Peter Lenz - the seriously talented motorcycle racer who also happened to be only 13 years old was killed during the warmup for Sunday’s USGPRU Moriwaki MD250H race at the Indianapolis Grand Prix when he was apparently struck by another rider.

The Nürburgring (Germany), Tuesday 31st August: after a month’s break, the World Superbikes are ready to restart their engines and return to the racetrack; the next stop for the Ducati Xerox Team is Germany, and the historic Nürburgring.

Noriyuki celebrated podium success last season in Race 1 at the Ring but it was the previous year, 2008, that brought the most satisfaction, with a double win for the Japanese rider at the German track, in spite of his riding with a broken collarbone! Michel on the other hand is yet to step up to the Ring’s rostrum, his best result thus far a sixth place finish in 2008. Having returned to the SBK calendar in 2008, after an eight year break, the circuit has been characterised by some very unpredictable weather conditions that have delayed and cut short races in the last two seasons. The historic Ring, located in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest, has played host to motorsport events for more than eighty years; this will be the fifth time that the World Superbike circus visits the track.

As the 2010 edition of the championship charges rapidly towards the home straight, with only two rounds left to run after the coming weekend’s German round, Nitro-Nori lies in 7th position while Uragano Mich is 9th in the overall standings. Ducati holds third position in the constructors championship.

Noriyuki Haga (7th in championship, 177 points)

"I had a great time here in 2008, taking a double win despite some terrible conditions that messed up the smooth running of race day, but then last season didn’t go to plan as I started in pole but crashed out of race 2 in a race I was sure I could have won. The problem at the Nürburgring is that no-one can predict the conditions – we’ve seen the sun come out just minutes after a hail shower so mixed conditions like those make it hard to prepare for race day.”

Haga’s Superbike form at the Nürburgring:
2009: Race 1 – 2nd, Race 2 – DNF
2008: Race 1 – winner, Race 2 – winner
1999: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 6th
1998: Race 1 – 5th, Race 2 – 7th

Michel Fabrizio (9th in championship, 160 points)

“I was disappointed to miss out on the podium at Silverstone so I’ll be trying my best to get there at the Nurburgring. I really like the track but haven’t managed to reach the podium before. The weather is so mixed of course and that can really mess up a weekend if conditions change dramatically each day. Anyway, we’ll be looking to take as many points as possible, and I’ll have my eyes on a top three finish.”

Fabrizio’s Superbike form at the Nürburgring:
2009: Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 – 9th
2008: Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 – 6th


CIRCUIT DATA:
Country: Germany
Name: The Nürburgring
Circuit length: 5.137 km
Pole position: left
Curve a sinistra: 6
Curve a destra: 11
Race distance: 20 laps = 102.74 km

LAP RECORDS: Best lap – Rea (Honda) 1’56.234 (2009). Superpole – Neukirchner (Suzuki) 1'55.471 (2008).
2009 RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 3. Checa (Honda) Race 2 – 1. Rea (Honda); 2. Spies (Yamaha); 3. Checa (Honda)

CALABOGIE, Ontario

Turn 2 Sportbike School is pleased to announce the finalized class structure and schedule for the Turn 2 Moto Club GP Labour Day race weekend presented by Kahuna Powersports. This event is being held at Calabogie Motorsports Park from Sept. 3rd - 5th, 2010.  This will be the final event for Turn 2 in the 2010 season. One lucky Moto Club member will go home with the Grand Prize of a 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, full NEXO road-race gear, and many other exciting prizes.

The weekend's main race will feature the Superbike class, with primary focus on bikes with 1000cc or greater engine displacement, but will also be open to bikes with smaller engine displacements with unlimited modifications. Qualifying lap times of under 2:20:00 taken from Saturday's heat race will determine Sunday's final grid placement. Prizes for the top three finishers will include up to $3,000 worth of Controlled Riding Group (CRG) track time in 2011.

The Supersport class will be limited to bikes with 750cc or smaller engine displacement with unlimited modifications. Qualifying lap times of under 2:30:00 taken from Saturday's heat race will determine Sunday's final grid placement. Prizes for the top three finishers will include up to $3,000 worth of CRG track time in 2011.

For inspiring new racers, there will be a Mock Race featuring three sub-classes; Greater than 751cc, 750cc or smaller, and also 400cc or smaller. Qualifying lap times will be determined after Saturday's CRG 2 and CRG 3 sessions. Prizes for the top three in each of these classes will include a 1-day ARC class at any level to be used in the 2011 season.

And last but not least, a Best Lap non-race will be open to all Controlled Riding Group 1 participants.

"This has been a phenomenal season for us" says Turn 2 president George Budacki.  "The sole intent of our race weekend is for pure fun in a club environment, and a great way to give back to the numerous Turn 2 Moto Club members and racing enthusiasts who've supported us in the 2010 season."

On Friday September 3rd the school will operate as a normal Turn 2 event with Advanced Riding Course (ARC) and CRG classes available all day at special discount pricing.  Racers will be able to practice in the CRG 3 group with coaching available from Turn 2's Professional Superbike Instructors.




On Saturday September 4th Turn 2 will operate as normal ARC and CRG days with the exception of dedicated classes for both Superbike and Supersport practice in the morning and Heat Races in the afternoon.

On Sunday, the 5th of September, there will be CRG 1 - 3 groups with no ARC sessions available.  The format for Superbike and Supersport classes will mirror Saturday's structure, with a Final 25 minute Superbike race scheduled for 2:00 pm, and the Final 25 minute Supersport race scheduled for 3:20 pm.

