Some nice roads within Brisbane suburbs

Not everyone is experienced to ride a long distance, new riders may enjoy something close by to ride.There are a few nice little roads for riding scattered about the suburbs. I dont know alot however I will post up some and ask for further suggestions to be made. So feel free to add some comments.The most obvious that springs to mind is Mt Gravatt Lookout. A short but fun little climb up the

Suggested one day rides # 4

North - WestThe most popular ride from Brisbane is Mt Glorious that lies to the west of the city. The roads north and further west are often combined so I will make a couple of suggestions along these lines.First of all I dont ride Mt Glorious on a weekend as I dont want to be harrased by police - so ride at your own risk if you have a aftermarket muffler or under seat number plate etc.A short

Suggested one day rides #3 - North.

Northern HinterlandA great selection of very enjoyable motorbike roads lies within easy reach north of Brisbane.Many riders talk of rides on the northside from Dayboro. To get there I prefer to exit the city via Clear Mtn but there are other options and also depends where you are coming from.Look up the individual roads/areas in my other posts for maps or more exact details.Short ride options:To

Earplug Winner

The winners on the road were the Moldex Rockets. (see my earlier article for more info)The QB200's were by far more comfortable but would become dis-lodged when I put the helmet on or with movement of the helmet on the road. They may work fine with a firmer fit helmet, and I have just such a item sitting around so will try them both again but at this stage the Rockets so far are the only ones I

Federal - Clunes NSW

Federal - Clunes


Continues from the previous article Billinudgel to Federal 


From Mullumbimby you can ride a second route to Federal as follows:



Federal route 2

Share your motorbike routes @ MotoWhere.com

This follows a very twisty route that is under the canopy of trees for much of the ride before you burst out in the middle of some spectacular rolling hills that the area is so famous

Great motorbike roads #26

Stokers SidingThis needs a post by itself. I had mentioned the village of Stokers Siding before in my post about Burringbah but this little town offers a good ride in 3 directions.From Murwillumbah ride towards Uki, and just before you enter the township turn left towards the saw mill and there is a great scenic ride on this back road over to Stokers.Also from Murwillumbah you can ride south on

Suggested Rides #2 - South/West Loop.

The scenic and twisty Mt Lindsey road.From Brisbane there is a superb day ride south/west that you can do in two directions - does that make it two rides? - almost as its very different but equally great each way.Most common southern loop:Brisbane-Beaudesert-Mt Lindsey-Summerland Way-Kyogle-Uki-Muwillumbah-Currumbin Valley-Brisbane.This would be the quickest route. You can come back via Numinbah

Ear Plug Shootout

The purple/yellow Moldex Rocket plugs, then clockwise, yellow generic plugs, orange 1110 plugs from 3M, then the pink/yellow Lazer Lite plugs, QB200HYG orange/grey plug - both from Howard Leight, next is Air Soft blue/red rocket type plug and Max orange plug also both from Howard Leight, and last in the middle is yellow super soft plug made by Uvex.Ever noticed some old bikers seem to talk

Great motorcycle roads # 24 (repost)

View from Bald Knob RoadBald Knob Rd and Peachester. (repost)Blogger didnt like this post last time - lets try againI spoke about the road near Peachester previously but have now split it from that post where it was a bit confusing and added the scenic Bald Knob Rd to make a new post.Just east of the township of Peachester is a superb twisty section of road popular with riders. Its quite intense

Great motorcycle roads # 25

Obi ObiThats Kenilworth to Mapelton not some Star Wars character.There is a great ride to be had over the Obi Obi Rd that runs between Mapelton and Kenilworth. Basically at this stage you really are best to only ride it in the other direction - Maleny to Kenilworth and on up to Mapelton as a large part of the downhill section of Obi Obi rd is gravel - the road is split into two one lane roads up

Great bike roads # 24

Bald Knob Rd and Peachester.


Just east of the township of Peachester is a superb twisty section of road popular with riders. Its quite intense and smooth nice hotmix - but also a busy section of rd so you may need to time your ride to get some kind of run over it.

Above - Peachester.

Just west of the township of Peachester is a road called Bald Knob Rd that runs over to the Landsborough -

Suggested Rides #1 - Gold Coast Hinterland.

Suggested rides #1 Gold Coast Hinterland.I will start by suggesting a few rides in a area I like alot.I ride south straight down the M1, its boring but gets you right to where you want to be in around 45 minutes - you can ride the backways to get there but I prefer to simply go straight and use the ride south on M1 to clear the head. Whatever you do dont be tempted to open it up on the M1, save

Great minds think alike ... :-)

It was raining heavy yesterday and last night but I woke early with the thourght that it would clear, then this morning it looked bad with little visibility but closer inspection showed just heavy fog blanketing the city and I just knew it would burn off and clear into a nice day.So I got ready and decided to head down south the my favourite border ranges area and take a few photos if the air was

Week day ride.

Split yardMt G accent Northbrook parkway sidePolice have organised a free BBQ and safety discussion with riders - free defect notice for anyone stupid enought to callin also included presumably - is anyone actually still riding Mt G on a Sunday?Week day ride...Theres something to be said for a weekday ride - with the forecast of rain sunday and a day off today Friday I decided to go out for a

Great motorcycle roads # 23

Revised Feb 2008
Esk - HamptonNot too many people who ride west go this far - but thats a shame as this is a nice ride.
From Esk follow the sign to Crows Nest.



This road has alot of open easy flowing corners - something not so easy to find around Brisbane which has more tight mountain roads. There is a small section of tighter corners mid way up/down however even these flow easy on any sort

Great motorcycle roads # 22

I have to admit this is one road I have never looked at before - but its quite allright.Kilcoy - Jimna Rd.From Kilcoy you cant miss the sign post at the clock roundabout to Jimna. This road starts off quite open and flowing with lots of gentle sweeping corners taking you through some nice countryside, then after about 30 k you have this nice little range to climb with lots of tight corners and

Great motorcycle roads # 21

Click to enlarge.
The Two Dams

Somerset Dam - Wivenhoe Dam

With all the dry weather we have its sometimes nice to look at a bit of water - I mentioned previously on the blog the road along the Wivenhoe dam right after Mt Glorious (split yard) as many people seem to ride into Fernvale for fuel and back up to the cafe at Mt Glorious and thus Split Yard has become part of the their

Back in paradise

I'm back out riding again - with the new exhaust fitted - thats it nice and shiney on my Buell and me with my shirt hanging out next to it and my mates MT-01. Bike now runs great, the exhaust was the item holding back the engine all this time.I actually had tried a number of things rumoured to fix the throttle response on 900cc engined Buells but none worked. I wish the truth had been more widely

Todays ride

Went for a ride up the northern roads today.I didnt post the ride up on any forums - just didnt think to do it until too late as the weather was still raining Saturday I was very unsure if I would be able to ride - but was a fine a hot day.I basically did my usually north ride of Clear Mt, Mt Mee, Hidden rd, Mapelton, Dulong Rd and back. All are posted allready on the blog (and now revised) I

Snowy Mtns tour

I did a tour to the Snowy Mountains early this year, was a great trip but tiring due to the pace/time limit set of 5 days! I would very much like to do the trip again with say 7 days and some slight alterations to the route, mainly the same roads but in different directions of travel on some parts and an extra day in the snowys area itself and the dailey Km's reduced with the other extra day.

Great motorcycle roads # 19

Lions RdFrom Rathdowney to the Summerland way runs the Mt Lindsey h-way which I have already posted and is a great ride. If you were not going on to Uki from Kyogle then you could allways ride back over this route, the Lions Rd. Or you might aproach this from the Gold Coast side having gone down to Kyogle via any of the numerous good rides on that side of the ranges.Like most rides I post this

Review - KBC VR2 Helmet

I bought a new helmet start of 2006, however its turned out to be a disappointment.This is the best looking helmet I have ever seen and I had to have it when I saw them on the net. Great graphics design and everyone says they love the look however the helmet is unfortunately rubbish. The blue visor lasted 2 weeks before scratched beyond use. The liner which was a bit cheap feeling to begin with

Billinudgel - Mullumbimby - Federal

Billinudgel - Mullumbimby - Federal


This is quite a way south so most Brisbane people have not ridden on these roads much, but its really not so hard to do, even from Brisbane northern suburbs this ride is still only a day trip if you leave early-ish.

