Frustrating weekend for McLean at Miller

By John Hopkins

Coming off an outstanding debut in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Calabogie Motorsports Park, 14-year-old Coaldale, AB rider Royce McLean scored a 12th place finish in the GTU (600cc) race that supported the World Superbike Championship round at Utah's Miller Motorsport Park May 30-31.

This was not part of McLean's factory supported Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Canadian effort and his crew consisted of his dad Todd McLean, uncle Trent McLean, Jim Adams and Steve Dick. The squad also got some assistance from Evan Steele Performance, which crews for the OTSFF program and was running its AMA rider, Robertino Pietri at Miller.

Riding a Yamaha YZF-R6 that gave up some 20 horsepower to the class frontrunners, McLean qualified 12th for the GTU race, which was one half of the big money "Larry H. Miller Challenge" run in memory of the recently deceased track owner.

The 12-lap race started in damp conditions and McLean dropped to 18th in the 36-rider field after a cautious start before working his way back through the pack. He had just taken Brian Parriott for 10th on the final lap when a big slide from his rear Pirelli gave him an anxious moment and he slipped back to 12th at the finish. He did manage the eighth fastest lap time.

"As Royce was making his move, that he had tested for several laps, his rear tire had worn severally due to the cool weather conditions and now did not have the grip he needed to complete the pass," explained a team press release.

McLean was also entered in the GTO (Open Superbike) race but was out before the end of the opening lap with clutch trouble.

"Royce didn’t get a great start (unaware that his clutch was going), and then part way around on the first lap, we realized why," the team said. "This spring Royce has been practicing a lot of starts and it finally took its toll on his clutch."