Following Sunday's on-track activities will be an awards ceremony at 5:30 pm, where Turn 2 staff will present prizes to all winners from the weekend.  Turn 2 Moto Club members who have worked hard all season in the Super Lap TT Series will finally get the chance to win the Grand Prize draw of a 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250R and full Nexo gear and accessories.  The winner MUST be present to accept the Grand Prize.

Early-bird Pre-registration opens Wednesday August 25th at 9 am (Eastern Standard Time) sharp and closes on Friday August 27th at 9 pm (EST).  Early-birds will enjoy discounted entry fees for SUPERBIKE and SUPERSPORT classes, as well as grid positions for the Saturday Heat Race which will be assigned on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVE basis.

For complete details on the class structures, weekend schedule and entry fees please visit Turn 2 online at www.turn2.ca.  Turn 2 Sportbike School would like to thank all their staff, business partners, sponsors, volunteers and most of all the riders who have joined them throughout the 2010 season.

World Enduro Canada and Wiesner Insurance would like to congratulate all our Champions from the Ontario Cross Country Championship Spring Series.  The number one plates will be handed out this weekend in Wingham at the first round in our Fall Series.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone there - for more information on this weekend's - event check out the link HERE. 

Just in case you missed the horribly kept secret - it's official. Valentino Rossi is moving from Yamaha and will ride a Ducati next year. 31-year-old Rossi, a winner of nine motorcycling world titles in all, created rumours of a departure from Yamaha by entering into the last year of his contract without a new deal.

The Italian rider has been a dominant force in MotoGP for many years and the move to Ducati will bring new challenges for him.

No doubt Yamaha isn't overly joyed to see him leave the Yamaha tent because even if he isn't winning he's one of the biggest names in MotoGP and brings a ton of attention to the brand that he's riding.

Ducati on the other hand is beaming with the news that they've got Rossi lined up for next year.

"We are delighted that Valentino Rossi will be with us from 2011. He is a paragon of excellence in the world of motorcycling," Ducati Motor Holding president Gabriele Del Torchio said in a statement.

Joe Rocket Canada offers full throttle congratulations to Canadian Superbike and Pro Sportbike Champion Jordan Szoke!

Sponsored by Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, Dave Estok and Olivier Spilborghs represented the Ruthless Racing Inc. team in the final two rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Series held from August 5 to 8. While Darren James competed in the 2010 British Superbike Championship on a Harley-Davidson XR1200 race bike provided by Warr’s Harley-Davidson, Estok and Spilborghs both fought well in their respective classes in nearly perfect weather conditions in Nova Scotia.

Dave Estok came into the final two rounds in fourth place on the Ruthless Racing Inc. Buell 1125R bike in the Pro Sport Bike standings – a mere one point behind rookie sensation Cody Matechuk (Suzuki GSXR 600).

The veteran and long-time Ruthless Racing Inc. team member stated third place as his goal for the weekend. “I’ve gotta beat Cody this weekend,” he commented shortly before his qualifying on Friday. “It’s really that simple and I know I can do it. Our times are really close and there are places here where the Buell [bike] is a little better than his bike; well maybe not after that crash.” Estok was referring to a crash he experienced in practice. Ruthless Racing Inc. crew members Rod Matechuk and Dave Oakley rose to the occasion, preparing the Buell 1125R motorcycle quickly for Estok’s qualifying effort. Estok repaid them in turn with a fast lap of 1:10.576, which compared very favourably with his main rival Matechuk’s best time, 1:10.574.

In his first race of the weekend, Estok placed eighth, a disappointment for him, although he did improve his personal pace to a 1:10.381. Matechuk, hailing from Cochrane, Alberta, extended his points advantage by placing third, earning him the HJC Helmets Rookie of the Year Award. “I’m not happy at all,” Estok said post race. “I got a really bad start, and [at] this place it’s so hard to pass. We’ll try again tomorrow.”

Try he did, and he improved. Estok got the start he needed in race two and ran a very strong race, lowering his lap times to 1:09.735 and charging the Buell 1125R motorcycle into sixth place. He was right behind Matechuk at race end, placing fourth in the National Sport Bike Championships for 2010.

“I’d like to say I’m happy,” said Estok as the team was packing up, “but fourth place isn’t what I came here for. I mean, hats off to Cody, he had a great year and unfortunately for me he had a great weekend. I kinda feel like I let the team down. I mean, Dave and Rod worked their butts off for me and I didn’t get the results we wanted. I really like riding for the Deeley Harley-Davidson [Canada] team and I’d really like to thank them, and Darren of course, and hope I’m back next year,” he said, smiling.

In the K&N Filters Sport Twins Class, Olivier Spilborghs was the only rider with a mathematical chance of catching the runaway points leader, Rob Busby, on the Buell XB12R bike. Spilborghs closed in by one point in his qualifying ride, taking pole position for the National Championships by recording a sizzling 1:12.899 on the Ruthless Racing Inc. Buell XB9R motorcycle. He was the only rider to record a time below 1:13.000.

“We still have a fighting chance,” Spilborghs enthused. “Rod made some changes to the suspension that really worked; I took over a second off my best time.”

A big thank you also goes out to the event organizers and thier volunteer staff. Stephan Fotheringham and his team did an outstanding job in preparing the sections and the interzone.

We would like to say that the recent news which has appeared on the US website Cycle World and other websites has been misreported and must be attributed to the many rumors circulating lately.

Whether and when an agreement is reached, official press releases will be issued. 

The Atlantic Roadracing League is gearing up for the busiest two weeks of their 5 month race
calendar. The next 2 weeks will see the Shubenacadie circuit and surrounding areas explode with racers
from all over the country as ARL holds Round 4 of their Atlantic Championship and then plays host to the inal rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship the following weekend.