From Murwillumbah follow the old highway (Tweed Valley Way) until the new highway then ride the service roads to past Biilinudgel where you

Great motorcycle roads # 17

O'Reilly's Mountain

Yes there is yet another mountain range in the hinterland to ride! This is a ride not so well known as the road surface in the past has been poor - even by aussie standards - but it has been resurfaced and widened in many places and some parts are now excellent.

The road out from Canungra is new, and alot of bits have been resurfaced on the hill itself.



From the coast

Top ride

Huge ride today - phew I am tired, covered about 600 km and just made it back home before dark at about 5.30pm.I met my regular ride partner about 9.00am at Mudgeeraba and we went south and did some roads we knew and some we didnt (well some I didnt know anyway) I have a new variation on a couple of roads I allready knew. From Chillingham to Uki via Tyalgum which seemed a bit bumpy first time I

Chefs cafe or coffee suggestions

Alot of posts get lost in the archive and some belong there I guess but good places to stop for lunch are more important. Here then is the collection so far in no particular order.Uki Pub. Oddly no pictures yet, but one of the best pubs as far as food and location.Kunghur Sphinx Cafe. Great food and coffee and many motorcycle mags to read while you wait.Graze cafe, Mooloola Valley. Tasty food and

Japan motorcycle tour # 4

I'm starting to have 2nd thourghts about this idea.I'm reluctant to quit the dream despite things not really adding up on it. I am still doing my japanese class and this is seperate to the tour anyway as I have other reasons to learn the language. But problems are many with weather and navigation and language barriers.Big problem is if I go it will be alone - so not sure how much fun I will

Great motorcycle roads # 16

Burringbah Range via Tweed Valley Way

From Murwillumbah head south on the old pacific h-way to Burringbah range. This is a well known favourite of bikers, wide cambered hotmix mountain range that was the main highway 1 Brisbane to Sydney before being by-passed and is a very fast addictive set of curves.


There is one fix mounted speed camera that you need to be aware of travelling south -

Japan motorcycle tour # 3

Well my Japanese school hasnt folded yet so am now enrolled in Advanced A class. Would like to continue to the end which is advanced E but they still dont know if they will continue beyond this term. Talk of moving to another area to reduce overheads but rents are expensive anywhere close to the city regardless and their problem is they dont have alot of students as they dont advertise and rely

Good motorcycle rides # 15 - Mt Tamborine.

Mt Tamborine

Update 2011. The northern ascent is being resurfaced and should be much improved once finished. The road to Tamborine village via Logan Village has been resurfaced on the 2nd half and is much improved on it's previous condition.

This is not one of my favourites but unfortunately it seems to be the place on the south side people mention if you were to be talking about riding a

Sundays ride

6 riders today, weather was fine in morning but we encountered a light shower about midday in NSW so turned away into Billinudgel pub for lunch. I think we could have ridden on through it quickly, some other bikes heading that way still, but then again long way from home to be getting wet in winter. So I didnt get to ride the 2nd half of the ride, its a route I have not posted up here yet...

Great motorcycle roads # 14 Summerland Way

Summerland way
This road starts near Woodenbong in the middle of nowhere from the north and many people miss out on it's best section by riding down the over rated Lions Road. There is a new section of road where the rough section once was and then you have excellent quality tar all the way to Kyogle.

Not really close to Brisbane or the Gold Coast you ride this as part of a day out. After the

Good motorcycle roads # 13 Mt Lindsey

Mt Lindsey

Update 2011. Since I first posted this road has become much more popular. There has been some much needed resurfacing of the QLD side and this year some resurfacing of the NSW section as well even though it was not in bad shape. If you ride here then remember you can get premium at Urbenville or Grevillia. townships. 


Here is a road not that many people venture out to - but it's an

Good motorcycle roads # 12 Beaudesert

Spectacular views near Mt Barney south of Beaudesert
Beaudesert - Boonah Rd

From Brisbane take the Beaudesert Rd all the way to Beaudesert, about 45 mins ride. Riding through town turn right at the lights where sign posted to Boonah and continue slightly out of town before turning right again.



A mostly open road with a few mild changes of direction and a few gentle corners before a few high

Good motorcycle roads # 11 Dulong

Dulong


From Maleny if you ride to Mapelton there are some enjoyable roads down the valley below.


From Mapelton decend down towards Nambour and turn off to the right into Dulong road half way down. Its on a left hand bend with a sign post to Dulong lookout, you might want to ride the few nice corners that lay just after this turnoff (pictured below) and then return back to it.


This road is a

Why the alias - Iron Chef

Well I picked it first for fun and also as I like the TV show as the challenges are quite real.France and Japan are both nations that take good food seriously and the chefs on the show have alot of professional pride and their reputations on the line and that makes it a bit more interesting that the usual TV garbage we get served up.So as chance would be last time I was in Japan I had the

Good motorcycle roads # 10 Currumbin

Currumbin Range

This is always a good ride and I enjoy this road much more then Numinbah Valley now.

From Murwillumbah you can return to the M1 via this or Numbinbah Valley, simply follow signs on road north from town centre past showgrounds or from Brisbane side you travel past Robina on the M1 and follow the exit signs before Coolangatta to Currumbin valley.

Or if you might look at my

Good motorcycle roads # 9 Uki

Murwillumbah to Kyogle via Uki

Update 2011: The road has been flooded a couple of times in recent years and this has damaged some parts next to river south of Uki, as of writing they are also straightening the road there and while it will loose some curves the new road is going to flow rather nice and should offer riders a good experience still.The rest of the road has also had some work, a new

Good motorcycle roads # 8 Numibah

Numinbah Valley & Tyalgum



Update 2011. Been some time since I posted this. The northern approach to Tyalgum has seen some resurfacing and is now much improved. The road from Murwillumbah has been under water a couple of times in floods and has some patches however they are mending this gradually.




Now whenever I ride the border ranges or northern NSW I return via Numinbah Valley. The

Good motorcycle roads # 7 Kenilworth

Maleny - Conondale - Kenilworth

From Maleny there is a good ride over to Kenilworth.

Follow the signs west out of Maleny and after a spell you will come to the edge of the range that you have been riding along and decend down. Nice hotmix and on most of road down the range with some good corners and esses to enjoy.

Lower section of range from Conondale to Maleny.

Beyond the village of

Good motorcycle roads # 6 Maleny

Maleny

Actually the road I want to talk about is called Booroobin Rd which then becomes Maleny-Stanley River Rd. Someone once told me some bikers referred to this as a hidden road. Aparently it was unsealed for long time so people didnt know about it as much as other routes.

After Mt Mee turn to Woodford and go through town, stop for a coffee if you want, then just past Woodford you there turn

Good motorcycle roads # 5 Mt Glorious

Mt Glorious (Mt Nebo)

Brisbane most popular bike ride is truely a gem, however its not been without its problems in recent years.

Update 2011. Wow time flys. Look at the age of the bikes in the photos, must add some new ones. 
Righto well most of what I wrote before still applies today. Still a great road to ride with hazards. The hazards are not just other bikes that can't stay in their

Good motorcycle roads # 4 Mt Mee

Mt Mee


Update 2011: Long time since I wrote this, I rarely ride this road now days, the surface has seen some deterioration due to lots of rain and no major road work but that may have already been mended. Southern climb was a mess after the 2011 floods and the top seems more bumpy than it already was. The northern ascent however is excellent still. For me too many bikes and too much police

Good motorcycle roads # 3 Beechmont.

