Thursday, May 26, 2005

ISDE Trophy Team announced

By John Hopkins

HAMILTON, ON -- The Canadian Trophy Team has been announced for the 2005 ISDE in Slovakia, according to Inside Motorcycles correspondent Muriel Kelly.

The squad will consist of Andrew Christiansen (BC, 250cc two-stroke, GasGas, E2); Lee Fryberger (Alberta, 450cc four-stroke, Husaberg, E2); Shane Cuthbertson (Alberta, 300cc four-stroke, KTM, E2); Derrick Sproule (Alberta, 450cc four-stroke, KTM, E2); Clint Riviere (Alberta, 300cc two-stroke, KTM, E3); and Andy Weis (Ontario, 250cc four-stroke, Husqvarna, E1).

Calgary season set to start

By John Hopkins

CALGARY, AB -- Calgary's first official charity ride of the season is set to go this Sunday, according to information from the Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency.

The 14th Annual Motorcycle Awareness Ride / Walt Healy & Bob Kane Memorial Ride is scheduled to officially start at noon from Deerfoot Outlet Mall with a 110km tour to Symons Valley Ranch for a BBQ and prize draws.

Registration runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon and entry fee is $25 per driver and $25 per passenger.

More information is available by going to www.motorcycleawarenessride.com.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Szoke sets early pace

By Rob O'Brien

SHANNONVILLE, ON -- Fast Company Honda rider Jordan Szoke set the fastest time during this morning's hour-long Parts Canada Superbike practice session at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

Szoke posted a one minute, 6.414 second lap around the 1.53-mile Pro Track configuration.

Second fastest was Kevin Lacombe on the Blackfoot Suzuki followed by Francis Martin on the DXS Diablo Suzuki.

Series champ Pascal Picotte has yet to arrive at Shannonville.

Complete times are available at www.cdnsuperbike.com.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

New Can-Am website

From Can-Am Challenge Series

Infinity GP Racing, major sponsor of the Can-Am Challenge Series has donated a new website design for the 2005 season. Fans can now find the series at www.canamchallengeseries.com.

“This year the Can-AM will be using RACE Superseries' new AMB timing system," said Tammy Dempsey, series co-organizer. "We will have active timing and scoring on the site. Updates will been done throughout each race weekend, so those loved ones that are at home will be able to see their favourite riders progress throughout each race weekend.”

The Can-Am Challenge Series goal is to develop young, up-coming riders and to provide a cost effective race series. The Can-Am Challenge series, which has added a 250 class for 2005 is designed to create the environment of a National level organization, which enforces rules and technical inspections which riders will experience as they progress through the sport.

The Can-Am Challenge Series is sponsored by Infinity GP Racing, Race Superseries, onbike.tv, Diablo Energy Drink, Flair Photo, Hjelm Motorsports, High-Side Health Services, Rising Sun Cycles, Bickle Racing and boB.

Big debut for Gracyk

By Brett Lee

AUBURN, ON -- Overcast skies kept the Auburn Hills raceway in good condition for the two-day Ontario Provincial Championship race last weekend. Close to 650 entries pounded around the track in pursuit of Ontario's most sought after motocross championship.

In the premier Pro class it was all Team Suzuki/OTSFF's Gavin Grayck. Grayck dominated all four 125cc and 250cc Pro motos.

"I just felt really good today, and I am really liking the Suzukis," said a happy Grayck. "There was good competition here today so it gives me some confidence. I have to say, you guys really look after the Pro riders, this was a really good pay day for me."

Grayck pocketed over $1300 of the $5000 Pro purse posted on the weekend.

Machine Racing's Ryan Gauld rode consistently to take home second for the day aboard his 450F Honda in 250cc Pro action with 3-4 moto finishes. KTM Canada/Odyssey Recreation's Pierce Chamberlain placed third with 6-2 finishes.

"I felt great in that second moto and I thought I could catch Gavin, but I just made a couple of small mistakes," said Chamberlain.

Machine Racing Honda's Kyle Keast placed second in 125 Pro with 4-2 moto scores over his teammate Jay Burke. Burke was forced to limp to a third overall with 2-4 finishes after a second moto injury. Burke cased a jump in Moto 2 and jammed his hand.

