Busby and Nickerson race to wins

By John Hopkins

CALABOGIE, ON – Rob Busby continued his mastery of the Suzuki SV650 National Cup while Steven Nickerson won a wild Honda CBR125R Challenge opener at the first round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Calabogie Motorsports Park on Sunday.

Busby, who would probably have won the national title by now if he ran a full schedule, led all seven laps of the red flag shortened SV Cup race, finishing 4.486 secs. ahead of Jody Greening. Philippe Masse finished third.

“This was the first time I was on new tires all weekend,” said Busby. “I just kept checking on Jody to make sure the gap was OK.”

Busby nailed the holeshot on the first start, but on the second lap the red flag came out for a crash between Lee Kuhn and Joe Rodrigues, which left one of the bikes in a dangerous position.

Undeterred Busby got the holeshot a second time (“I like the start, I think I’m 9/10 on getting holeshots”) and after three laps of being shadowed by Greening managed to break away.

“I had a couple of false shifts,” the runner-up admitted. “Once he broke away and I saw I had a big gap behind I just settled in.”

Masse battled with local ace Dan Henri for the final podium spot.

“There was no way I was finishing fourth,” Masse grinned. “I was getting the champagne.”

Steve Grujic rounded out the top five finishers.

The Honda CBR125R Challenge served up a typically exciting battle with the top three –
Nickerson, Bohdi Edie and Karl Robitaille – swapping positions constantly over the eight-lap race.

The trio dove three-wide into the first time on the final lap, with Nickerson finally getting in front for good in turn six. He then held on to beat Edie by 0.115 secs. with Robitaille just a further 0.011 secs. behind.

“My goal was to get a good start and get away,” said the 14-year-old Nickerson. “But they were right on me all the way.”

Ryan Roche ran a lonely race to fourth.

RACE’s Chris Chapelle outduelled SpeedTV host Greg White for victory in the celebrity contest. Inside Motorcycles’ own Don Empey sportingly hung back in third despite his obvious pace…

SV Cup Results
1. Rob Busby, Brantford, ON, Suzuki SV650, 15:45.304
2. Jody Greening, Burlington, ON, Suzuki SV650, +4.486
3. Philippe Masse, St-Dominique, QC, Suzuki SV650, +8.940
4. Dan Henri, Ottawa, ON, Suzuki SV650, +9.401
5. Steve Grujic, Cambridge, ON, Suzuki SV650, +29.140
6. Chris Dopke, Cambridge, ON, Suzuki SV650, +33.781
7. Brent Strong, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki SV650, +37.281
8. Jeremie Hade Precourt, Granby, QC, Suzuki SV650, +37.988
9. Raphael Archambault, St-Colomban, QC, Suzuki SV650, +38.530*
10. Nicky Poon, London, ON, Suzuki SV650, +39.796
11. Steve Greene, Kitchener, ON, Suzuki SV650, +50.672
12. Kana Matsumoto, Aurora, ON, Suzuki SV650, +1:11.507
Did Not Finish
Rob Cousineau, Aurora, ON, Suzuki SV650, 5 laps
David Mongrain, St-Jerome, QC, Suzuki SV650, 1 lap
Jordan Cardozo, Newmarket, ON, Suzuki SV650, 0 laps
Did Not Start
Lee Kuhn, Hamilton, ON, Suzuki SV650, Accident on First Start
Joe Rodrigues, Weston, ON, Suzuki SV650, Accident on First Start
Sara-Clode Carriere, Gatineau, QC, Suzuki SV650
* -- Includes five-second jump start penalty
Fastest Lap: 2:14.078 by Rob Busby on lap 3
Margin of Victory: 4.486 secs.

SV Cup Points
1. Rob Busby, Suzuki, 56
2. Jody Greening, Suzuki, 44
3. Philippe Masse, Suzuki, 40
4. Dan Henri, Suzuki, 33
5. Steve Grujic, Suzuki, 29
6. Chris Dopke, Suzuki, 27
7. Brent Strong, Suzuki, 25
8. Jeremie Hade Precourt, Suzuki, 23
9. Raphael Archambault, Suzuki, 21
10. Nicky Poon, Suzuki, 19
11. Steve Greene, Suzuki, 17
12. Kana Matsumoto, Suzuki, 15

Honda CBR Challenge Results
1. Steven Nickerson, Hamilton, ON, Honda CBR125R, 22:42.952
2. Bodhi Edie, Warman, SK, Honda CBR125R, +0.115
3. Karl Robitaille, Ste-Julie, QC, Honda CBR125R, +0.126
4. Ryan Roche, Pickering, ON, Honda CBR125R, +1:01.712
5. Chris Chapelle, Belleville, ON, Honda CBR125R, +1:39.864*
6. Greg White, Raleigh, NC, Honda CBR125R, +1:40.202*
7. Don Empey, Plainfield, ON, Honda CBR125R, +1:54.701*
8. Nicole Pilkington, Blackstock, ON, Honda CBR125R, +2:42.012
9. Leah Vignale, Kemptville, ON, Honda CBR125R, +2:43.109
* -- Ineligible for championship points
Fastest Lap: 2:48.425 by Karl Robitaille on lap 5
Margin of Victory: 0.115 secs.

Honda CBR Challenge Points
1. Steven Nickerson, Honda, 56
2. Bodhi Edie, Honda, 45
3. Karl Robitaille, Honda, 39
4. Ryan Roche, Honda, 33
5. Nicole Pilkington, Honda, 29
6. Leah Vignale, Honda, 27