Blaauwendraat to defend Atlantic title

From Pro Cycle

DARTMOUTH, NS - Last season's HJC National Pro Rookie of the Year runner-up Brian Blaauwendraat recently secured a sponsorship deal with Pro Cycle and Honda Canada to race in 2009.

After making a name for himself with strong performances on an older Honda CBR600RR throughout the 2008 National and Regional road racing seasons, Blaauwendraat is looking forward to the upcoming season and having a brand-new Honda to compete on.

“I'm very excited to be working with Pro Cycle for the upcoming 2009 season,” commented the Truro, NS native. “The 2009 Honda CBR600RR has already shown that it’s a race winner in World Supersport. And I can't wait to put mine into action.”

Blaauwendraat, who also won the Atlantic Roadracing League’s Pro Superbike and Pro 600 Supersport championships in 2008 at Atlantic Motorsport Park, hopes to defend his titles with a repeat performance in 2009 with the help of his new Honda.

"I will be on a stronger and more capable bike than ever before, and I feel very confident in repeating my success from 2008, claiming double titles with ARL. This year will also be a learning year for me,” continued Blaauwendraat. “I will be on a completely new bike to me, and will have to work hard early to get the bike set up.”

Due to budget constraints, Blaauwendraat is unsure of which Parts Canada Superbike Championship rounds he will be able to race. But, after an impressive sixth place Pirelli Superpole qualifying effort in the premier Superbike class at the Atlantic Motorsport Park round of the series last year against motorcycles with 50+ more horsepower than his own 600cc machine, Blaauwendraat plans to put on an exciting show for the hometown fans again this August.

“Unfortunately I don’t know at this point if I have the funding to attend all of the Parts Canada Superbike rounds. Of course, I will be looking for a very strong showing at AMP, my home track,” Blaauwendraat added. “I would like to give a big thank you to Pro Cycle and Honda. If it wasn't for their help I wouldn’t have been riding this year.”

Pro Cycle is no stranger to the racing scene, having been a long-time supporter of the Atlantic round of the National Superbike series and local racing.

“After sponsoring multi-time National champion Don Munroe early in his racing career along with being a sponsor of Acceleration Racing’s Clint McBain and Cody Matechuk in 2008, Pro Cycle is proud to be part of Brian Blaauwendraat’s 2009 racing program,” commented Pro Cycle’s Jim Dunsworth.

Visit Brian on the web: www.brianblaauwendraat.com. His sponsors include Pro Cycle, Honda Canada, Motovan, Pro Tech Suspension, ARL, Vicious Cycle, Acceleration Racing, Lougheads Heating Oils, Uphams Carstar Collision, Bikers Bed & Breakfast, MacLeods Farm Machinery, Pirelli and PPM Mouthgaurds.