Promoter Tom Bitz was happy with the weekend. His first race was canceled due to snow.

Other weekend notables: CMRC's webmaster Chris Haddad won Vet Junior (3-1); Edge Performance's Codi Rae Ingram beat out FibreNew Honda's Kassie Boone in Ladies action; Peter Gobo took the overall in +50 action; Yamaha mounted James Banks won the overall with a 1-1 in ATV Pro racing. For a complete listing of results go www.cmrcracing.com.

The motovan.com OPC series heads to Sand Del Lee for the May long weekend doubleheader. For more information please visit www.MX101.ca.

Ride for Memories gears up

By John Hopkins

Three starting locations will be used for the third annual Alzheimer District Fall Ride for Memories, scheduled for northwestern Ontario Saturday, Sept. 10.

The ride will kick off from Kenora, Dryden and Fort Frances, with riders returning to Dryden for a BBQ steak supper and Chinese Auction.

There will be prizes for the top three pledge earners and the top three poker hands.

More details and pledge sheets are available by contacting the Alzheimer Society of Kenora / Rainy River Districts at (807) 468-1516 or emailing alzheimers@kenora.com.

Vammus adds sponsor

By John Hopkins

ORANGEVILLE, ON -- Brampton Chrysler has joined Derek Vammus and the Brampton Cycle Ducati team for this season's Thunder national road racing series.

A 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 will be towing the team's trailer to all rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, which opens at Shannonville Motorsport Park this weekend.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Leon adds to Thunder

From Diablo Performance Racing Team

MONTREAL, QC -- Michael Leon will compete on a Buell XB-12R in the 2005 Canadian Thunder series for the Diablo Performance Racing Team. New to this series, Diablo has partnered with Blanchette Harley-Davidson and Buell Canada. As well, the team will compete in a least two F-USA Thunderbike races during the 2005 season.

Leon, founding member of the Diablo squad, will make the switch from Pro 600 Sport Bike. His best result last season was 10th at the season finale in Shannonville.

“Canadian Thunder should be a great series this year," Leon said. "The level of competition is going to be raised quite a bit with the Thunder becoming a national series. We had substantial help from Ric Marrero of Buell, and Claude Huot of Blanchette in putting this whole deal together. I am very excited to start testing the XB-12R. The AMA Formula Extreme Buell teams have shown its capabilities."

Blanchette Harley-Davidson, with locations in Repentigny and Trois-Rivieres, QC is well known for its high performance modifications to Harley-Davidsons. Owner Huot is looking forward to showcasing Blanchette’s and Buell’s technical abilities through road racing.

Blanchette’s Trois-Rivieres store will relocate to a brand new building June 11.

The team will continue to work with Elka Suspension for the rear suspension and Pro-Tech Suspension for the forks. Diablo’s noted race engineer Dale Rathwell will lend a hand with initial set-up.

The Diablo / Blanchette Performance team would like to thank Buell Canada, Blanchette Harley-Davidson, Elka Suspension, Pro-Tech Suspension, Micron, Hyperpro Steering Dampers, Armour Bodies, PBI Sprockets, Regina Chains, Gianmajor Inc, Carrera GP Leathers and KBC Helmets.

OTSFF Suzuki adds Gracyk

From Team Suzuki/OTSFF

CONCORD, ON -- Team Suzuki/OTSFF has announced the third and final rider addition to its 2005 National Motocross race team. A combined effort between Team OTSFF and Guelph, ON's Two Wheel Motorsport/Pro-Action Suspension has inked a contract with Blissfield, OH's Gavin Gracyk.

Gracyk's most memorable rides in 2004 were the RJ National in Barrie, where he won the 125 overall with a 1-3 finish, and his 250 class ride in Calgary, where he finished a very respectable fourth overall.

"I'm so pumped to be riding for the Suzuki team this year on the new four strokes," said the 21-year-old Gracyk. "The RM-Z450 makes it unfair to ride a 250 two-stroke."

"Gracyk, a seasoned indoor arenacross and outdoor MX rider has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career whenever I had the opportunity to watch him ride," stated Ron Ashley, OTSFF rider/team manager. "He also has strong ties with Pro-Action Suspension headquarters in Beaver Falls, PA, which increased our desire to have him aboard our RMZ team bikes in 2005."

