Peris to World Supersport Misano

From Colin Fraser

TORONTO, ON -- Yamaha Canada's Chris Peris, a frontrunner in AMA Xtreme and Supersport action in 2005 aboard the Topline Printing Yamaha YZF-R6, will make a one-off appearance at the next round of the 2005 Supersport World Championship.

The Calgary-based rider will compete at Misano, Italy on June 26 in his first ever World Supersport event. Previously, Peris competed in the final 125cc Grand Prix event of the 2002 season aboard a privateer Aprilia in Spain.

The 18-year-old is slated to ride a Belgian-based, Moto 1-entered Suzuki GSX-R600. The Moto 1 squad had a falling out with its sole 2005 entry, Christophe Cogan, and was looking for an up-and-comer to try its machine. No plans are in place for Peris to compete in further World Supersport rounds, although the door is apparently open.

The World Supersport tour uses "spec" Pirelli DOT rubber. With this in mind, Peris will travel to California this Thursday for a Friday test at Thunder Hill. There, Peris will ride a Vesrah Suzuki equipped with Pirelli rubber under the supervision of his lead suspension and chassis technician, Max McAllister.

The chance to attend the Misano World counter has spoiled the Top Line team's plans to test its new Yamaha Canada YZF-R1 Superbike for the first time at Spokane, WA this weekend. After the World round, Peris will return to Calgary in preparation for the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, July 1-3 at Race City Motorsport Park. A winner at Race City in 2004, Peris is the favourite for the Hindle Exhaust 600 Sport Bike class victory in his first Canadian start of the season.