Beechmont Mountain


Update 2011: Been a long time since I first wrote about this road so time for an update. The western side has seen extensive resurfacing and is now almost all good surface. The section between Lower Beechmont general store and the old Bavarian Hut has been resurfaced with some new survey work and the lower eastern side was resurfaced some time back and remains good. This is

Japan motorcycle tour # 2

Well I got a shock this week when told my Japanese language school might be closing soon.Its the only Japanese school in Brisbane so this would be a set back to my plan to achieve a reasonable proficiency in the language before the tour.I want to try and continue my studies at home and hope that this will work resaonably well now that I have reached roughly the half way point to where I want to

Good motorcycle rides #2 - Hinze Raceway

Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd, Advancetown , Qld.


Update 2011. Wrote this long ago, road has had some resurfacing in couple of spots and new road markers and remains excellent road surface. Known to attract the fast and the furious still and occasional unmarked patrol but mostly quiet these days.

(AKA - Hinze Raceway)

To follow on from my last road I will stay in the same area and add another

Japan motorcycle tour

I have been planning a tour of Japan by motorcycle for around a year now.This is to be my first overseas bike ride.I picked Japan first up for a few reasons. There are no organised tours there so it will possibly be the hardest of the places overseas I want to ride and I think therefore it's something I simply would not do later on in life as the difficulty of it would beat me, where as Europe or

Good motorcycle rides #1 - Springbrook

1. Springbrook Mountain, Queensland.


Update 2011. It has been some years now since I first wrote this so a quick update is in order.
The eastern side has seen some resurfacing and the lower half is in good shape. Past Pine Crk road is still a bit rough but then after Purlingbrook the road has again since some resurfacing and is rather good. 


A firm favourite of mine - from

Introduction

Hello there. Welcome to a blog called Motorcycle Paradise.My idea when starting this blog was to simply post a few places for Brisbane motorcycle riders to go besides the tired old local scene at Mt Glorious. I already preferred the Gold Coast hinterland and after starting to post I went looking for more places to ride myself and one thing led to another. I branched out further and moved

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.

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.

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

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.

Ste-Julie results

MX1 Overall
1.Jean Sebastien Roy 1-1; 2. Dusty Klatt 2-2; 3. Darcy Lange 3-3; 4. Gavin Gracyk 4-5; 5. Colton Facciotti 7-4; 6. Blair Morgan 5-7; 7. Kyle Keast 9-6; 8. Marco Dube 10-8; 9. Simon Homans 8-10; 10. Ryan Lockhart 11-9; 11. Kyle Beaton 12-11; 12. John Dowd 6-DNF; 13. Milo Christie 15-13; 14. Andy Mathieu 17-14; 15. Chuck Mesley DNF-12; 16. Tim Tremblay 16-17; 17. Scotty Maidman 19-15; 18. Derrick Fisher 13-DNF; 19. Chad Charbonneau 14-DNF; 20. Julian Green DNF-16
MX2 Overall
1.Kyle Chisholm 2-1; 2. Michael Willard 1-2; 3. Mitch Cooke 3-5; 4. Nick Evennou 6-3; 5. Tyler Medaglia 4-6; 6. Matt Barnes 7-4; 7. Johnny Montes 5-7; 8. Ryan Gauld 13-8; 9. Marc-Antoine Genereux 10-12; 10. Kavin Gregoire 9-13
Ladies
1.Jolene VanVugt 1-1; 2. Malerie Prochnavy 2-2; 3. Sara Laliberte 4-3; 4. Marie-Josee Bouchard 3-4; 5. Codi Ingram 5-5

Roy leads all-Canadian podium

By Angie Parker

STE-JULIE, QC – What a great way to start off the 2006 CMRC National season. Unlike last year’s constant downpour of rain, the valley track east of Montreal was bestowed with sunny skies last weekend.

Blackfoot Honda had a noteworthy weekend with Jean-Sebastien Roy taking the overall in MX1. Dusty Klatt was second to his teammate in both motos and Kawasaki Canada Richmond Racing’s Darcy Lange finished an impressive third to complete the all-Canadian podium.

Ohio’s Gavin Gracyk aboard his OTSFF Suzuki raced to a fourth place standing with 4-5 motos.

MX2 East was almost all-American with Kyle Chisholm and Michael Willard controlling the field. Mitch Cooke was the sole Canadian on the podium. He had solid motos finishing 3-5.

Ste-Julie marked the first round of the Women’s Pro Nationals. Quebec’s Sara Laliberte grasped a huge holeshot in the first moto, but Jolene Van Vugt charged to the front of the pack after running second to Laliberte. Soon after, Laliberte dropped to fourth and Blackfoot Suzuki’s Malerie Prochnavy was on Van Vugt’s tail; Marie-Josee Bouchard finished third on her KTM.

Moto 2 was comparable to the first moto. Van Vugt was on top once again, after Prochnavy led part of the way. Laliberte crossed the line third and Bouchard was fourth.

Gopher Dunes in Courtland, ON hosts Round 2 of the Nationals, June 3-4.

CMRC Nationals ready to roll

From Bull's Eye Media Relations

STOUFFVILLE, ON -- Canada’s top motocross riders will be congregating in Ste-Julie, QC this weekend for the opening round of the 2006 CMRC Canadian Motocross Championships. Round 1 of the nine-round MX1 Championship, and the season opener for the MX2 East Championship take place on Sunday at the spectacular Circuit de Ste-Julie. Qualifiers for both classes will run on Saturday.

Defending MX1 champion Jean Sebastien Roy, who has dominated the premiere motocross class since 2001, is expected to take the win in front of a home province crowd. The Acton Vale, QC native returns for his sixth season with Team Honda Blackfoot Fox Racing. Along with teammates Dusty Klatt, ’04/’05 MX2 West champion, and multi-time national champion Blair Morgan, Roy will be taking on contenders representing the other key motorcycle manufacturers: Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and KTM.

Among the favourite factory team riders looking to unseat Roy from the MX1 throne this season are Suzuki Canada/OTSFF Motorsports’ Gavin Gracyk, Keith “KJ” Johnson and Ryan Lockhart; Kawasaki Canada/Richmond Racing’s Darcy Lange and Colt Facciotti; Yamaha Canada/Morgan Racing’s Keith R. Johnson, Derrick Fisher and Simon Homans; and KTM/Royal Distributing’s Marco Dubé.

“I know I’m going to have my work cut out for me if I’m going to win my sixth championship but I’ve been training really hard and I had my knee fixed last fall,” said Roy. “I haven’t felt this good going into a season for a long time and my confidence level is high. I know it won’t be easy but it means a lot more to win when the competition is tough.”

John Dowd, who rode to a No.3 ranking in the CMRC MX1 title chase in 2004, will be substituting for an injured Keith “KJ” Johnson on Team Suzuki OTSFF. A leg injury will keep Johnson on the sidelines till at least the third round in Nanaimo, BC on June 18.

In the MX2 East points chase, defending champion Michael Willard, riding for KTM Canada/Stoneridge, will be challenged for the title by his teammate Matt Barnes; Team Honda Blackfoot Fox Racing’s Mitch Cooke; Team Suzuki OTSFF’s Pierce Chamberlain and Machine Racing Yamaha’s Trever Hall to name a few. A roster of up-and-comers looking to make a name for themselves will further ensure that the MX2 title hunt will be an aggressive affair this season.

B.A.D. Ride set to roll

From the B.A.D. Ride

TORONTO, ON -- At any given time, 18 per cent of the Canadian population is suffering from a mental health problem. No one is immune to the damaging effects of distress. To help raise awareness, The Distress Centres of Toronto are hosting the 9th annual Bikers Against Despair Ride (B.A.D. Ride).

About 1,200 motorcyclists participate in the B.A.D. Ride. All proceeds from the ride go directly to support services provided by the Distress Centres of Toronto. Last year’s ride raised nearly $200,000.

Every year the 145 km route is surprise. Bikers travel through Toronto, Mississauga, Peel, Vaughn and Kleinburg ending at Exhibition Place. The route is designed by bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts to suit a wide variety of tastes and abilities.

This year's ride will feature Toronto Maple Leafs forward Darcy Tucker, Grand Marshall John Derringer, Q107’s Morning Man, and Goodwill Ambassador Susan Hay of Global News.