July 30th- August 1st will see ARL holding Round 4 of the Atlantic Championship at the 1.6 mile (2.5 km) Atlantic Motorsport Park. This will be the 2nd year that ARL has organized Round 4 of their regional series to be held the weekend prior to their National event. This is to allow away riders to come down a week early and get as much track time in as they can, plus it gives spectators a great chance to get into the swing of things before the big National the following week. So far away riders have taken full advantage of this opportunity, also relishing the chance to soak up some of that famed East Coast hospitality.

The following weekend, August 5th- 8th, will see the countries best make their annual pilgrimage east for the Atlantic stop on the Parts Canada Superbike tour. This time, things are slightly different. Traditionally the east coast stop on the tour was the penultimate stop on the calendar, though this time it will be the final stop. All season a championship battle has been brewing and its set to come to a boil at AMP in August. All 5 National titles are still up for grabs and if the past is any indication, AMP will provide some great races to decide the final title standings.

Adding to the excitement is a strong mix of fast local riders looking to show well in their home event.
The east coast is home to some of Canada’s fastest riders with multi time Canadian Champion Don
Munroe hailing from Bedford, NS- just 40 minutes from AMP. One of the main reasons ARL keeps
organizing the Atlantic stop of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship is to provide their riders with
a chance to showcase their talent on the National level without having to travel half way across the
country, something that is not feasible for most local riders. This is a great opportunity for all local riders to show well against the countries best and leave their mark on the National series, one we sincerely hope everyone takes advantage of.

With established national stars Jordan Szoke, Jodi Christie, Francis Martin, Alex Welsh, Steven Nickerson, Raphael Archambault and co all ready and rearing to go the stage is set for some great racing. Throw in local fast men Todd Scott, Andrew Dunlap, Ron Munroe, Charlie Legere, Austin Shaw- O’Leary and Mark Goodwin and things get even more exciting. Are you ready?

For more information please visit http://www.atlanticroadracing.com or e-mail
admin@atlanticroadracing.com

The Western rounds of the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship presented by Parts Canada are in the books.  Riders, media, and spectators all agreed they were a success.  To increase media support Dan Paris from Offroadmotorcycles.ca and Suzanne Howie from Inside Motorcycles came along for the ride.  Dan was posting photos and updates a few times per day on his site and after two weeks his site was getting over 11,000 visitors.  Its great to see the sport of Enduro getting into the Canadian mainstream the way it is in other parts of the world.
 

MOSPORT, Ontario (Tuesday, July 13, 2010) – Mosport International Raceway The Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada supported Ruthless Racing Inc. Team came away from the fourth and fifth rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike series with some strong results.

Practice for the double-header weekend was held on the Thursday, with qualifying scheduled for Friday,
but unfortunately a torrential downpour followed by steady rain caused the organizers to rate the Friday as a practice day only and the dry track practice times were used to establish both the qualifying times and the National Championship grids.

In the Pro Sportbike class, Dave Estok, riding a Buell 1125R bike, had recorded fourth-fastest time and would start from the front row of the field of nineteen riders. Olivier Spilborghs rode the #77 Buell XB9R bike to the second-fastest position in K&N Filters Sport Twins qualifying – just 0.776 seconds behind Buell XB12R rider Robert Busby. Team owner Darren James debuted the new Harley-Davidson® XR 1200 motorcycle in competition and qualified the brand-new machine in eighth place in a group of fifteen competitors.

In the races, both Dave Estok and Darren James displayed their very experienced riding skills, and the sound of the Buell 1125R motorcycle contrasted with the high-revving Japanese brands. In Saturday’s race, Estok scored a fourth place and James followed in fifth. On Sunday, the team captured fifth and sixth, as Estok slipped one position in the finishing order, and once again James followed suit. Estok commented on both days: “Saturday was great. I wasn’t happy that I almost threw it away in turn ten, and I could’ve been closer to the leaders, but I’m real happy with the results. It’s the best race I’ve had here.” Estok was not so enthused after his fifth place in the Sunday final. “I feel like I owe the team an apology. I don’t know what happened, ’cause I’m usually really good on the start, but they caught me sleeping. My hat goes off to Rod Matechuk for doing such a great job on the bike. He and the team deserved better – I should have made it to the podium.”

Spilborghs placed second in both of the Canadian Sport Twins finals but was closer to the win on Saturday. “It was close,” Olivier confirmed. “I was strong in areas and could close on him, and then he [Busby] would pull me where his bike was strong. I had a chance at him in the final turns, but couldn’t get it done.” On Sunday, an inspired Spilborghs tried once more, but to no avail. “I passed Busby early, ’cause I didn’t want him to gap me, but then I screwed up down in Moss’ and he got by. Then I missed a shift and that was all he needed. I guess if I’m going to get beat, it’s okay to get beat by a Buell [bike],” he said laughing.

Ruthless Racing Inc.’s Darren James summed up his Sport Twins experience: “The bikes are really coming along, and I went faster on Sunday than I did on Saturday, so that’s good. It was actually a very good weekend for us. David is strong in the points and showing real well against the Japanese sport bikes, and Ov still has a real chance at the championship in the Twins class. I’m happy that we’re getting beat by a Buell [bike]; Busby is really riding well this year.”

James showed sadness as he reluctantly confirmed that race technician Dave Murphy would be leaving the team, after many years of service. A clearly emotional Murphy also confirmed the news and commented, “I’ve been doing this for half my life. You gotta hang it up sometime, and the time has come. I’ve worked with the greatest riders in Canada over the years, and I think that to end my career now, on a high note working for Deeley, is appropriate. I’ll miss it for sure. Like I said, half my life has been spent doing this. It’s time for some R&R.”

