McCormick sweeps ARL regional

By John Hopkins
with files from Pat Healey / Enfield Weekly Press

Saskatoon's Brett McCormick swept to victory in both Pro Superbike races at the fourth round of the Atlantic Roadracing League regional series at Atlantic Motorsport Park last weekend.

Using the event as a tune-up for this weekend's Parts Canada Superbike Championship national, the 17-year-old McCormick rode his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 to victory in Saturday's opening race, beating Clint McBain (Team Suzuki / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000), Jodi Christie (Powerhouse Honda Dealers of Ontario / Roz-Gar Racing Honda CBR600RR), Royce McLean (Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R6) and Terry Steeves (Vicious Cycle / BizDev Marketing Kawasaki ZX-10R).

Current ARL Pro Superbike points leader Brian Blaauwendraat was chasing down McCormick in second place when he crashed his Pro Cycle / Atlantic Honda Dealers Honda CBR600RR.

On Sunday McCormick won the red-flag shortened Superbike race ahead of McBain, Blaauwendraat and McLean.

Action was stopped when Steeves and Christie collided while battling for fifth place. Steeves was transported to hospital for observation. He was conscious when he left the track.

Earlier on Sunday McCormick added the Pro 600 win on his Suzuki GSX-R600, beating ARL class leader Blaauwendraat, McBain, Steeves and Christie.

McCormick is second to Jordan Szoke in both the Parts Canada Superbike and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike divisions heading into this weekend's national event.

Top ARL Amateur Superbike racer Ron Munroe split the wins last weekend with current Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike national points leader Cody Matechuk.

Munroe beat Matechuk's Acceleration Racing / Suzuki Dealers Suzuki GSX-R600 by 4.715 seconds in Saturday's race, but the Cochrane, Alta. racer took Sunday's round by 8.296-secs. over Munroe.

Munroe has virtually clinched the Amateur Superbike crown.

In Sunday's Amateur 600 race, Matechuk won again ahead of national rival Sebastien Tremblay of Longueuil, Que. (A. Perusse Kawasaki / Kawasaki ZX-6R) and Munroe.

In other ARL regional action, Steve Canfield of Oakfield, N.S. rode his Ducati to victory in both Thunder races and took over the series points lead from Gary McKinnon, who was second both times.

Blaise Fougere was also a double winner in Vintage Middleweight and Heavyweight.