Gracyk was expected to ride round 2 of the Ontario Provincial series in Auburn last weekend alongside teammates Iain Hayden and Peter Raymer.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Yamaha unveils MX line-up

From Yamaha Motor Canada

TORONTO, ON -- Yamaha Motor Canada announced today the members of its two motocross teams.

Riding out of the official Yamaha Canada/Shift Racing semi are Doug Dehaan (MX1), Brad Hagseth (MX1) and Kyle Beaton (MX2west/MX1east). Simon Homans (MX1/MX2east) will also ride for Yamaha Canada out of his own race transporter.

In the Western half of the series, the emerging young speedster Beaton will race MX2 on his Mongoose Machine-tuned YZ250F, for the eastern rounds he will pilot the potent YZ250 two-stroke in the MX1 class alongside Dehaan and Hagseth. Hagseth, the only American on the team, is not eligible to race the MX2 class by virtue of his two previous championship seasons on the blue bikes in that class.

For the Eastern leg, Dehaan and Homans will pace the blue team in both classes. Dehaan looks to improve upon his third place overall finish last year in MX2, when some unfortunate luck kept him from standing on the top of the box. Yamaha can also expect some consistently fast results out of Homans, the 2002 125 East champ.

Team manager is former Yamaha Canada factory rider Jari Heinonen. “Yamaha has put together a very solid team to contest the CMRC Pro Nationals and I’m really looking forward to working with our riders and mechanics. They bring lots of heart and dedication, with each of them putting in an all out effort to place Yamaha atop the podium. With this team’s personnel and positive outlook, it is going to be a good summer for Yamaha and we are going to have a great season.”

The factory team will receive support from Clearbrook Yamaha and Atlantic Yamaha, plus product support from Shift, M2R, Pirelli, GYT-R, Alpinestars, Renthal, Bill’s Pipes, Works Connection, Enzo Suspension Canada, Ready Racing filters and D.I.D. Racing Chain.

Yamaha Canada’s satellite team, Morgan Motorsports Yamaha will be orchestrated by veteran manager Chris Morgan. Returning to the blue team, but staying with Morgan, will be Californian Craig Decker on the big YZ450F. Decker, a consistent podium finisher is thrilled to be back on the big thumper. Filling out the trailer will be last years MX2 podium finisher, Erick Vallejo. The Texas-based rider has been contesting the U.S. Supercross Series and looks forward to racing the MX1 and MX2 classes north of the border. Vallejo is confident the experience gained last year will improve his results.

Along with the National race effort, Yamaha will be offering free rides for youngsters as part of its Yamaha Riding Academy (YRA) program at each round of the nationals. Kids aged 5-12 will receive professional instruction and take a free spin on a Yamaha PW or TT-R series motorcycle. Some restrictions apply. See the YRA tent at the track for full details.

Friday, May 6, 2005

Supercross back in Canada

From Clear Channel Entertainment

AURORA, IL and MADRID, SPAIN -- Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports and Dorna Off Road announced today the two international rounds of THQ World Supercross GP will return to Canada in 2005: Toronto’s Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) on Dec. 3 and Vancouver’s BC Place on Dec. 10.

Rogers Centre is home of Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays and is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium is home of Canadian Football League’s BC Lions and will be the site of Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Each venue can hold up to 60,000 spectators.

“Based on the enthusiasm of fans, the support of our teams, riders and sponsors, and the efforts of both SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) and BC Place, it was an easy decision to bring the THQ World Supercross GP back to Canada,” said Charlie Mancuso, president, Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports. “We are looking forward to returning to Toronto and Vancouver this December with an even more extensive list of top riders, including our new THQ World Supercross GP champion Ricky Carmichael.”

The two international races combined with 15 of the U.S. races (excluding the Daytona Supercross) comprise the 17-round THQ World Supercross GP. Last year Toronto marked Carmichael’s return to supercross due to injuries that prevented him from riding in 2004. He won both the Toronto and Vancouver races on his new Makita Suzuki and clinched his first-ever THQ World Supercross GP championship on April 16 at Seattle’s Qwest Field in front of 49,532 fans.

The entire 2005-2006 THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series schedule will be announced soon.