To register and receive a donation form, download the B.A.D. ride brochure at http://www.thebadride.com/register.shtml

The ride starts at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning at AMC Complex Interchange Way- AMC Theatres, Hwy’s 400 & 7 (East of 400, South of 7), and concludes at Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place.

New MCC board installed

From the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada

TORONTO, ON -- At its first Annual General Meeting, held May 6, the members of the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC) confirmed the installation of its first elected board of directors. Seventeen of a maximum 18 seats are occupied.

Peter Sheppard, of Trout Creek, ON (near North Bay) a long-time participant and past president of the Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA) was elected chair by the new board. He succeeds Steven Davies, who served as chair of the founding board since January, 2005. Davies continues on the board and executive committee as immediate past chair.

Claude Lacasse of Granby, QC, a member of the Fédération Motocycliste du Québec (FMQ) was elected vice-chair, and Dave Clancy of Proctor, BC, from the British Columbia Coalition of Motorcyclists (BCCOM) was elected secretary/treasurer.

The 17 director positions create a well-balanced board comprising seven off-road riders, six road-riders, one federation executive director involved in both disciplines, and three from the industry.

Other directors are: Pat Chambers, Toronto; Darryl Copithorne, Cochrane, AB; Gilles Depont, Lachute, QC; Debbie Gamble-Arsenault, PE; Liz Jansen, Caledon, ON; Kevin Keay Smith, Brampton, ON; Rob MacLeod, Halifax; Mike O’Reilly, Woodlawn, ON; Robert Ramsay, Toronto; Lloyd Rector, Truro, NS; Bob Smith, Edmonton; Warren Thaxter, Roseneath, ON; Adele Tompkins, Surrey, BC

Szoke back on top

From Professional Motorsports Productions

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Jordan Szoke scored his first Parts Canada Superbike Championship win in almost two years at the opening round of the season at Shannonville Motorsport Park Sunday.

The Brantford, ON rider stuck his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R past the Picotte Performance / Yamaha / Toyota Yamaha YZF-R1 of Kevin Lacombe at the end of the backstraight on lap 4 of the restarted seven-lap race and went on to claim his first victory since he won in Mont-Tremblant, QC in August of 2004.

The triumph was Kawasaki’s first in the national feature class since Tom Kipp won at Mont-Tremblant in 2003.

“It’s been too long since I’ve been on top of the box,” said Szoke, a two-time Superbike champ. “It’s been a long time coming for both me and Kawasaki. But I never lost confidence in myself.”

Lacombe, from Granby, QC settled for second and defending series champion Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC was a close third on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Right behind Martin was the second Picotte Performance / Yamaha / Toyota Yamaha YZF-R1 of Pascal Picotte, who put in a brave ride to fourth despite struggling with four broken vertebrae, a broken toe and banged up knees suffered in a crash last month.

Szoke’s teammate Kipp of Chardon, OH, who started on pole, completed the top five on a Kawasaki ZX-10R.

The race, originally scheduled for 14 laps of the 4.0km (2.5-mile) Shannonville ‘Long Track’, was stopped after six laps, with Szoke in the lead, when Trevor MacDonald crashed exiting the Esses. MacDonald was not seriously injured.

Lacombe grabbed the lead off the restart while Szoke had to charge his way up from fourth off the line. He was into second by the end of the first lap and traded the lead with Lacombe on lap 3 before getting ahead for good on the following lap.

In other action at Shannonville, Szoke took the lead on lap 2 and went on to win the opening round of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Clint McBain of Calgary placed second aboard the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600 and Lacombe completed the podium on his Yamaha YZF-R6.

Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC led the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike feature all the way on his Honda CBR600RR. London, ON’s Simon Blue came back from a nasty practice crash on Saturday to place second on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR and polesitter Ross Millson of Hamilton was third on a Suzuki GSX-R600.

Defending class champion Darren James of North Vancouver won the Canadian Thunder feature in convincing fashion aboard his Buell.

Brantford, ON’s Robert Busby led all the way from pole to win the 10-lap Suzuki SV650 National Cup feature.

Kipp on Superbike pole

From Professional Motorsports Productions

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Tom Kipp claimed pole position for the opening round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park Saturday.

The Chardon, OH rider set a time of one minute, 50.537 seconds around Shannonville’s 4.0km (2.5-mile) ‘Long Track’ on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R to lock up the $500 Vicious-I Pole Position Award and four points toward the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

Kipp’s time was actually the second best of the 40-minute qualifying session, behind the 1:49.680 of Matt McBride. But McBride’s Riders Choice Suzuki GSX-R1000 exceeded the Superbike class horsepower limit of 180 hp in post-qualifying technical inspection by 1.4 hp. The Mississauga, ON rider was penalized five positions for his infraction, handing pole for Sunday’s 14-lap feature to Kipp.

Qualifying was conducted under difficult conditions. Rain through most of the afternoon left the track wet as the Superbike session began, but it dried progressively as qualifying continued.

“It was a very stressful hour,” said Kipp, who set his best time on wet weather Pirelli tires halfway through the session. “No one likes a half-dry track, especially in qualifying, when there’s so much on the line.”

Calgary’s Clint McBain will start second in Sunday’s race after recording a 1:50.866 on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Kipp’s teammate Jordan Szoke will line-up third after setting a 1:51.067 on his Kawasaki ZX-10R. The Brantford, ON rider paced Friday practice.

Defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Francis Martin completes Sunday’s front row after he recorded a 1:53.159 on the second Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000.

McBride will line up on the second row of the grid, between the Honda CBR1000RR of Val Senneville, QC’s Erick Beausejour and the Picotte Performance / Yamaha / Toyota Yamaha YZF-R1 of Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC.

Lacombe’s teammate, two-time Superbike champion Pascal Picotte will start 10th Sunday on his Yamaha. The St-Cecil Milton, QC racer is coming back from injuries suffered in a crash in April.

In other action, McBride claimed his first ever pole in national competition by setting the fastest time in Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike qualifying at 2:00.361 on his Suzuki GSX-R600.

McBride’s time came on his final lap of the session, and he just edged the 2:00.386 from the Kawasaki ZX-6RR of Szoke. Calgary’s Chris Peris qualified third fastest with a time of 2:01.100 aboard the Topline Printing Yamaha YZF-R6.

Last minute heroics also played a role in qualifying for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship, as Ross Millson of Hamilton turned in a time of 1:56.505 on his final flier to snatch the class pole on his Suzuki GSX-R600.

Defending champion Darren James of North Vancouver claimed pole for the Canadian Thunder feature with a lap time of 2:01.378 on his Buell.

Brantford’s Rob Busby was fastest in Suzuki SV650 Cup qualifying with a time of 2:03.342.

Feature races in all five national classes will run Sunday. Practice begins at 8:30 a.m. with the first race scheduled for a 12:20 p.m. start.

Ontario Supermoto opportunity

From Parker Bros. Powersports / KTM

ETOBICOKE, ON -- There’s good news on the horizon for Ontario Supermoto riders who are looking to get some track time on their bikes between races. A new not-for-profit club, Ontario Supermoto, is being formed to address the issue of finding and working with convenient and suitable practice facilities within the Golden Horseshoe.

Dave Grummett, owner of Parker Bros. Powersports / KTM in Etobicoke, has agreed to head up the club and already has a tentative agreement in place that could see Mississauga’s Hershey Centre re-open to club members for weekly Wednesday night practice sessions starting late May through to mid September.

According to Grummett, “ Supermoto Ontario is being formed to provide members with a place to use their bikes other than on race weekends. Part of the club’s mandate will be to focus on and address the insurance and logistical concerns of the facility owners. Working with the various stakeholders, the club will institute the rules and regulations necessary regarding noise levels, safety equipment and rider conduct that will allow them to partner with other non traditional facilities in the future.

"Riders need places to practice if the sport is to continue growing and the Ontario Supermoto club structure and policies will help create the confidence required to open up other new practice areas."

Practice sessions will be structured with riders being grouped according to displacement and skill levels.

For more information, check out the Parker Bros. website at www.powersports.ca or you can email Dave direct at dave@powersports.ca.

Can Martin do it again?

