Halifax, NS
Kawasaki ZX-7RR
1996 Michael Taylor
Toronto, ON
Kawasaki ZX-7RR
1995 Don Munroe
Halifax, NS
Kawasaki ZX-7R
1994 Michael Taylor
Toronto, ON
Kawasaki ZX-7R
1993 Steve Crevier
Port Coquitlam, BC
Kawasaki ZX-7R
1992 Steve Crevier
Port Coquitlam, BC
Kawasaki ZX-7R
1991 Steve Crevier
Port Coquitlam, BC
Kawasaki ZX-7R
1990 Michel Mercier
Belleville, ON
Yamaha OWO1
1989 Steve Crevier
Port Coquitlam, BC
Yamaha OWO1
1988 Rueben McMurter London, ON
Honda VFR750
1987 Michel Mercier
Thedford Mines, QC
Suzuki GSX-R750
1986 Michel Mercier
Thedford Mines, QC
Suzuki GSX-R750
1985 Art Robbins
West Hill, ON
Yamaha TZ750
1984 Paul MacMillan
Downsview, ON
Suzuki Katana 1100
1983 Art Robbins
West Hill, ON
Suzuki GS1000
1982 Miles Baldwin
Toronto, ON
Yamaha TZ750
1981 Lang Hindle
Scarborough, ON
Kawasaki KZ1000
1980 George Morin
Mississauga, ON
Kawasaki KZ1000
Past Canadian National 600 Series Champions (Pro)
2007 Jordan Szoke
Brantford, ON
Kawasaki ZX-6RR
2006 Jordan Szoke
Brantford, ON
Kawasaki ZX-6RR
2005 Steve Crevier
Maple Ridge, BC
Honda CBR600RR
2004 Pascal Picotte
Yamaha YZF-R6
2003 Pascal Picotte
Yamaha YZF-R6
2002 Clint McBain
Calgary, AB
Suzuki GSX-R600
2001 Steve Crevier
Maple Ridge, BC
Honda CBR600F4i
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
Owen Weichel
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Linnley Clarke
Yamaha YZF-R6
Don Munroe
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Don Munroe
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Don Munroe
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Don Munroe
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Don Munroe
Kawasaki ZX-6
Steve Crevier
Kawasaki ZX-6
Linnley Clarke
Yamaha FZR600
Linnley Clarke
Yamaha FZR600
Denis Royer
Yamaha FZR600
Steve Crevier
Yamaha FZR600
Gary Goodfellow
Honda CBR600
Mario Duhamel
Honda CBR600
Mario Duhamel
Suzuki RG500
Toronto, ON
Barrie, ON
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
Port Coquitlam, BC
Barrie, ON
Barrie, ON
Cap Sante, QC
Port Coquitlam, BC
Vancouver, BC
Montreal, QC
Montreal, QC
Past Canadian National 600 Series Champions
(Amateur)
2007 Paul Glenn
Keene, ON
Suzuki GSX-R600
2006 Karl Daigle
Granby, QC
Honda CBR600RR
2005 Mark Douglas
Warkworth, ON
Yamaha YZF-R6
2004 Dominic Lavoie
Levis, QC
Kawasaki ZX6-RR
2003 Jeremy Leduc
Keremeos, BC
Yamaha YZF-R6
Past Canadian Thunder Champions
2007 Michael Taylor
Toronto, ON
BMW
2006 Darren James
North Vancouver, BC
Buell
2005 Darren James
North Vancouver, BC
Buell
Past Suzuki SV650 National Cup Champions
2007 Martine Grande
Montreal, QC
2006 Dave Bagshaw
Kincardine, ON
2005 Karl Daigle
Roxton Pond, QC
Past HJC Pro Rookie of the Year Award Winners
2007 Brett McCormick
Saskatoon, SK
Kawasaki
2006 Stephane Chabot Oshawa, ON
Yamaha
2005 Erick Beausejour
Val Senneville, QC
Honda
2004 Bill Card
Wellesley, ON
Honda
2003 Matt Binns
Uxbridge, ON
Yamaha
2002 Ugo Levert
Lorraine, QC
Suzuki
2001 Andrew Nelson
Kars, ON
Yamaha
2000 Chad Pasowisty
Edgewater, BC
Suzuki
TELEVISION COVERAGE
HD Dreams
2008 PARTS CANADA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