Rodney Moto Valley closed

By Brett Lee

Rodney Moto Valley received very unfortunate news May 5 at the council meeting in West Elgin. The track, Rodney Moto Valley, is to immediately cease all operations until restructured zoning and neighbour concerns are fully addressed in regards to motocross activities.

The West Elgin councilmen complimented the Rodney Moto Valley group's presentation and passion for the sport on Thursday. Council also indicated there had been no prior complaints filed until this year, and stated their record was clean. Council said that noise, traffic, community impact and dust control were the main issues the Rodney group would have to address in the coming months. The group included CMRC's Brett Lee, Thames Valley Riders representative Jane Garrett, Rodney Moto Valley land owners Ed and Ken Roodzant and Rodney Moto Valley club executives.

"I am disappointed. We put a lot of work into the track and made some huge improvements this season," said Ed Roodzant. "We are going to work to get this track open again, for both races and practice. I really
enjoy all of the friends we have met through this."

"I am really upset for the whole group at Rodney. They invested in their facility, worked very hard and you could see that at the last race. It is one of the really good tracks here in Ontario," said CMRC's Lee. "I hope the community will see the positive impact the track has had on their town. The whole team at Rodney has my full support to get the facility back up and running."

If you wish to help support the Rodney Moto Valley please send a letter of support to ej_roodzant@hotmail.com.

Thursday, May 5, 2005

Elite coverage for Harleys and classics

From Aviva Elite

Toronto, ON -- Elite Insurance Company, a member of Aviva Canada Inc. and one of the country’s leading specialty lines insurers, has begun to provide coverage for antique motorbikes and Harley-Davidson cruisers in Ontario.

The new insurance product, Road Wings, has been offered through selected brokers since the beginning of the riding season in April.

“We are excited about this new business opportunity and we are confident that it will be a success,” said Maurice Tulloch, senior vice president, Traders General and Elite Insurance. “We have been approached by both brokers and bike owners in the past to fill this gap in the market. There are 120,000 motorcyclists in Ontario and Road Wings has been tailored to fully meet their needs.”

Aviva Elite has not only designed a competitive product for Ontario’s road riders but is also offering several discounts, including a multi-bike discount and a discount for Experienced Riders. It will work closely with certified repair shops across the province to ensure that authentic parts are made available to Harley-Davidson owners. Those who have a claim within the first three years of ownership will be reimbursed for the full value of their bikes rather than the depreciated value.

“We have had great success writing policies for Harleys in Quebec since 1998 and expanding to classic bikes and Harleys in Ontario is a natural progression for us,” said Tulloch.

The brokers selling the Road Wings product are:

Mantha Insurance Brokers, Contact: Paul Mantha, 295 Montreal Road, Vanier (Ottawa area), 1-800-269-2728

Southland Insurance Brokers, Contact: Ross Nesbitt, 13126 Tecumseh Road East, Tecumseh, ON, 519-735-8000, rnesbitt@southlandonline.com

Dalton Timmis, Contact: Dan Avon, 1-888-385-8466, 4125 Upper Middle Road, Burlington, ON

Elite Insurance Company (Aviva Elite) is a member of Aviva Canada Inc., one of the country's leading property and casualty insurance groups and a subsidiary of Aviva plc, the world's fifth largest insurance group with more than $554 billion CDN in assets and 51,000 employees around the globe.

Training centre gets new parts

From NAIT

FAIRVIEW, AB -- Canada's most comprehensive and up-to-date motorcycle training centre -- the Fairview, AB campus of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) -- has been further enriched, thanks to Deeley Harley-Davidson, the exclusive Canadian distributor for Harley-Davidson products.

The Fairview Campus offers apprenticeship and pre-employment mortorcycle training in addition to being the only Harley-Davidson factory-authorized training centre in Canada. The Harley Davidson Technician Program offers a 15-week schedule dedicated to producing the finest technicians possible for the many authorized Harley-Davidson retailers across Canada.

So you can imagine the excitement among NAIT instructors and students when a recent donation of 11 Harleys, 10 engines and six very large skids of new parts landed at the northwest Alberta campus.

“Hands-on training ensures students gain the skills and experience they need to maintain and repair both current and stock Harleys in an authorized retailer setting,” said Wally Besler, assistant program head and instructor. “Thanks to the support of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, we have many of the best and newest bikes available for students to train on.”