From Professional Motorsports Productions

TORONTO, ON -- There are plenty of questions surrounding the opening round of the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park this weekend.

Can Francis Martin win a second straight national Superbike crown? Who will succeed the legendary Steve Crevier as king of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike class? And just how effective will former champion Pascal Picotte be as he recovers from nasty preseason injuries?

Martin will certainly be in the spotlight as the bikes take to Shannonville’s 4.0km, 15-turn ‘Long Track’ this weekend. The Rock Forest, QC native parlayed an opening round win last season into his second Canadian national Superbike title, and his first for Suzuki.

Martin remains on Suzukis and the potent GSX-R1000 for 2006, but has switched from the now-disbanded Diablo squad out of Montreal to Calgary’s Blackfoot Motosports team. The scenery is familiar to Martin, however, as he raced for Blackfoot Suzuki from 2001 to 2003.

Among those chasing Martin will be his Blackfoot Suzuki teammate Clint McBain. The Calgary rider is coming off a banner year in 2005, as he won his first two career national Superbike races and placed a close third in the final standings.

Picotte is an unknown quantity heading into this weekend. The Granby, QC rider suffered a crash at Barber Motorsports Park last month in which he broke three veterbrae, a bone in his foot and banged up both knees. Picotte is reportedly planning to ride but it is unclear how effective he will be on the Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1. Yamaha hopes may well rest on the shoulders of Picotte’s teammate and fellow Granby racer Kevin Lacombe, who finished fifth in Superbike points last year with the Blackfoot Suzuki team.

The Kawasaki forces shouldn’t be underestimated this weekend. American star Tom Kipp returns to the factory team aboard the updated ZX-10R. The Chardon, OH racer was quickest in last autumn’s Pirelli tire evaluations at Shannonville and was second to Picotte in testing in Jennings, FL this spring. Joining Kipp in the factory Kawasaki team is Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke, who returns to the squad for which he won his first of two national Superbike crowns in 1998.

Honda Canada’s efforts will be led by defending HJC Pro Rookie of the Year Erick Beausejour of Val Senneville, QC, who will campaign a CBR1000RR.

Defending Pro 600 Sport Bike champion Crevier doesn’t have a regular ride for 2006, so the title chase is wide open to begin the season. Suzuki’s McBain finished second in points last year and won the title in 2002, while Andrew Nelson won the opening round of the RACE series on his Yamaha.

Teenager Karl Daigle marked himself out as one to watch in this year’s International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike battle as he won the RACE opener on his Honda CBR600RR. This weekend also sees the openers for Suzuki SV650 National Cup and Canadian Thunder.

Qualifying for national classes will take place Saturday afternoon with feature races on Sunday.

Keast strikes twice

From CMRC Racing

The Auburn Hills track was epic this weekend for Round 2 of the Motovan.com Ontario Provincial Championships. The $8000 of purse and prizes offered up held a second to the immaculate track.

“I really put a lot of effort into my track in the last two weeks,” said promoter Tom Bitz as he surveyed the track earlier Saturday morning. Re-designed pits, new track designs and expanded medical support made for one of the best events Auburn Hills has held in 10 years of racing.

The Pro racing was the headliner of the event with names like Doug Dehaan and Derek Fisher making series debuts against regulars Kyle Keast, Ryan Gauld, Pierce Chamberlain, Ryan Lockhart and Joel Sarrits.

Machine Racing’s Keast (MX1 1-1, MX2 2-1) raced to two overall wins in both the MX1 and MX2 action. “I actually got a couple of good starts, and that helps with the guys going so good here this weekend,” said Keast. “I am pretty happy so far. Next weekend I will be in Port Perry, which is my home track and then it is time for the Nationals so I am really pumped. The season is going really well for me right now.”

With another impressive second in the MX1 and a third in MX2, Gauld (MX1 3-2, MX2 4-3) continued to show strong form and looks to be in a good position to take a run at the MX1 and MX 2 title in Ontario championship action.

Nova Scotia’s Lockart (MX1 2-0, MX2 1-2) was all smiles with the track conditions. “The track is just awesome, lots of ruts in the corners and it is just so fun to ride.” Lockhart pushed his Suzuki to a second overall finish in the MX2, but a costly second moto DNF ended his strong day on a low note in MX1 action.

Lightning Powersports-backed Saarits (MX1 4-3) had an up and down week leading up to Auburn Hills. His bike was stolen, and then recovered. Saarits showed up at Auburn and showed character taking a third overall in the MX1 class.

Other notables included Suzuki's Marcus Burke, who went 1-1 in 125cc Junior action; Mx101's Paul Kelly swept the Vet Junior action; and Stan Stuinski took 2-1 overall in +50. For complete results see www.cmrcracing.com.

This weekend's CMRC-sanctioned racing in Southwestern Ontario moves to SJG Fourwinds Motocross Track in Port Perry, May 21.

Big Motopark weekend

From Motopark

CHATSWORTH, ON -- For more than 30 years, Motopark has celebrated the May holiday weekend with a special two-day motocross race.

May 20-21 is no exception as more than 600 entries are expected to take part in rounds 3 and 4 of CMX Racing's 11-round Ontario Provincial Series.

Riders will compete in 22 classes ranging from the 4-6 year 50cc class, to a Ladies Class and the Plus 50 Veterans class. The feature motos will be in the GP Pro/Am class on Sunday. Some of Canada’s top riders will be competing in the two, 25-minute plus two lap motos for a $3,000 cash purse.

The two days of racing and camping feature a barbeque on the Saturday night when spectators can mingle with the riders and their families on the deck of Motopark's new restaurant facility.

Practice gets underway by 9:30 each day with final motos starting around 1 p.m. The day wraps up by 5. Motopark is located on Motopark Rd., west of Hwy. #6 just south of Williamsford.

For further information contact Motopark at 519 794-2434. www.motoparkracing.com, email motopark@log.on.ca.

New Aprilia distributor

From CNW

TORONTO, ON -- Canadian Scooter Corp. announced today it has been appointed the exclusive Canadian distributor of Aprilia, the Italian manufacturer of renowned and race-inspired motorbikes. Aprilia joins Canadian Scooter Corp.'s already venerable collection of scooters and motorcycles, which includes the Italian icon Vespa.

"We are thrilled to add Aprilia to our line-up," said Morey Chaplick, president of Canadian Scooter Corp. "An Aprilia bike is in a class of its own - the perfect synergy of style and substance, cutting-edge function and
user-friendly form."

Aprilia will make its Canadian debut by mid-summer at authorized Aprilia dealers across the country.

"All over the world, the name Aprilia is synonymous with on- and off-road two-wheel adventure," said Paolo Timoni, president and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas. "Partnering with Canadian Scooter Corp. means we can now bring that emotion-packed ride to Canadian motorbike enthusiasts."

Founded in 1962, Aprilia has been at the forefront of sport bike engineering for over 40 years and boasts 26 motorcycling world championship titles under its belt. Aprilia's integration with Piaggio in 2004 led to
the creation of the biggest two-wheeler manufacturer in Europe and one of the world's leading names in the sector, with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 610,000 vehicles, and presence in 50 countries.

The Toronto-based Canadian Scooter Corp. is the exclusive importer and distributor of new Vespa, Piaggio, Moto Guzzi, Derbi and Aprilia motor scooters and motorcycles in Canada. For more information and dealer
inquiries, visit www.vespacanada.com.

CMA AX cancelled

From the Canadian Motorcycle Association

HAMILTON, ON -- It is with deep regret that the Canadian Motorcycle Association announces that the National Arenacross Championship Series will not take place.

Although ticket sales were good and all promotion and organizational details were complete, a poor rider response has left the promoters, Airland Entertainment, and our association with no choice but to cancel.

Marilynn Bastedo, general manager of the Association stated that “the promoters and the CMA had a duty to the public and the facility owners to deliver a full programme of arenacross entertainment and the numbers were just not there.”

The series was first announced in late August of 2005 and the combination of first class venues, very good purses for the Pro riders, professional track builders and other administrative personnel, seemed to be a sure fire recipe for success. However, despite entries coming from as far away as Texas and Wisconsin, there was virtually no interest shown by the local motocross community.

