Peris sticks to US with Erion Honda

By John Hopkins

STIRLING, ON -- Calgary's Chris Peris has signed a deal to race exclusively in the AMA Superbike Championship with Erion Honda for the next two years.

According to a press release posted on roadracingworld.com from a management group dubbed The Syndicate, the 21-year-old will compete in the new Daytona Sportbike class for the team, which won last season's Formula Xtreme title with Jake Zemke.

The press release said Peris has signed a two-year deal with Erion. He is making his debut with the team at Daytona International Speedway this weekend in the Dunlop tire tests.

"Kevin Erion has won championships as a rider and team owner," Peris said in the press release. "He knows what it takes. Getting a chance to compete on an Erion-built Honda is a fantastic opportunity because I'll be on a bike that is capable of winning. Dunlop will be the spec tire in the series and I ran Dunlops last year on the 1000 and loved them, so to say I'm excited is the understatement of the year."

The move means Peris will not return to the Team Suzuki/Blackfoot/Picotte Performance squad in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. Last year he ran for the team in the Superbike and Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike classes and was its top rider. He placed fourth in the Superbike standings with a pair of third-place finishes, and he was third in the Pro 600 Sport Bike class, taking victories at Mosport International Raceway and Atlantic Motorsport Park.

"He's a great rider and a great kid," Suzuki Canada's Nathan Naslund told Inside Motorcycles. "I hope he does well [with Erion]. It's a great ride. Good on him."

Peris also ran in the AMA Superbike and Superstock classes last season with the ESP Racing Suzuki team. He picked up a Superstock podium finish at Virginia International Raceway and placed fifth in series points, and he was 12th in the Superbike standings.

Peris's move would appear to open the door for Pascal Picotte to return to riding duties in 2009 with the team he helps run with Blackfoot Motosports. The two-time Parts Canada Superbike champ took a year off in 2008 to allow some nagging injuries to heal.

However Naslund said it was by no means certain that Picotte would return to riding, and the team may sign another rider to partner Saskatoon teenager Brett McCormick, or focus on solely one bike.

Peris has also signed a deal to be represented by The Syndicate, a management group formed by Michael Murphy, described in the press release as an "industry insider."