Thursday, June 8, 2006

Wall returns to Women's team

From the Canadian Motorcycle Association

HAMILTON, ON -- Following the closing deadline of May 31, the CMA has completed its Women’s team for the Trial des Nations World Championships taking place in France Sept. 30-Oct. 1.

Heather Wall of Calgary will join Christy and Kerry Williams of Port Moody, BC. This will be Wall’s second appearance on the team.

Ladies Day at Motopark

From Motopark

CHATSWORTH, ON -- Motopark has announced that Thursday afternoons will be designated Ladies Day at Motopark.

There has been an increased demand from women to learn to ride and experience the fun of riding off-road and Motopark wants to recognize that by setting aside a specific day when they can get together to experience the sport.

Motopark’s chief instructor, Nick Hill will be on hand to assist the ladies at no additional charge from 1 to 4 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursdays are also Pasta and Practice nights from 4 till 7 so the ladies can unwind and bench race with a great pasta dinner after their Thursday ride.

Motopark has a fleet of off-road bikes available for rental for those who are just finding out whether or not they want to learn to ride. Reservations are requested.

Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Klatt's clean sweep

From Bull's Eye Media

COURTLAND, ON -- Honda Canada Blackfoot Fox Racing's Dusty Klatt recorded his first career MX1 overall win at Round 2 of the CMRC Canadian Motocross Championships at Gopher Dunes on Sunday. In what is hailed the toughest motocross on the nationals schedule, Klatt convincingly won both motos; both times with more than 25 seconds to spare over second place.

"The track was super rough and I almost lost it a couple of times. I knew I had to play it smart and ride with caution," said Klatt. "I'm really pumped with this win and to take the lead in the championship. Now I just have to keep putting more wins together to keep that lead."

In moto one, it took the Campbell River, BC native less than a lap to dispose of front runner Marco Dube, who had pegged the holeshot on his Royal Distributing KTM. Klatt's Blackfoot Racing teammate Jean Sebastien Roy then grabbed second place from Dube by the end of lap 2.

Roy, who was actually ahead of Klatt for most of the first lap as they chased down Dube, was never able to threaten Klatt for position. He had to contend with a bent shifter from the third lap onward, which saw a six-second gap between himself and Klatt widen to 29 seconds by the checkered.

On lap 4, Blair Morgan inherited third place from Dube, who went down in a crash with Richmond Kawasaki's Darcy Lange. By the end of the moto, both riders succumbed to more bad luck. Dube DNFd with a broken clutch lever; Lange struggled to a 31st place finish.

Veteran American rider John Dowd, again substituting for Keith "KJ" Johnson on Team Suzuki OTSFF Motorsports, followed Morgan across the finish line in fourth. Machine Racing Honda's Kyle Keast, the hometown favourite, put in an inspired ride to cap the top five.

In the second moto, Honda-mounted Chad Charbonneau got the holeshot but he was quickly relieved from first place by Team Suzuki OTSFF's Gavin Gracyk. By the third lap, a surprising Keast put a pass on Gracyk for the lead. Two laps later, however, Klatt took command of the moto and never looked back.

Meanwhile, JSR, who started dead last after trouble on the starting line, clawed his way into fourth by the time the checkered flag was waved. Keast managed to hang on to second place until the last lap, when an unrelenting John Dowd relegated him to third. Dowd, a reputed sand rider, clinched second overall on the strength of 4-2 motos. JSR completed the podium thanks to his 2-4 moto results.

Richmond Racing Kawasaki's Kyle Chisholm followed up his MX2 win at the opening round in Ste-Julie last weekend with another victory at Gopher Dunes, this time with a clean sweep. Meanwhile, his archrival in the MX2 East points chase Michael Willard had a day to forget. Despite the holeshot in the first moto and a sizable lead, he was unable to hold off Chisholm, who passed him towards the end of the moto. To add insult to injury the Stoneridge KTM Canada rider was docked five positions for jumping on a yellow flag.

In the second moto, Chisholm took over the lead from holeshooter Iain Hayden by the second lap and then basically checked out. Willard, who couldn't really find his groove, taking a few soil samples in the process, had to take satisfaction with fourth. The Ohio native finished fourth overall for the day. He'll have his work cut out for him in the remaining two rounds if he is to repeat as champion.