The CMA would like to thank Airland Entertainment principals Joe Baird and Paul McFarland for the major effort they put into this project for well over a year. Their honesty and integrity is not an overly abundant commodity in the promotion world. Airland’s involvement was planned to be ongoing for several years and it is certainly a loss for the motocross community.

Riders who did pre-enter will receive their refunds this week.

Toyota and Yamaha team up

From Yamaha Motor Canada

TORONTO, ON -- Yamaha Motor Canada is pleased to announce that Toyota Canada Inc. has signed on as title sponsor of its motocross, road and ATV factory racing teams. The agreement is the latest chapter in a successful relationship between two industry leaders that spans over 40 years and comes on the heels of a recent project that saw the introduction of a 2006 Toyota Tundra TRD Yamaha Edition.

“We have worked hard the last few years to develop promotional opportunities that would benefit both organizations,” said Tim Kennedy, national marketing manager for Yamaha Motor Canada. “Both Toyota and Yamaha have storied racing traditions, so it made sense to form a strategic partnership in this area. This sponsorship is a great way for Toyota to speak to a new audience, show their commitment and expose their brand to fans of the sport.”

Peter Swanton, national sales manager for Yamaha Motor Canada, commented, “This is a big help for our race teams. To be at the top in racing requires a tremendous amount of resources each year. This commitment from Toyota will bolster our efforts for 2006.”

“Toyota has always had an excellent relationship with Yamaha, so we are pleased to extend that even further by being the premier title sponsor of the Yamaha factory racing teams,” said Tony Wearing, managing director of Toyota Canada Inc. “This partnership is very fitting because the combination of Toyota and Yamaha brings together many of the world's very best vehicles, whether on two or four wheels. We look forward to a full and exciting race season with Yamaha this year.”

Vicious battle for pole

From Professional Motorsports Productions

TORONTO, ON -- Qualifying for each round of the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike Championship just got a little more vicious.

Vicious-I Optics, a product of Laval, QC’s Sport-Sight Innovations, has been named the title sponsor of the pole position award for the feature class in the national road racing series. The winner of the Vicious-I Optics Pole Position Award at each round of the series will receive a cheque for $500 from Sport-Sight.

“Qualifying at each Parts Canada Superbike round is always very dramatic, and with the addition of the Vicious-I Optics Pole Position Award our riders will have a little bit more to fight over on Saturday afternoon,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsport Productions, which administers the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

Sport-Sight is run by former factory Pro racer Tom Douglas, who won the 750 Production Canadian Championship in 1987 and placed second in Superbike, and claimed the Open Production national title the following year for the Yamaha team. In 1986 he was runner-up to Michel Mercier in the national Superbike battle as a Yamaha privateer. Douglas retired from racing after the 1990 season.

The Vicious-I Optics Pole Position Award will be presented to the fastest Superbike qualifier at each of the six stops on the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike tour. At the doubleheader event at Mosport International Raceway in July, where one qualifying grid will set the line-up for the two Superbike races, the $500 will go to the fastest qualifier in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike national support class.

Vicious-I will be represented at each Parts Canada Superbike round by 1980 national champion George Morin, who since retiring from active competition has worked in a managerial role with Canadian racing stars like Mercier, six-time champion Steve Crevier and current frontrunner Frank Trombino.

The Vicious-I line of sunglasses and goggles, which have been designed in Montreal, are the latest products from Sport-Sight Innovations, whose line-up also includes the Leader brand of motorsport goggles and lenses. Sport-Sight also provides electric face shields to all four major snowmobile manufacturers and most of the world’s helmet makers.

Hurst on Honda

From Misti Hurst

LIONS BAY, BC -- Misti Hurst has been chosen to race for Honda Canada as part of its Red Rider Race Program.

As a Red Rider, Hurst, with support from LESTER Racing, TURN 2 Sportbike Rentals and Parts Canada, and sponsored in part by The Honda Centre in Burnaby BC, will compete in the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 National Series and the Pro Honda Oils Women's Cup Challenge. Both series kick off May 19-21 at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

Hurst will pilot a 2006 Honda CBR600RR with Traxxion Dynamics front suspension, Elka rear shock, Cheetah Racing Bodies, Vortex rearsets, FS6 frame sliders, Hindle exhaust and Full Bore Marketing chains. Her race bike is being prepped and tuned by George Budacki of Turn 2, and she will join Paul Glenn and Ross Millson to become the third member of the Turn 2 Racing Team.

"I'm very excited to be racing a Honda again with the support of Turn 2 and George Budacki," said Hurst. "Participating in the final event of the Women's Cup Challenge last year was so much fun and I'm looking forward to an outstanding full race season this year with a great deal of success."

Streetbike Shootout returns

From Go Fast Media

TORONTO, ON -- The wildest street legal motorcycles from Canada and the US will clash yet again at the fourth annual Canadian Fastest Streetbike Shootout Sunday, Aug. 27 at Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, ON.

The annual running of this sportbike speedfest will again be held in conjunction with Grand Bend's yearly Summer Sizzler All-Bike Drags.

“I'm excited to see the Shootout return to Grand Bend Motorplex again in 2006,” said event promoter Graeme Jones. “It's a world class facility with some of the best hook to be found anywhere. I can't think of a better place to see this race go down.”

Grand Bend Motorplex owner Paul Spriet is equally anxious to see the Shootout return. “Last year we saw a record amount of entries for the event as well as one of our best spectator turnouts,” he noted. “The Shootout has helped make the Summer Sizzler one of the biggest all-bike races in Canada.”

The $1000 to win Streetbike Shootout is the domain of turbocharged and nitrous-assisted sportbikes with a max. 68” wheelbase on DOT rubber running heads-up, first to the finish line. Last year saw the first ever seven-second pass by a Pro Street-style bike in Canada by Michigan hitter Ronnie Mitchell. With many big names planning to attend this year (including Canadian record holder Richard Peppler, '04 champ Shane Ratliff and defending champ Mitchell), fans should be witness to even more wild, wheelstanding, side-by-side 180mph action.

Riders from both Canada and the U.S. are welcome to attend this awesome one-day event. For rules and info visit www.canadiandragbike.com/shootout. For track info visit www.grandbendmotorplex.com.

Supercross back in Canada

From Clear Channel

AURORA, IL – The Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP returns to Canada for the 2006-07 season, with the season’s opening races scheduled for the Roger’s Centre in Toronto on Dec. 2 and BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on Dec. 9.

The two Canadian events will open the 17-race Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP. The two international races will run in conjunction with the 15 races currently held in the U.S. The Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP, which started in 2002 with two races in Europe, had participation this season from the factory teams of Kawasaki, Yamaha Suzuki and KTM, which made it the most competitive season to date.

“We are extremely excited to start the 2006-07 Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP season in Toronto and then heading west for the next race in Vancouver,” said Ken Hudgens, vice president of marketing and television, Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP. “Both cities are blessed with first class venues and a solid base of supercross enthusiasts.”

This season’s racing in Canada saw a sweep by Kawasaki’s James Stewart, who walked away with wins ahead of rivals Ricky Carmichael and Chad Reed. Stewart used that good start, and a recent streak of wins down the stretch, to open a 12-point lead on Carmichael as the series heads to Las Vegas on May 6 for the season finale.

The on-sale schedule for the 2006’-’07 Amp’d Mobile Supercross season is as follows:
July 17 Pre-sale (July 17-19 Cross Club Only; July 20-23 On-line only)
July 24 General Public On-sale (all points of sale, box office, phones, outlets and on-line)

The complete schedule will be announced shortly.

For fans to have the first chance at the best tickets, they must be a Cross Club member. Cross Club members have the capability to purchase pre-sale tickets through the internet for Amp’d Mobile Supercross, Toyota AMA National Arenacross and IFMA Freestyle Motocross. In addition, fans will receive a monthly email newsletter with motocross news, special discount offers, local promotions, and more. For more information on the free membership to Cross Club, log on to www.supercross.cc.com.