The Ruthless Racing Inc. team sponsored by Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada will see action again at the final two rounds of the 2010 Parts Canada Superbike Series, to be held at Atlantic Motorsport Park near Halifax, Nova Scotia, from August 5 through August 8. For more information, please refer to www.cdnsuperbike.com.

The Ducati Xerox team gears up for Round 9 of the World Superbike Championship, taking place this weekend at the Automotodrom Brno in the Czech Republic.


Eighth round Misano was extremely hard fought, as well as being the hottest event on the 2010 calendar so far, but Michel Fabrizio’s determination paid off when he reached the podium in Race 2 (third), having just missing out on a top three finish in race 1 (fourth). Noriyuki, starting from further down the grid, finished the races in seventh and ninth position, consolidating fifth place in the overall championship standings.

Straight after the Misano round, the factory team moved on to an equally hot Imola to participate in the official tests scheduled by championship organisers Infront Motor Sports at the “Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari”. During the two day session Noriyuki and Michel concentrated mainly on tyre testing, with Pirelli bringing various new compounds to the track, and by the close of play Michel had recorded the second fastest time overall, Noriyuki the fifth.

Attention now turns to the upcoming Czech event. Brno was one of only two rounds in which Noriyuki failed to achieve a podium finish last season, mainly due to the fact that he was riding with a fractured scapula after a bad accident at Donington Park. In spite of his serious injuries, the Japanese rider rode two strong races and finished well inside the points zone in both. Michel, on the other hand, was fast in all the practice sessions but a costly mistake put paid to his chances in Race 1. He reached the podium in the second race but had hoped to do better at the track at which he has had most success in recent years. Both Ducati Xerox riders hope for a much better performance at the Czech circuit this season.

Noriyuki Haga (5th in championship, 151 points)

Noriyuki has won only one race at Brno, back in 2005.
“I like the Brno track and don’t really know why I haven’t done better. I have won a race there but that feels like a few years back now! Last year was especially hard work after the accident at Donington, I needed lots of painkillers in order to get through race day and all in all the results were not so bad; of course we want to do a lot better than that this year though.”

Haga’s Superbike form at Brno:
2009: Race 1 – 8th, Race 2 – 6th
2008: Race 1 – 6th, Race 2 – 7th
2007: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 4th
2006: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 3rd
2005: Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 – winner

Michel Fabrizio (8th in championship, 131 points)

Michel has scored six podiums over eight races at the Czech track but a race win has thus far eluded him.
“Traditionally I’ve done well at Brno in recent years but, although I’ve had a lot of podium success, I haven’t ever won a Superbike race there. I was happy to be back on the podium at Misano just recently but I really had to fight tooth and nail to get there; the competition won’t be any easier to beat at Brno, but I’m feeling confident that I can do well.”

Fabrizio’s Superbike form at Brno:
2009: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 3rd
2008: Race 1 – 3rd, Race 2 – 2nd
2007: Race 1 – 6th, Race 2 – 3rd
2006: Race 1 – 3rd, Race 2 – 2nd

CIRCUIT DATA:
Country: Czech Republic
Name: Automotodrom Brno
Circuit length: 5.403 km
Pole position: left
Corners left: 6
Corners right: 8
Race distance: 20 laps = 108.060 km

LAP RECORDS: Fastest lap – Biaggi (Aprilia) 1’59.961 (2009). Superpole – Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1'58.345 (2008).

2009 RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Checa (Honda); 3. Rea (Honda); Race 2 – 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox)

With the S 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad offers a supersports bike which provides an impressive overall package of power, performance and safety for both country roads and the racing circuit.

Since the model launch, an extensive range of BMW Motorrad motorcycle equipment has been available for the S 1000 RR. This accessory program is now being consistently expanded to include special products for use on the race track - the High Performance Race Parts.

In this way, BMW Motorrad is responding to the fact that over 40 percent motorcyclists are actively involved in track riding - either race track training or professionally in national racing series.

For this reason, BMW Motorrad will be offering race track riders special products which are approved solely for use on the race track and are not authorised for road use.

The first in the range will be the HP Race Cover Kit and the HP Race Power Kit, which will be available from July 2010. Other HP Race Parts such as the HP Race Calibration Kit, the HP Race shift-pattern reversal and the HP Race right footrest plate will be available from the fourth quarter of 2010.

HP Race Cover Kit.

For use on the race track, the mirrors, front direction indicators and licence plate holder including rear direction indicators are usually removed. The HP Race Cover Kit provides covers to replace the missing parts so as to give the motorcycle the perfect racing trim in visual terms, too.

The kit includes two covers for the mirrors, two covers for the front direction indicators, a cover for underside of tail section as well as a blue fabric bag with white "HP High Performance Parts" lettering in which to keep the covers.

HP Race Power Kit.

With the HP Race Power Kit BMW Motorrad meets race track riders’ needs with regard to further increased performance.

An Akrapovič racing exhaust system made of light titanium not only ensures significantly reduced exhaust back pressure but also saves weight. The dB Eater (98 dB) included means that more stringent limitations imposed by race track operators can be adhered to if necessary.

A feature already used by many racing teams, the racing control unit with racing data status provides optimised engine qualities and a significant increase in torque, especially in the medium engine speed range which is so important in racing.

The data status developed for race track use ensures optimisation of the ride modes (RAIN, SPORT, RACE, SLICK) as well as Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), providing further enhanced acceleration, traction and therefore performance.

The device is authorised by means of a code which is entered in the control unit by the BMW Motorrad dealer.

Sunday 27th June: at the end of a hot and tiring day at the Misano World Circuit, the Ducati Xerox team were pleased to see Italian rider Michel Fabrizio step up to the podium in race 2 of the eighth round of the World Superbike championship.