The hard luck story of the day went to Blackfoot Racing's Mitch Cooke. The No.3 ranked MX2 East rider suffered a concussion and broken foot in a first turn pile-up. It is doubtful at this time he will be able to complete the season.

Results
MX1 Nationals
1. Dusty Klatt 1-1; 2. John Dowd 4-2; 3. Jean Sebastien Roy 2-4; 4. Kyle Keast 5-3; 5. Blair Morgan 3-7; 6. Gavin Gracyk 7-5; 7. Simon Homans 8-8; 8. Ryan Lockhart 6-15; 9. Andy Mathieu 12-11; 10. Chad Charbonneau 10-13; 11. Colt Facciotti 16-9; 12. Darcy Lange 31-6; 13. Kevin Johnson 17-10; 14. Trever Hall 14-16; 15. Chuck Mesley 11-19
MX2 East
1. Kyle Chisholm 1-1; 2. Matt Barnes 3-3; 3. Ryan Gauld 5-2; 4. Michael Willard 7-4; 5. Pierce Chamberlain 4-7; 6. Tyler Medaglia 11-5; 7. Jay Burke 8-9; 8. Iain Hayden 6-12; 9. Nick Evennou 2-29; 10. Marc-Antoine Genereux 10-15

Mont-Tremblant Superbike Results

From Professional Motorsports Productions

MONT-TREMBLANT, QC -- Results from Sunday’s second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown, motorcycle and laps completed:

1.Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Kawasaki, 15; 2. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki, 15; 3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha, 15; 4. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki, 15; 5. Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile Milton, QC, Yamaha, 15; 6. Matt McBride, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki, 15; 7. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Yamaha, 15; 8. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Kawasaki, 15; 9. Jean Paul Tache, North Bay, ON, Suzuki, 15; 10. Erick Beausejour, Val Senneville, QC, Honda, 15; 11. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki 15; 12. Jeremy Burgess, Hammonds Plains, NS, Kawasaki 15; 13. Larry Orde, Lakefield, ON, Yamaha, 15; 14. Yanick Beauregard, Sherbrooke, QC, Honda, 15; 15. Sean Heydorn, Aurora, ON, Honda, 15; 16. Chris Murray Audain, Scarborough, ON, Kawasaki, 14; 17. Matthew Bushe, Castleton, ON, Suzuki, 14; 18. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, Suzuki, 14; 19. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS, Suzuki, 14; 20. Terry Steeves, Bathurst, NB, Kawasaki, 14; 21. Alain Campagna, Dorion, QC, Yamaha, 14; 22. Sylvain Grenier, Lasalle, QC, Suzuki, 13

Did not finish: Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki, 9; Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Kawasaki, 5

Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings after Sunday’s second round of the series at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, showing position, rider name and point total:

1.Jordan Szoke, 106; 2. Francis Martin, 80; 3. Kevin Lacombe, 79; 4. Tom Kipp, 65; 5. Pascal Picotte, 61; 6. Frank Trombino, 48; 7. Andrew Nelson, 46; 7. Erick Beausejour, 46; 9. Jean-Paul Tache, 44; 10. Zenon Nelson, 32; 11. Sean Heydorn, 27; 11. Matt McBride, 27; 13. Larry Orde, 25; 14. Csaba Werner, 19; 15. Elie Daccache, 17; 16. Jeremy Burgess, 15; 17. Yanick Beauregard, 12; 18. Chris Murray-Audain, 8; 19. Matthew Bushe, 6; 20. Clint McBain, 3; 21. Todd Scott, 2; 22. Terry Steeves, 1

Szoke's second straight

From Professional Motorsports Productions

MONT-TREMBLANT, QC --­ Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke scored his second straight Parts Canada Superbike Championship win at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant on Sunday.

Riding the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R, Szoke took the lead on lap 4 of the 15-lap race and held off the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 of defending series champion Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC by 1.106 secs. for the win.

Granby, QC rider Kevin Lacombe placed third on the Picotte Performance / Yamaha Canada / Toyota Yamaha YZF-R1.

Szoke also won the season opener at Shannonville Motorsport Park on May 21.

“It’s nice to be winning again,” said Szoke, whose last Parts Canada Superbike series win before the start of this season had come at Le Circuit in August, 2004. “It was all I could do to win one race in two years, and now I’ve got two in a row.”