TELEVISION BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Round 1 - Calabogie Motorsports Park
For the third year in a row the Parts Canada Superbike Championship will
be available in high definition on TSN-HD. The races will also be shown in
conventional format on TSN.
Colin Fraser and Pat Gonsalves will again be your hosts for each one-hour
episode.
The full broadcast schedule is on the right, although please keep in mind
the schedule is subject to change and fans should consult local listings.
All times are Eastern.
Tuesday, Sept. 9
Saturday, Sept. 13
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:00am - 5:00am
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Saturday, Sept. 20
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:00am - 5:00am
Round 3 - Mosport International Raceway I
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Saturday, Sept. 27
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:00am - 5:00am
Round 4 - Mosport International Raceway II
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Saturday, Oct. 4
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:00am - 5:00am
Round 2 - Race City Motorsport Park
Round 5 - Atlantic Motorsport Park I
Tuesday, Oct. 7
Friday, Oct. 10
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:00am - 5:00am
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Saturday, Oct. 18
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:30am - 5:30am
Round 7 - Shannonville Motorsport Park I
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Saturday, Oct. 25
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:00am - 5:00am
Round 8 - Shannonville Motorsport Park II
Tuesday, Oct. 28
Saturday, Nov. 1
1:00pm - 2:00pm
4:00am - 5:00am
Round
PHOTO BY ROB OBRIEN
- Atlantic Motorsport Park II
MICHAEL TAYLOR
THUNDER
‘07 CHAMPION
JORDAN SZOKE
PRO SUPERBIKE & PRO 600 SPORT BIKE
‘07 CHAMPION
MARTIN GRANDE
SUZUKI SV-650 CUP
‘07 CHAMPION
PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN HOPKINS
PAUL GLENN
AMATEUR 600 SPORT BIKE
‘07 CHAMPION
JORDAN SZOKE
KAWASAKI CANADA
race
DIABLO: VERSATILITY.
DISTRIBUTED BY:
In the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, 8 different
manufacturers participating in 5 classes proving the versatility
of Diablo. From Race to Play to Everyday, the Diablo family
delivers the performance everyone craves.
www.us.pirellimoto.com
play
everyday
*OLJRV\[KAWASAKICAVYKAWASAKIRACINGCA
+AWASAKI2ACINGS*ORDAN3ZOKE
"!#+4/"!#+0!243#!.!$!350%2")+%#(!-0)/.
"!#+4/"!#+#!.!$)!.02/30/24")+%#(!-0)/.
"UILTFORADARINGFEW
%NVIEDBYALL
4HE#ANADIAN3UPERBIKE
#HAMPION:82HAS
BEENREBORNFOR
$ESIGNEDFORTHERACETRACKWITH-OTO'0INSPIRED
PERFORMANCEGREATLOOKSANDTECHNOLOGYBUTWITHJUST
ENOUGHSTREETSAVVYTOKEEPITSTREETLEGALxTHEALLNEW:82
6ISITKAWASAKICAFORTHELATESTSPECIlCATIONSANDPROMOTIONALDETAILS
¥#ANADIAN+AWASAKI-OTORS)NC!LWAYSWEARAHELMETEYEPROTECTIONANDPROPERRIDINGAPPAREL.EVERRIDEUNDERTHEINmUENCEOFDRUGSORALCOHOL!DHERETOTHEMAINTENANCESCHEDULEINYOUROWNERSMANUAL3PECIlCATIONSSUBJECTTOCHANGE0ROFESSIONALRIDERSHOWNONACLOSEDCOURSE

For the 2008 Parts Canada Superbike

Transcription

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