Nelson gets World Supersport break

By John Hopkins

SHANNONVILLE, ON -- Andrew Nelson has been granted an entry for the World Supersport Championship event at Utah's Miller Motorsports Park at the end of May, the Ottawa area racer confirmed at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Saturday.

The 2001 HJC Pro Rookie of the Year on the Parts Canada Superbike tour will ride his own Yamaha YZF-R6 in the event, which runs from May 29-31.

The opportunity came after the 24-year-old from Kars, ON filled out an online entry application for the race. He learned early last week that he had been accepted into the field.

"I decided just to try it and see what happened," Nelson said at Shannonville, where he was taking part in the opening round of the RACE SuperSeries. "I'm committed to going. My family's putting in some money, a bunch of local businessmen have stepped up. It's exciting. You never know when an opportunity like this may come up again."

Nelson estimated the venture will cost between $10,000-$15,000. The race comes just a week after the Parts Canada Superbike Championship opener at Nelson's home track of Calabogie Motorsports Park.

Nelson's 19-year-old brother David was due to make his Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike debut at Calabogie but that has been put on hold so the family can focus on the World Supersport effort the following weekend.

The pair have secured sponsorship this season from Algonquin College, where they are both students. Kimpex, Ipone, EBC, Spyke, Hindle and Woodcraft are also continuing to support the Nelson Racing program.