In Race 1 the two Ducati Xerox riders made a pretty good start, Michel finding himself in fourth position after the first corner with his team mate Noriyuki Haga behind him in sixth. Although Sylvain Guintoli quickly passed Michel, the Roman rider was able to move back up to fourth by passing the Frenchman on the fifth lap. In front of him, Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa and Troy Corser battled it out for the win while Fabrizio was unfortunately unable to close the gap, finishing in fourth, the position he had held for the best part of the race. Noriyuki on the other hand, starting from ninth on the grid, found that the feeling with his 1198 improved after the first few laps but problems, particularly on entry into the corners, meant he was unable to catch the leading group of five. The Japanese rider stuck with Leon Haslam through the second half of the race, managing to get past him on the last of the 24 laps, to conclude Race 1 in seventh position.

For Fabrizio the start of Race 2 was a copy of the first; fourth place for the Roman rider, behind Corser, Checa and Biaggi, at the first corner. Haslam got past him during the first lap but Michel quickly responded by passing not only Haslam but Biaggi too on the next lap, thus moving into third position. By the end of the sixth lap Fabrizio was leading the race but unfortunately this did not last and the aforementioned pair got by once more, leaving Michel to battle against Cal Crutchlow on the Yamaha for third. Roman rider Michel gritted his teeth and a final push ensured he crossed the line in third, happy to be on the Misano podium in front of the Italian crowd. Team-mate Noriyuki, on the other hand, lost a couple of positions at the start and then made a small mistake during the fifth lap which left him in thirteenth place. He gained somewhat during the race and his pace remained constant but he was unable to reach the frontrunners, closing the second race of the day in ninth position.

Noriyuki Haga, having finished both of today’s race in the top ten, remains in fifth position in the overall standings with 151 points while Michel Fabrizio, having attained 29 points today, moves up into eighth place. Ducati lies in third position in the manufacturers championship with 250 points.

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 4th , Race 2 - 3rd)

“It was very hard today; in race 1 I couldn’t have done any more, I pusher until the end and had to be happy with fourth. In Race 2 we didn’t win but we got on the podium which is nevertheless a good result. It wasn’t at all easy and once Max got past me there was no way I was going to be able to stick with him; instead I had to do everything to hold on to third, with Crutchlow pushing all the way. I dedicate the podium to my team as my technicians work so hard every week and continue to believe in me. I will continue to give 100% in the next rounds and we hope Brno, a track that’s traditionally favoured the two Roman riders, brings me good results.”


Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 – 9th)

“In Race 1 the level of grip seemed to improve after the first few laps and I had better feeling but it was difficult to catch Haslam, I was having trouble braking, going into the corners. In the end I got past Haslam to finish seventh but I had hoped to do better. In race 2 I used my other bike, with a similar set up but just a different front fork.

Feeling improved but I still wasn’t happy with the traction; then I made a couple of small mistakes and, once I lost ground, it was almost impossible to make it back up. I’m hopeful we can do better at Brno, a track I enjoy.”


RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Checa (Ducati); 3. Corser (BMW). Race 2 -  1.  Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Haslam (Suzuki); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox)


CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Biaggi (Aprilia) 307; Haslam (Suzuki) 270; 3. Checa (Ducati) 172; 4. Rea (Honda) 158; 5. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 151; 6. Corser (BMW) 149; 7. Toseland (Yamaha) 138; 8. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 131; 9. Camier (Aprilia) 130; 10. Crutchlow (Yamaha) 120

Manufacturers – Aprilia 313; Suzuki 283; Ducati 250; Yamaha 177; Honda 169; BMW 152; Kawasaki 47

FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada’s Ryan Graffunder hammered his way to the first Pro Class win of his promising career this past weekend in British Columbia. Husqvarna also kept its podium streak alive in Quebec where Guy Giroux nailed another 2nd place finish in the Pro class and Karine Geoffrion jumped on the podium for the second race in a row with her 2nd overall in the ladies class.

After an impressive 2009 season that saw Ryan post solid results in the Canadian Enduro Championship, including earning a top 5 overall in the E2 class and the Top Pro Junior Award for riders under 20 years old, Graffunder was finally able his to grab the first Pro Class win of his
career on his new Husqvarna TXC 450 at the Full Throttle Hare Scramble in Vernon, British Columbia.

Graffunder enjoyed another good start and ran in the top three for the opening laps. By the lap third lap, Ryan had worked his way into the lead and focused on trying to build a gap on the hungry pack that was hunting him which included 2009 CEC Champion, Bobby Prochnau. Graffunder was able to build and maintain his lead and would remain out front until the checkers.

“My start was good. Bobby took off out front and there was some good racing in the first few laps with Ryan Durkee and Dylan Bucknell. At end of the third lap I was able to get past Bobby when he ran out of fuel right before the gas check. Dylan got by me and then stopped for gas too. I kept going and pitted the next lap for fuel instead. Once I got out front I just tried to stay focused and run my own race. I was able to build a little bit of a cushion on the guys and stayed in first until the end. Bobby’s still coming back from his hand injury but I felt really solid and I was definitely pretty excited to get my first ever win in the Pro Class.”

Things are looking great as we get closer to round three of the WEC – CMRC Ontario Cross Country Championship. The course has been finalized and only the last few details are being put in place. It has been a while since we saw Cross Country racing at Motopark and the course for this year’s event will definitely play out well for those who want to use the whole gearbox. The terrain features some very fast sections with ample room for passing. The single track sections have the loose and embedded rocks for which Motopark is so famous. Weather is forecasted to be warm and sunny so start hydrating now.

Season Opener of 2010 Parts Canada Superbike Series in Mirabel, Quebec

The road racing team of Ruthless Racing Inc., supported by Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, made its first appearance on the 2010 Parts Canada Superbike Series schedule with a visit to the first round of competition, staged at the new Circuit ICAR track just north of Montréal, Quebec from May 27 through May 30.

