Blaauwendraat sweeps soggy Shubie

By Brad Boutilier

SHUBENACADIE, NS -- Coming into Round 2 of the Atlantic Roadracing League Championship on June 20-21, weather was unsurprisingly once again the talk of the paddock. To the relief of most, Saturday was overcast but dry at Atlantic Motorsports Park.

In the first of two Pro Superbike races, Brian Blaauwendraat grabbed the early lead and steadily built a comfortable gap. Michelin-shod John Bresnan lead the chasing pack, but was promptly picked off by Todd Scott who was eager to try and chase down Blaauwendraat.

Late in the race, Rat Racing's Gene McKay had an off in Turn 9, bringing out the red flags. The race was called final, with Blaauwendraat winning over the Honda of Todd Scott. Fundy Powersports rider Andrew Dunlap managed to fend off the pack to keep third.

The first Pro Cycle Amateur Superbike race rounded out the day's schedule. Justin Ford led the opening laps, from Scott Redden and Ron Munroe. Munroe worked his way past Redden on lap 2. A couple laps later he moved past the Abrie Masonry-sponsored Ford for the lead. Munroe went on to win, from Ford and Redden.

Sunday dawned to steady rain, occasionally becoming very hard. Pro 600 was the first race on the docket. Blaauwendraat once again got the jump on the field and had a lonely ride to the win over Scott, and McKay.

Amateur 600 produced a first time race winner, with Ford leading from the first lap and never looking back. The Spikes Paintball-sponsored rider set a blistering pace, surpassing Pro rider Blaauwendraat’s fastest lap from the 600 race earlier in the day.

Pro Cycle's Munroe was second after getting past Redden who rounded out the podium in third.

Ford now leads the Amateur 600 championship by four points from the Halifax Motorsports Suzuki of Redden.

In the second Pro Superbike race Bresnan got a lightning start and led the first lap. Blaauwendraat went past him on lap 2, Scott also slipping by two laps later. The final few laps were very exciting. Scott was with 'Draat, hounding the Pro Cycle rider. On the final lap Scott had a big look into 11, coming side by side with 'Draat, but he thought better of it. Blaauwendraat won a drag to the line by .114 seconds.

The final race of the day was the second Pro Cycle Amateur Superbike race of the weekend. After having trouble getting his Vicious Cycles-backed Honda off the line all weekend, Munroe made a good start and promptly cleared off at the front. Ford finished second on his Centennial Auto, Sport and Tire Yamaha. Redden was third.

By claiming the win, Munroe continued his impressive streak of winning every Amateur Superbike race this year.

After another clean sweep, Blaauwendraat extended his win streak to six races and a 100 per cent win rate; very impressive work from the Honda Canada backed man.

In other action at a soggy Shubie track, Bob Geldart won the Heavyweight and Lightweight vintage races, Paul Wentzell took the Middleweight Vintage win, while Blaise Fougere won comfortably in the Ludsan Enterprises Lightweight GP & Sportsman 2 category. Gary Fulton just nipped the win from Ryan Nesbitt in an exciting Sportsman 1 encounter while Darren Marshall won P4 vintage by a large margin.