Szoke completed 15 laps around the 4.27km circuit at an average speed of 153.2 km/h.

With two races in the seven-round Parts Canada Superbike Championship run, Szoke enjoys a solid lead in the standings. The two-time national champion has 106 points to the 80 of Martin and Lacombe’s 79.

Martin led Lacombe and Szoke off the start, but the Kawasaki rider passed Lacombe’s Yamaha on lap 3 and got by Martin at the end of the backstraight a lap later. Martin stayed close to Szoke the rest of the way but was unable to challenge him at the end.

“I’m very happy with my race,” Martin said. “He [Szoke] got a little more of an advantage in lapped traffic near the end.”

Szoke’s teammate Tom Kipp of Chardon, OH finished fourth on his Kawasaki ZX-10R. Injured two-time champion Pascal Picotte put in a brave ride to fifth on the second Picotte Performance / Yamaha Canada / Toyota Yamaha YZF-R1. The St-Cecile Milton, QC rider held off the Riders Choice Suzuki of Matt McBride and Andrew Nelson’s Z1 Cycletech Yamaha at the finish.

In other action at Le Circuit, Szoke also won his second straight Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike event of the season on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Calgary’s Clint McBain finished second, just 1.07 secs. behind on his
Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600, and Kipp was third on his Kawasaki.

Fourteen-year-old Saskatoon sensation Brett McCormick passed Ross Millson on the final lap to win the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike race on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Millson was second, half a second behind on his Suzuki GSX-R600 and St-Pierre Becquets, QC’s Eric Brisson placed third aboard a Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

North Vancouver’s Darren James won his second straight Canadian Thunder feature on his Buell and Brantford, ON’s Rob Busby was victorious in Suzuki SV650 National Cup for the second race in succession.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship continues at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary June 30-July 2.

Szoke slows pace for fundraiser

From Waznie Racing

FENWICK, ON -- On the weekend of May 27-28 two-time Canadian Superbike champion Jordan Szoke participated in an Observed Trial motorcycle demonstration in Fenwick, ON at Einstein's Laminated Art. This was part of Jean Bancrofts, of Enistein’s endeavour to raise $5,000 to enter the 60km Weekend to End Cancer.

Bancrofts and colleagues had set up a community event with several businesses participating to encourage this small but active community to open their wallets with donations for rummage sales and refreshments. Part of Einstein’s contribution was having the Canadian ‘Trials de Nations’ National team put on a Trials demonstration to entertain the attendees.

The other participants in the trials demo were current TdN team members Matt Zajac and Andrew Young. They will represent Canada this fall in France.

Bancrofts has raised $2,500 from the weekend’s efforts, a good start for a very worthy cause. The proceeds will go to support Princess Margaret Hospital. Last year $16 million was raised over the two-day period.

Lachapelle and Motopark team up

From Motopark

CHATSWORTH, ON -- Allan Lachapelle and Motopark have teamed up to provide a one day off-road riding school on Saturday, June 17. All proceeds will be donated to the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders and “Land Use Protection.”

Lachapelle, a multi-time National Enduro and Hare Scrambles champion) will share his years of experience with 20 students (max.). His teaching techniques are exemplary and he is providing his service FREE to the OFTR. Lachapelle wants to “maximize the support that can be given to the OFTR." This is a supreme effort by one of Canada’s best riders to “give something back to the sport.”

Motopark (a premier motocross instruction facility, and past National Hare Scrambles site) is providing the facility for use by Lachapelle and the students.

Suzuki donates to training program

From NAIT Corporate Communications

FAIRVIEW, AB -- Suzuki Motor Corporation has once again ensured that NAIT’s Fairview campus retains its reputation as Canada’s premier motorcycle technical training centre. The facility, also the only motorcycle mechanic training institute in Alberta, recently took delivery of five Suzuki 2006-model motorcycles, including the new 1800cc Boulevard M109.

The Motorcycle Mechanic Apprenticeship Program and the Pre-Employment Program provide both licensed mechanics as instructors and a full range of motorcycles and equipment in large workshops. Suzuki has donated late-model motorcycles since the program’s inception in 1980. The company also provides service manuals and a connection to their Dealer Information Highway. The high level of technical expertise, and the industry respect for NAIT-trained mechanics, is a measure of the program’s success and popularity.