This year, the Ruthless Racing Inc. squad consists of Olivier Spilborghs, Dave Estok, and Darren James. James and Estok are riding Buell 1125R bikes in the Sportbike class, and Spilborghs is competing on a Buell XB9R motorcycle in the Sport Twins division.

With the demise of the Buell brand, some track pundits were wondering why Deeley has chosen to race this year with the Ruthless team. Team owner and former Canadian Thunder champion Darren James explains, “Deeley’s history in racing goes back over seventy years and [has] supported many great riders. […] Also, as many people are aware, we have been talking about a Harley-Davidson XR1200 spec class for Canada. It’s working well in other countries and the AMA is just starting it this year, so we want to stay involved. We feel it will work well here. What we’re doing this year keeps the Buell name out there, and there are still some brand-new bikes available that are very well priced and come with a two-year warranty. This year’s effort is toned down from last year, but Ruthless Racing Inc. is still here and we owe that to the senior management at Deeley; they are astute business men who understand the value in racing.”

On the race track, both Darren and Dave worked with the Ruthless Racing Inc. crew, headed up by Thomas Morin, sorting out handling and power issues through the Sportbike practice sessions, and both were able to lower their lap times substantially. “We’re just off Steve’s [Crevier] time from last year,” enthused Dave Estok. Likewise, Darren James was given cause to smile. “I found something,” he beamed after placing fourth in the pre-race warm-up on Sunday morning. “We made some changes to the front end and I’m really comfortable.”

On race day, the Ruthless team’s riders’ goals would be tested. Both James and Estok were aiming at top-ten finishes and both voiced his desire to beat his teammate. “I’d like to win obviously,” said James, “but realistically, top ten for sure, top six would be nice.” Estok had similar expectations stating, “I’m going to be running the whole series, so grabbing some points is really important. I won’t be happy if I don’t get top ten. I’d like top five.”

Upon completion of the twelve-lap National Championship race, both riders achieved their goal of a top-ten finish, James with a secure ride to eighth place and Estok in seventh. Estok’s ride was not an easy one, as he was one of four riders involved in a fierce dice for fourth position. Veterans Estok on the Buell bike and Frank Trombino (Honda) swapped positions and paint with rookie sensations Cody Matechuck (Suzuki) and Kenny Reidman (Triumph) for much of the race, much to the delight of the large Quebecois crowd. Estok was just 0.243 seconds behind Reidman at the finish. “There was a point where I thought I could be fourth, but hey, it was a real good race; the kids are fast. I’m happy with my ride, I got top ten, I beat my teammate, and I got some points… and I didn’t fall down.”

Meanwhile in the Sport Twins class, Olivier Spilborghs had qualified his Buell XB9R bike in third behind Brent Strong (Suzuki) and Rob Busby (Buell XB12R model), but in the post-session dyno run, he produced too much horsepower and was penalized with a back-row start for the National Championship race. Unfazed by the handicap, Olivier executed one of his textbook hole shot starts and rocketed the Buell motorcycle into third place as the pack entered turn two off the start. That was as far as he would get in the race, as Busby on his Buell bike reeled in fast starter Strong to take the race lead just past the halfway mark, a lead he would not relinquish. “I got a good start, and that’s what you gotta do,” Spilborghs explained after the final. “There’s lots of room out there, so there was no problem passing. I couldn’t make up the difference on those guys, so I just rode my own race and yeah, I’m happy with third. I told you I want this championship, so these points are important.”

At the next two rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship in Calgary (June 24 to June 27), Dave Estok and Olivier Spilborghs will represent the Ruthless Racing Inc. team each in their respective championship chases. Team owner Darren James will be racing in England and Scotland on a Harley-Davidson XR 1200 bike in the support class for the British Superbike series. He will return to Canada in time for the Mosport double-header (July 9 to July 11), at which venue he is hoping to debut the XR 1200 model in Canada’s Sport Twins class.

Here's the latest report from BC native, Don Hatton and his rallying exploits in Sardegna:

Press Release

FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada’s Guy Giroux battled his way to another podium finish last weekend during the second round of the FMSQ series in Beauce, Quebec.  Giroux picked up where he left off at the opening round in St-Alphonse de Granby by grinding out another solid 2nd overall at the bone dry and dusty Beauce event.

Giroux had some extra motivation as he headed to the start line after he had just finished watching his girlfriend, the smoking fast Karine Geoffrion, pound her way to a 1st place finish in the highly competitive ladies class on her Husqvarna WR 125 two stroke.

After a great a start that allowed her to move into first place before the end of the opening lap, Karine charged ahead and worked on building the gap between herself and second place finisher Vanessa Marcoux.

Geoffrion put consistent time on Marcoux and the pair would remain first and second for the entire race with Karine enjoying a comfortable lead at the end.  The Beauce event had another massive rider turn out with hundreds of entries including a huge number of women.

Giroux roared his way to a top three start and escaped some of the dust that wreaked havoc on the racers behind him as the pack charged its way through the opening lap on the extremely dry race course. Guy moved quickly into second and then focused on hunting KTM’s imported woods ace from the United Kingdom, Jason Thomas.

“I got in second not long after the start and set my sights on Thomas, who was running away pretty quickly” said Giroux. “I rode the first lap pretty well and he put 40 seconds on me, and I put 30 on 3rd place, everything was going good!”

Giroux indicated that he had backed his pace down some after the opening lap and tried to focus on being smooth and conserving energy but realized after a few laps that he was allowing Michel Metcalf in 3rd to close in on him.  “…after lap three I wasn’t putting time on third place anymore, so I put my head down and went faster”

Giroux would begin to increase the distance between third place and himself until a costly mistake with his pit stop would allow Metcalf to get by him and take over second.