Cape Breton event cancelled

From the Cape Breton TT Festival of Speed

SYDNEY, NS -- After 12 months of planning and organization, with the knowledge and tentative support of the provincial department of tourism as a signature event, the Cape Breton TT Festival of Speed has been cancelled with official news from the Provincial government that the government will not permit the event to happen on the 53km course.

According to the chair of the Cape Breton Festival of Speed Association Maureen Carroll, “The official word delivered by the province came as a devastating blow and without notice after almost a year of work and official filings for sanctioning and insurance were completed.

“The province has been well aware of the event and designated it as a Signature Event with no indication that they had fundamental issues beyond the understandable need to pass the public safety requirements which were being organized by a professional technical team and race director. It appears that the process of proper and formal evaluation and communications were flawed within the departments.”

Carroll continued, "The cancellation news is regrettable and disappointing for all of the volunteer members of the community who have acted in good faith and invested in the development of an event which promised to deliver significant economic return for the region.”

The Cape Breton Festival of Speed was initiated by the Membertou Development Corporation. Under the leadership of Bernd Christmas, Membertou brought forward the opportunity for an international event which offered benefits for the entire Island and province. The Cape Breton Festival of Speed Association was created to operate and manage what had the potential to be a major annual event.

To date there have been 5,000 room-nights booked six months ahead of the event just on the prospect and rumor it would occur. These advance bookings alone represent a welcome addition to many tourism operators across the Island during what is a slower period in the early fall. The economic impact has been forecast to reach $15 million. The event had the support of the municipality and federal government and the economic development agencies on Cape Breton Island along with enthusiastic participation of community groups and organizations that are essential for the staging of an international event.

Carroll said, “As a community based volunteer organization, we are very disappointed to have to cancel the event. The abrupt decision is being forced by the Provincial government in what can only be described as a very heavy-handed manner. The province allowed the time, effort, expectations and investment of the community to continue to build for the best part of an entire year without a formal response from all departments until now.”

Community meetings planned for May 6 and 7 along the race course have been cancelled.

Kawasaki Quebec Concours

From Canadian Kawasaki Motors

DON MILLS, ON – Canadian Kawasaki presents the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Concours of Elegance on Saturday, July 8 at 11:30 am to be held at the Nature Centre in Laval, QC.

What began as a small dealer event in a local Harvey’s parking lot by Monette Sports Inc. has grown into the annual Concours of Elegance, the biggest Kawasaki only Show and Shine Contest. Over the years, Canadian Kawasaki Motors has taken on the event, with Monette Sports organizing the logistics, and it has become the largest gathering of Kawasaki only motorcycles in North America.

The free admission event is open to everyone and the Show and Shine is open to all Kawasaki customers across Canada as well as all authorized Canadian dealerships. Vulcan owners and Ninja owners alike compete for Best Custom Bike in their class awards and the coveted All Categories Best Customized Bike title. The newly-added vintage category has quickly become a crowd favourite as well.

Last year over 200 contestants traveled from all over Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes. There is no entry fee and each participant receives a free t-shirt and an opportunity to compete for over $20,000 in prizes, including the coveted Kawasaki Accessories gift certificates.

In addition to the Show and Shine, there are test rides of the latest Kawasaki models, live music, freestyle MX demo and a fashion show.

The Centre de la Nature is located in the eastern part of Laval, between Saint-Martin and De la Concorde boulevards, extending from north to south; and between Du Parc Avenue and Autoroute 25, from west to east.

WROAR Ride ready to go

From the WROAR Ride

TORONTO, ON -- The second annual WROAR Ride will take place Sunday, June 11 in Toronto, leaving at 10 a.m. from The Docks on Cherry Street, south of Lakeshore.

The ride raises funds for the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape, and to focus attention on the issue of violence against women.

The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre has a 32-year history of community-based volunteer help for those who have suffered sexual violence. The centre provides 24-hour confidential crisis counselling, as well as educational programs and other services.

Last year’s WROAR Ride raised more than $8,500. While the WROAR Ride is an all-women’s motorcycle event, men are encouraged to get involved by riding as a passenger.

More information is available online at www.wroar.com.

Yamaha Riding Academy at June show

From the Canadian Motorcycle & Extreme Sports Festival

TORONTO, ON -- Highlighting Yamaha’s involvement at the upcoming Canadian Motorcycle & Extreme Sports Festival will be the Yamaha Riding Academy (YRA). Now in its third year, the YRA was developed to teach young beginners the basics of riding off-road motorcycles.

After receiving guidance from a Canadian Motorcycle Training Service instructor, youngsters can take a ride on a 50cc to a 125cc dirt bike. The ride is free, but participants must be between 6 and 12 years of age, proficient on a bicycle and a parent or guardian must be present.

The Canadian Motorcycle & Extreme Sports Festival will feature new products, accessories, aftermarket 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 and ATV manufacturers will offer visitors free demo rides.

Other special features include the Motorcycle Demo Ride Zone, the ATV Demo Ride Zone, the Pit Stop, the Suzuki Freestyle Motocross Team and the CMRC Dirt Track Race on Saturday.

The Canadian Motorcycle & Extreme Sports Festival
Markham Fair Grounds
10801 McCowan Road, Markham
Friday, June 16 . . . . Noon - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 17 . . . . 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 18 . . . . 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Admission
Adults: $13
Juniors (Ages 6 to 15): $8
Children (under six years): Free when accompanied by an adult
Family Pass (two adults & two juniors): $29

Full information is available at: www.cimf.ca and www.xfest.ca.

World coming to Parry Sound!

From World Enduro Canada

The North American swing of the Maxxis World Enduro Championship or WEC is now three months away. The World Enduro Championship will descend on Canadian and U.S. soil for the first time ever July 15-16 and July 22-23 with the full support of the FIM, the AMA, CMA and ABC Communications, the series promoter.

The Canadian event will take place first in Parry Sound, ON, a picturesque town two hours north of Toronto on the shores of Georgian Bay. The following weekend the WEC riders will land in Hancock, NY in the heart of the best fly fishing country East of the Mississippi for the sixth of the eight-race series.

The first race of the series was held in Swedish snow during the month of March with resounding success and a surprise winner in the Enduro1 (E1) class. Spanish KTM rider Ivan Cervantes showed his adaptability by laying down fast tracks in Ostersund. The second and third events of the series take place May 6-7 in Guimaraes, Portugal and the next weekend in Gernika, Spain. The WEC teams and riders are anticipating good weather and rugged conditions for both enduros on the Iberian Pennisula.

What may be considered to be the most competitive WEC class is the middleweight Enduro 2 or E2 class where current World Champion Samuli Aro stamped his mark of authority in March in Sweden. This outcome was expected as the Finnish KTM rider is accustomed to riding in winter conditions. His main rival and countryman, Mika Ahola slotted into second place aboard his Italian-based HM Honda team CRF ahead of former Grand Prix motocross rider Johnny Aubert who recently signed on with the UFO Yamaha team.

There were no surprises in Ostersund in the Enduro 3 or E3 class which saw Isle of Mann rider David Knight continue his last year’s dominance adapting quickly to the varying snow conditions and winning his class over Finn Marko Tarkalla and Swedish rider Bjorne Carlsson.

The two North American events are welcome additions to the WEC series which is now what most insiders consider to be geographically a true World Championship. Notable homegrown U.S. riders who are slated to enter are Destry Abbott, Jimmy Lewis, Wally Palmer and Matt Stavish. Potential Canadian wild card riders include Guy Giroux, Guy Perrett, Kelly Graffunder, Barry Rempel, Clarke Peters, Dave Neumeister, Patrick Beaule, Alain Lachappelle and Klade Glasgow.

As wild card riders both Americans and Canadians will have to wait until all the seeded WEC riders decide to enter or not before knowing for certain whether they have one of the 120 spots in the events, but it looks promising fro a great number of North Americans.

Other off-road stars who have expressed interest in the two-day North American WEC events are current AMA GNCC champion Juha Salminen, and former World Champions Paul Edmondson and Shane Watts who are both U.S.–based this season.