NAIT-Fairview will have spaces for 28 pre-employment students in a 28-week program and 18 apprentices in each of seven classes, all beginning in September 2006.

Dirt Track at Markham festival

From The Canadian Motorcycle & Extreme Sports Festival

TORONTO, ON -- One of the most daring and closest forms of motorcycle racing is coming to the inaugural edition of the Canadian Motorcycle & Extreme Sports Festival taking place from June 16-18 at the Markham Fair Grounds.

On one day only, Saturday, June 17, the CMRC will present the 2006 Canadian National Dirt Track Championship. Motocross racing fans can see 100 per cent of the spectacular action on a special half-mile oval. Riders will be bar to bar, side by side at incredible speeds of up to 160 km/h, controlling corner sliding in order to maintain their speeds into the straightaways.

All classes will be represented. Each class will have one practice lap followed by heat racing to determine starting positions for the main events. The eight- or 12-lap finals are sure to get the audience’s adrenaline pumping.

The Canadian Motorcycle & Extreme Sports Festival will be the most complete motorcycle, ATV and action sport indoor / outdoor event ever held in Canada. The Festival will feature new products, accessories, after-market components, clothing and other industry-related products and services. There will be retailers for the whole range of products and services, ensuring visitors can actually make an on-site purchase. The major motorcycle manufacturers will offer visitors free demo rides.

Saturday, June 3, 2006

Szoke on pole

From Professional Motorsports Productions

MONT-TREMBLANT, QC – Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke will start from pole position for Sunday’s Parts Canada Superbike Championship event at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant after qualifying was cancelled on Saturday afternoon.

With no qualifying times to set the starting line-up, Parts Canada Superbike series point standings will be used, putting Szoke in top spot on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R. The two-time national champion won the opening round of the season at Shannonville Motorsport Park on May 21 and leads the standings with 54 points.

Persistent rain made track conditions uncertain for qualifying with the surface never settling into a completely dry or wet state. Series organizers Professional Motorsport Productions, in conjunction with technical partner Pirelli, made the decision to cancel the scheduled 40-minute session.

“I respect the safety decision side of it,” Szoke said. “The series organizers are trying to put on a good show for Sunday.”

Picotte Performance / Yamaha Canada / Toyota Yamaha rider Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC will line-up second on Sunday. Defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC will start third on the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Szoke’s teammate Tom Kipp of Chardon, OH will complete the front row on his Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Kipp was fastest in Saturday morning’s damp practice session with a time of one minute, 51.250 seconds around the 4.27km circuit, for an average speed of 138.0 km/h.

On a dry track on Friday Szoke set the pace with a time of 1:40.135 (153.3 km/h).

“The bike is set up and we’re ready to go,” said Szoke, who won the most recent Superbike national at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant in August, 2004. “This type of track seems to suit me.”

The conditions also forced the cancellation of scheduled qualifying for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike series. Class points leader Szoke will also start from pole for that event on Sunday on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Joining him on the front row will be Calgary’s Clint McBain on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600, Lacombe on a Yamaha YZF-R6 and Kipp’s Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

Qualifying sessions were held for the three other national classes at Le Circuit. For the second race in a row, Hamilton’s Ross Millson claimed pole position for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class. The Suzuki rider put in a time of 1:55.966 to top 14-year-old Brett McCormick of Saskatoon on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Mark Carmichael of Langley, BC will start third on a Suzuki GSX-R600.

Buell rider Darren James of North Vancouver edged teammate McCormick for pole position for Sunday’s Canadian Thunder feature, and Michel Roberge of St-Germain, QC grabbed pole position for the Suzuki SV650 National Cup feature.

Practice Sunday begins at 9:00 a.m. with the first race scheduled for a 12:40 p.m. start.

Support for Christie

From CMRC Racing

STOUFFVILLE, ON -- Within hours of the news that privateer riders Milo Christie and Josh Penner's bikes had been stolen, Gopher Dunes and the Walton TransCan have come together to sponsor Christie.

Christie will be riding a Gopherdunes.com/Waltontranscan.ca Suzuki 450F this weekend at the Canadian Motocross Championships in Courtland, ON. A fully prepped RM450F will be waiting for him when he arrives in Gopher Dunes on June 3-4 for round 2 of the Canadian Pro National Championships.