In the final laps, a determined Giroux charged after Metcalf to regain the spot that he had just given up. “…time was running low, it was 2:08 hrs on my watch, so I needed to make a move quick. I caught him before the woods section, followed him, then put the pass on him when we jumped back onto the grass track and then for the next two laps I went as fast as I could. I got to the finish line with about 1:20 minute lead on Michel."



In a repeat of round one, Giroux would take home a well earned second with Jason Thomas out front with a comfortable lead in first. Metcalf had a solid hold on third with a healthy buffer between himself and fourth place. As further confirmation on how competitive the top ten Pros are in this year’s Quebec series, 5th through 9th positions all finished within a few seconds of each other!

Giroux, along with his Husqvarna Canada teammates, will be attending additional regional races in the coming weeks as they continue to prepare for the opening round of the 2010 Canadian Enduro Championship series that begins July 3rd and 4th in Blairmore, Alberta.

Team Sponsors: Husqvarna Canada, Feeding Performance Inc., Motovan, Rekluse, Ogio, Dragon, Xtreme, TCX, Axis, Zox, Pro-Tech, Etnies, Throttle Entertainment, UNI Filter, DID, LeoVince, GPR

Stabilizer, Motul, LimeNine, Impact Canopies, GoPro, Enduro Engineering, Supersprox, SkyCap, Boyesen, Dunlop and Zip Ty Racing.

Special thanks to the Husqvarna Canada dealers that provide extra assistance help ensure our race program is a success; Bow Ridge Sports in Cochrane, Echo Cycle in Edmonton and RiverCity Cycle in Kamloops.

Canadian Don Hatton has completed the first day for racing in the 2010 Sardegna Rally Race in Sardinia Italy.

“Exciting day! Long stages with average speed of only 40 km/hr. Very narrow and rocky, just like riding the deer or mountain bike trails back home” Don says.

It was pouring rain during the special stage today making it even tougher for the competitors more used to riding in the North African sand dunes. The 4 foot deep water crossing was exceptionally tough. But thanks to the help of the Polish team who with their ATV were able to pull out six stranded riders.

We know at this point that Marc Coma is leading the race overall but due to lack of direct contact with the organizers we are unable to update Don’s position in the race. We will advise as soon as we have the information.

Today’s stage is the “Marathon Stage” ending in a “parc ferme” at the Polygon Military compound in the Sardinian mountains. This means the riders will not have their support teams to help with the maintenance or repair of the bike.

Also all the competitors are housed in large communal tent in an “African Style” bivouac for the night.

Rally Raid Racing Factoid – things you might not know or thought of:

Parc ferme is a term used to indicate a guarded locked compound where the motorcycles are kept at night. The riders are generally only allowed a short time frame to do any maintenance or repairs on the bikes, sometimes as little as fifteen minutes, and are not allowed any help from anyone – including spectators – and especially their support team. If they are caught accepting help they can be disqualified from the race. 

Therefore along with incredible physical and mental stamina, the ability to navigate in everything from a desert to wooded mountains a Rally Raid rider must also be a very handy mechanic!

World Enduro Canada is pleased to announce the updated schedule for the Ontario Cross Country Championship - Spring Series.  The Spring series kicks off this Sunday at the Sturgess Cycle round #1 in Port Colborne, ON.  The Niagra Timberline Riders have been hard at work on a great course with a number of changes from last year.  The WEC crew will be there with the Royal Distributing race truck, professional timing crew, PA system, and race announcer.  
 

Fabulous food, lovely people, warm Mediterranean weather and gorgeous scenery: this is Rally Raid racing in Sardinia.

The off set to this are long days in the saddle over tough terrain. There is a little bit of everything for the competitive rider: rocks, sand, lots of mountains to climb and descend, and water crossings up to 4 feet deep!

The Sardegna Rally Race is the third round of the FIM Rally Raid World Championship and this is what Duncan’s Don Hatton of Rally Raid Canada is participating in from May 27 till June 1.

Don is riding with world champion Cyril Despres’s, Team KTM along with six other riders from around the globe. It is a chance to ride with and learn from the three time Dakar champion Despres. “I really learned a lot yesterday” Don notes. “To be honest I always thought navigation was my strong point but yesterday brought it all together”

The first stage of the rally from San Teodoro to Arbrorea will be 406 kilometers long with 187 kilometers of it being the timed special. Due to the remoteness of the stage all the riders have to carry extra fuel on their KTM motorcycles.

The event is being organized by the Italian Motorcycle Federation and you can follow along on their web site at http://www.bikevillage.it/

For more information and photos check out www.rallyraidcanada.com

Team Zero Agni took home top honors at the inaugural TTXGP and goes down in history as the first winner of a fully electric motorcycle championship series road race held in North America. 


The 11-lap duel took place last Sunday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, with accomplished AMA racer Shawn Higbee emerging victorious on his Zero/Agni prepared motorcycle. 


As the weekend progressed, Higbee dominated the field to qualify for the pole position and held off an intense battle brought on by second-place finisher Michael Barnes. The stealthy competitors maintained a consistent pace that was only 18 seconds off the lap times of the AMA Superbikes, which proved to be an impressive showing for the all-electric motorcycles in their first outing. 


To see videos and photos from the event, visit: http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/ttxgp

FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada’s Guy Giroux and Ryan Graffunder hammered their way to podium positions on the weekend while competing at regional races in their respective home turfs of British Columbia and Quebec. Giroux nailed 2nd place at the opening round of Quebec’s FMSQ series, held in St-Alphonse de Granby, while Graffunder backed up the podium he earned at his last race by delivering a 3rd overall at Rock Hound Hare Scramble in Salmon Arm, British Columbia.