NAIT instructors are in regular contact with Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in Milwaukee. Even Deeley staff and retailer principals across Canada have attended the program or have taken the shorter factory courses that are continually offered through the program.

“I doubt there is a Harley dealership in Canada that doesn’t have an employee who has some training through the NAIT program,” added Besler. “We even have grads working in the United States and South Africa."

Monday, May 2, 2005

Chamberlain's orange crush

By Brett Lee

COURTLAND, ON -- Over 760 rider entries signed up for Round 1 of the Motovan.com Ontario Provincial Motocross Championship Presented by SixSixOne at Gopher Dunes last weekend.

Defending Ontario champion Pierce Chamberlain, aboard his factory KTM took a convincing overall win in the 250cc Pro class with a strong 2-1 moto finish. Machine Racing's Ryan Gauld raised more than a few eyebrows when he check out on the competition in Moto 1 and finished the day a strong 1-3. Gauld spent the day before winning the +25 class and then hosting a popular on-site Radio show. Third went to Machine Racing's Kyle Keast. Keast muscled and willed his way through the pack for a hard fought 5-2 finish.

Label It/Machine-backed Jason Burke took a convincing 1-1 overall win in 125cc Pro. Lightning Suzuki rider Joel Saarits scored second overall with 4-2. Chamberlain kept the two-stroke faithful cheering with a 3-4 for third overall aboard his 125SX.

Billy Mullin grabbed a strong overall win in the intense 125cc Intermediate class; Tim Burke took the checkers in 125cc Junior; Cole Thompson grabbed 1 -1 finishes in 80cc 7-11 for the overall; London Women dominated Ladies action with Jolen Van Vugt, Kassie Bonne and Kim Emery going 1-2-3.

For complete results visit www.cmrcracing.com.

The series moves to Auburn Hills Raceway for Round 2 May 14-15.

Hindle renews Shootout sponsorship

By Graeme Jones

TORONTO, ON -- Hindle Exhaust Systems, a worldwide leader in performance exhausts and one of Canada's strongest motorcycle racing supporters, has returned as title sponsor of the Canadian Fastest Streetbike Shootout for the third straight year.

Hindle has been backing the Shootout from day one and has remained a staunch supporter of the sportbike drag racing scene. Its new line of drag racing exhaust systems shows that it is serious about its involvement in the sport.

"Hindle is happy to return as title sponsor of the Streetbike Shootout,” noted Lee Hindle. “We feel that drag racing is a growing field, and as a result we have invested a lot of time and money to create our brand new Sidewinder and Street Megaphone series."

Hindle's new Sidewinder and Street Megaphone systems are already available for the Suzuki Hayabusa and GSX-R1000, as well as Kawasaki's ZX-10 and ZX-12.

For more info on all of Hindle's products, visit http://www.hindle.com or e-mail info@hindle.com. Hindle products are distributed in Canada through Parts Canada (www.partscanada.com) and in the U.S. through Parts Unlimited (www.parts-unlimited.com) and Street & Competition (www.street-n-comp.com).

Streetbike Shootout returns

By Graeme Jones

TORONTO, ON -- The fastest street legal motorcycles in Canada will clash yet again in 2005 with the announcement of the 3rd Annual Hindle Canadian Fastest Streetbike Shootout, Aug. 28 at Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, ON.

The Shootout will be held in conjunction with Grand Bend's wildly popular Summer Sizzler All-Bike Drags, Ontario's largest motorcycle drag race. The Shootout class will pay $1000 to win and is open to street legal motorcycles with DOT tires, a max 68” wheelbase and any motor combo (see full rules on the website below). Races will be run quarter-mile, heads-up, first to the finish line.

Riders from both Canada and the U.S. are welcome to attend this awesome one-day event. There will be several racing classes for all dragbikes and streetbikes, a Dyno Shootout and a Sportbike Corral where spectators and racers alike can display their machinery. Lots of cash and prizes will be up for grabs.

For rules, information and sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.canadiandragbike.com/shootout or contact Shootout organizer Graeme Jones at shootout@canadiandragbike.com or (416) 503-0176.

Blog Archive