"When we were racing Nationals, Brett got his bikes stolen before the first National at Barrie. So we can really relate to what Milo and Josh are going through. We hope Milo will come out swinging this weekend and we are proud to be backing him," said Walton promoter Chris Lee, referring to his son's similar experience.

"I always believed that we need to look after the motocross family. We heard about Milo, heard he was a great kid, and we can't wait to see him representing us," said Gopher Dunes' Frank Schuster.

While the two tracks have taken a lead getting Christie to the track this weekend, many other companies have also stepped up: OTSFF and Bell helmets will replace his helmet, SPI covered Milo's entry fees this weekend, Utopia Optics Canada will be replacing his goggles and tear offs, and Podium Graffix and Racer X Canada are currently designing graphics for this weekend while Ortho-Flex Custom Bracing will be adjusting CTi knee braces, Rob's Gym in Seaforth will provide a gym pass and FXR motocross gear will get Milo looking great.

"I am really shocked at all the support, I can't thank everyone enough," said Christie. "Josh and I hope we can get those bikes back, but I really want to thank Gopher Dunes and Walton TransCan for doing this, along with everyone else. I am looking forward to this weekend, and testing myself on Canada's toughest track."

Penner decided to head back to Manitoba after a nasty crash this weekend. He plans on concentrating for the MX2 West Canadian National Championships.

Anyone with info concerning the stolen truck, trailer and bikes can also contact: Val Christie (250) 897-5558 or Aaron Wiebe (204) 746-3180 or the Ville de Longueuil Police:
D. Perreault, case # 11208
Reference number LGM060529-023
PHONE: 450-463-7100 extension 2746

Friday, June 2, 2006

Szoke still hot

From Professional Motorsports Productions

MONT-TREMBLANT, QC – Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Jordan Szoke continued his hot streak on the opening day of action at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant on Friday.

The Brantford, ON rider led a Canadian Kawasaki factory 1-2 in practice for Sunday’s second round of the series, recording a fastest lap of one minute, 40.135 seconds for an average speed of 153.3 km/h on his Kawasaki ZX-10R.

His teammate Tom Kipp of Chardon, OH set the second best time of 1:40.656 on another ZX-10R. Defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC completed the top three at 1:41.252 on the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“I’m feeling really comfortable,” said Szoke, a two-time Canadian Superbike champion. “It’s an easy pace for us to do.”

Szoke won the opening round of the national series at Shannonville Motorsport Park on May 21 and led the most laps to take an early points lead in the series. He comes into this weekend’s event with 54 points to the 42 of Kevin Lacombe and Martin’s 38.

Lacombe, from Granby, QC, ended Friday with the fifth best practice time of 1:42.146 on his Picotte Performance / Yamaha / Toyota Yamaha YZF-R1, just ahead of his teammate Pascal Picotte of St-Cecile Milton, QC, who recorded a 1:42.547.

Martin’s teammate Clint McBain of Calgary was fourth fastest at 1:41.493 aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000.

The Superbike competitors will get one more practice Saturday morning before qualifying for the Vicious-I Pole Position Award in the afternoon.

Szoke’s best time came despite a wild ride on his fast lap, when he got caught going too quickly into the Namerow Hairpin that leads onto the front straight.

“I guess I got a better drive than usual coming out from under the bridge,” he said. “I used the same brake marker but I didn’t get slowed down enough, and I endo’d over the hill at Namerow.”

In other action at Le Circuit on Friday, Kipp was fastest in practice for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike national support class with a time of 1:42.896 (149.2 km/h) on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Szoke, who skipped the afternoon session, was quickest in the morning and second fastest overall at 1:43.025. McBain placed third for the day at 1:43.294 riding the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600.

Opening round winner Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC led practice for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class with a time of 1:48.136 on his Honda CBR600RR. Hamilton’s Ross Millson placed second at 1:48.866 on a Suzuki GSX-R600 and Saskatoon rider Brett McCormick was third with a 1:49.086 aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6.

Mascouche, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr paced Canadian Thunder practice on his BMW R1200S at 1:50.996 and Martin Grande of Montreal led the Suzuki SV650 Cup competitors with a 1:56.333.

Qualifying for all five national classes will take place on Saturday afternoon. Feature races will go Sunday.

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