The entry deadline is May 15 for the Georgian Bay Country Canadian Grand Prix and May 22 for the Moose US Grand Prix. Visit www.worldendurocanada.com and www.usgpenduro.com for details on how to enter. U.S. riders should contact the AMA to obtain the necessary rider release letter and appropriate FIM license for the Canadian event.

Picotte recovering from crash

From cdnsuperbike.com

Two-time Canadian champion Pascal Picotte is still recovering in hospital in Alabama after injuries he sustained at the second/third round of AMA Superbike competition at Barber Motorsport Park on Sunday.

The Picotte Performance Yamaha rider was one of the fastest bikes on the track for Sunday morning's 600 Supersport class practice session on an almost dry circuit before hitting a wet spot on the track and crashing his YZF-R6.

Picotte's injuries include a broken big toe on his left (shifter) foot and several cracked vertebrae in his back, along with unspecified injuries to both knees. Until talking with his own doctor once back in Canada, Picotte won't comment on his recovery time or if he will be able to ride at the Parts Canada Superbike Championship season opener May 21.

Picotte was expected to be released from hospital on Tuesday.

Premier expected for Ride

From BCCOM

VANCOUVER, BC -- The BC Coalition of Motorcyclists has announced that Premier Gordon Campbell will attend the 17th Annual MLA Ride on Thursday, May 4.

The MLA Ride is a motorcycle ride to the Legislature Buildings in Victoria, where riders arrive at noon to take the MLAs and their staff for a ride on their lunch hour, so that they can experience the thrill of motorcycling
firsthand.

This ride enables BCCOM members to discuss issues concerning motorcycling in BC with their MLA and is also the big kick off to help promote May as Motorcycle Awareness Month.

VP Fuels joins WMA

From VP Racing Fuels Inc.

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- VP Racing Fuels, Inc. has been named "Official Racing Fuel" of the 2006 AMA/WMA National Championship, as well as “Official Racing Fuel” of the Z1R Helmets Women’s Motocross Association (WMA) Cup.

“We're excited about our sponsorship with WMA,” said Bruce Hendel, VP’s global sales manager. “VP has long supported women’s participation in motocross. In fact, Cycle Ranch, a motocross track owned and operated here in Texas by VP’s founder, Steve Burns, hosted the USA Team Motocross/WMA Cup and the Pro-Am Open/Pro WMA Cup just this past fall and is scheduled to host it again this coming November.”

“We are very pleased to have VP Racing as a sponsor of the Hitachi AMA/WMA National Motocross Championship and the Z1R Helmets WMA Cup,” said Miki Keller, WMA’s CEO. “VP has such a strong heritage in racing, we are fortunate to have them help facilitate the growth of our series. All racers (male and female) can appreciate the advantage of using VP Fuel.”

WMA competitors can obtain information about VP’s wide selection of motorcycle racing fuels by contacting any of VP’s regional warehouses across the U.S., each of which is listed on the VP website at vpracingfuels.com.

For more information on the WMA visit womensmxassociation.com.

Final lap for Diablo

From Diablo Performance Racing

MONTREAL, QC -- Diablo Performance Racing, Canada's most successful motorcycle road racing team in 2005, will cease operations.

After winning the Canadian Superbike number one plate with Francis Martin on Suzuki, the Canadian 600 Sport Bike number one plate with Steve Crevier on Honda and being named "Team of the Year" in the 2005 Parts Canada Superbike Championship, Diablo Racing will not field any professional riders in the 2006 season.

Despite having completed its most successful season to date, with a track record of constantly contributing to the sport of motorcycle racing in Canada, the team was unable to secure any significant support from the industry manufacturers.

"I am not the one pulling the plug, it's the circumstances that are forcing us out of racing," explained team owner and former amateur racer Richard Italia.

In its five years of existence, Diablo Racing's involvement in Canada benefited a large number of racers. The team not only fielded the largest privateer effort that Canada has ever seen, but it also contributed at the grassroots level of Canadian racing. As the main sponsor of the Diablo Can-Am 125 GP Challenge and the Diablo Suzuki SV Cup, the team not only assisted many professional and amateur racers but also helped develop highly qualified technicians and engineers. Beyond simply putting bikes on the track, Diablo was also actively involved in the purchase of an air fence system, which has undoubtedly protected many Canadian racers over the years.

The Diablo Performance Racing team would like to thank all of the sponsors, riders and personnel who have helped contribute to its success. Most importantly, the team would like to thank all of the fans who have supported it throughout the last five seasons.

Canadian Duc comes second

From Ducati USA

CUPERTINO, CA -- The grand finale of the Ducati Monster Challenge concluded last weekend at round 2 of the AMA Superbike series, which was held at Barber Motorsports Park. The dozen winners of the regional Monster Challenge events squared off for this finale, with the winner being awarded the title of "Coolest Monster in North America," along with a brand new 2006 Monster S2R 1000 motorcycle.

Sean Kelii of Sacramento, CA emerged victorious after the brutal scrutiny of a panel of motorcycle industry judges, including legendary motojournalist Alan Cathcart, Speed Channel's Greg White and Barber Museum chief motorcycle restorer Brian Slark. The judges cast their votes based on the performance, workmanship, creativity and sound of each Monster.

Kelii was crowned the owner of the “Coolest Monster in North America” for his 1999 Monster 900, which he rides regularly and has highly modified, but still maintains the look of the Monster. Sean eliminated as much weight as possible from the bike and has a host of modifications including a carbon fiber tank, carbon wheels, piston kit and a lightened flywheel.

"Actually, I think I'll try to keep the racing heritage alive and give the bike to my dad so he can experience the enjoyment I got from building a mean Monster," Kelii said. "He supported me for so many years and this is a chance to give back to him. He's a real enthusiast but he needs an air cooled Ducati."

The second place finisher, Peter Hattle of Montreal, wins a spectacular trip to the US MotoGP held at legendary Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Hattle had a highly modified 1997 Monster 900. Rounding out the podium was 18-year old Daniela Dunne from Santa Barbara, CA, who performed much of her own work on the retro inspired 1997 Monster 750.

Huard info updated

From CMRC Racing

STOUFFVILLE, ON -- The account number for the trust for injured motocross racer Andre Huard has changed.

Please use the following information:

Account Name: Andre Huard Trust
AccountBank: Any CIBC
Account number 06-93537

More information is available at www.andrehuard.com.

XM for Harley riders

From XM Canada

TORONTO, ON -- XM Canada has announced a multi-year distribution agreement with Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The XM Canada service is currently available for Harley-Davidson 2006 models as a dealer-installed aftermarket option.

Under the new distribution agreement, select models will offer the XM Canada service pre-installed and include three months of promotional 100-channel XM Canada premium service.

"Harley-Davidson riders expect the best in quality and innovative technology packaged into a sleek, cutting-edge design, and that is exactly what they will get with XM," said Stewart Lyons, XM Canada's executive vice president. "XM Canada is thrilled to make our first non-automotive distribution agreement with the legendary Harley-Davidson and we are excited by the opportunity to enhance the riding experience for Harley-Davidson owners with the addition of the best onboard entertainment option available."

Trial des Nations teams set

From the Canadian Motorcycle Association

HAMILTON, ON -- The CMA has announced the members of the 2006 Trial des Nations Men’s Team. The event will take place in Breal/Montfort, France Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

The riders are Sean Bird of Port Coquitlam, BC; Maxime Gobeil of St-Gedeon, QC; Andrew Young of Welland, ON; and Matthew Zajac of Mississauga, ON.

The Women’s Team will comprise veteran Trial des Nations riders Christy and Kerry Williams of Port Moody, BC. One position is still to be filled.

Pro support from CMA

From the Canadian Motorcycle Association

HAMILTON, ON -- All riders who participate in the eight-round Pro National Arenacross Series and the two Quebec rounds of the Expert National Outdoor Championships will receive a refund of their entry fees at the conclusion of the National outdoor Series.

In addition, CMA will provide travel assistance to riders who participate in the Agassiz Expert National round, to attend one or both Quebec rounds.

Details will be included in the entry form mailing scheduled for the week of April 24.