In Giroux’s first Canadian race on board his 2010 Husqvarna, the seasoned veteran from Quebec was able to pound his way through the slippery rocks and roots of the St-Alphonse course and secure his spot on the podium.

After a bad start that left him picking his way through the pack on his WR 250 two stroke, Guy battled with an inspired Scott Bowes for second position and then focused on hunting down the United Kingdom’s ultra-fast export, and current GNCC contender, Jason Thomas.

In the end, although Giroux was unable to close the significant gap that Thomas had stretched out, he was able to finish the day with a solid lock on second position.


In British Columbia, the 2010 installment of the Rock Hound Hare Scramble offered up a dust choked start that saw Ryan Graffunder on his TXC 450 shadowed by his brother, and Husqvarna Canada team-mate, Nick Graffunder, on his TXC 250 as they gobbled up riders in the opening lap.

Although Nick would run into problems early into the race that would prematurely end his day, Ryan was able to forge his way forward on the demanding race course that left many riders exhausted and nursing blistered hands.

Following some close bar to bar combat with notorious Alberta fast guy, Paul Petrin, Graffunder was able to break away and went after the leaders.  At the finish of the grueling five lap event, Ryan’s efforts were rewarded when he snagged third overall and the final spot on the podium spot.

Guy, Ryan and Nick, along with Husqvarna Canada’s Marty Halmazna, will be hitting additional regional races in the coming weeks as they continue to prepare for the opening round of the 2010 Canadian Enduro Championship series that begins July 3rd and 4th in Blairmore, Alberta.

Penticton, BC (Apex Ski resort) - July 10 & 11 

Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio was celebrating with his squad this afternoon after dominating a spectacular Race 1 to take his first victory of the 2010 season, at the South African track of Kyalami.

Michel Fabrizio made a perfect start to Race 1, moving straight into the lead by getting past Crutchlow, Toseland and Checa right off the line. The Italian rider quickly extended his lead over Checa (on Althea Racing’s 1198) and maintained a constant one second advantage for the entire duration of the race. Lap times inevitably began to increase during the final stages of the 24-lap race but nonetheless Michel carefully managed his advantage and crossed the line first, to take his first race win of the 2010 season, just over a second ahead of the Spaniard. Noriyuki had a more difficult race, struggling with a lack of grip. Although he made up a few positions straight off the start line, progressing from sixteenth to twelfth, after about ten laps the lack of rear grip began to affect his lap times which consequently caused him to lose over the final laps the positions he had previously gained; the Japanese rider therefore closed Race 1 in seventeenth position. 

Michel made a less impressive start to Race 2 but his reactions were quick and he made up over the course of the first lap the positions he had lost off the line. For the first eight laps he remained in fourth position, just behind Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam e Max Biaggi who battled it out among themselves up ahead. Unfortunately however, an unexpected loss of grip subsequently prevented the Italian rider from pushing and, in increasing difficulty in the final stages of the race, he eventually concluded the race in eighth place. Noriyuki meanwhile had a better race, lapping consistently fast, with lap times in the final stages that matched those of the podium placed riders. Although he continued to improve, there was too much to make up from sixteenth on the grid, and the Japanese rider had to be satisfied with tenth place. 

Despite two difficult races, Noriyuki Haga still holds on to sixth position in the overall standings (106 points) while Michel Fabrizio, thanks to today’s win, has started to close the gap; now eighth with 95 points. Ducati remains in third position in the manufacturers championship with 185 points to Aprilia’s 213 and Suzuki’s 222. 

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – winner , Race 2 – 8th)

“I’m really happy with the win in the first race, happy for Ducati of course but above all happy for myself. I really needed a result like this after several difficult race. It wasn’t easy however, I had to make an intelligent race, doing all I could to maintain the second of advantage that I had over Carlos. It was a great race but also a very tiring one! Race 2 went very differently; the level of grip immediately began to drop after only three or four laps and it became impossible to catch the leading group that continued to gain on me. Anyway with the points taken in race 1 today I’ve gained a position in the overall standings and now I’ll turn my attention to the next event at Salt Lake, a track I really like.” 

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 17th , Race 2 – 10th)

“In Race 1 after about ten laps the performance of the rear tyre dropped dramatically. There wasn’t much I could to improve. I’m disappointed of course because with no grip you don’t really get anywhere. In the second race, having made some small changes to my bike but deciding to go with the same tyre, I had a better overall feeling and, from more or less mid-race, unlike race 1, I was able to push increasingly hard. The problem was that those ahead of me had already built a significant lead; I needed a few more laps to be able to catch some of them.” 

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); 2. Checa (Ducati); 3. Haslam (Suzuki). Race 2 - Haslam (Suzuki), 2. Rea (Honda); 3. Biaggi (Aprilia) 

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haslam (Suzuki) 222; 2. Biaggi (Aprilia) 207; 3. Rea (Honda) 141; 4. Checa (Ducati) 141; 5. Toseland (Yamaha) 125; 6. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 106; 7. Corser (BMW) 105; 8. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 95

Manufacturers  – Suzuki 222; Aprilia 213 ; Ducati 185; Honda 150; Yamaha 135; BMW 108; Kawasaki 39

The Ducati Xerox team faced two challenging races today at the Monza circuit and at the end of the day riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio were satisfied to come away with more valuable points, their best results today being a hard-fought sixth place in Race 2 for Haga and a seventh place finish in Race 1 for his team-mate Fabrizio.


Race 1. Michel started from third on the grid but lost a few positions in the first laps, as the two Yamahas and Rea’s Honda got past him. When Rea crashed out mid-race, Fabrizio moved temporarily back up into fifth position but was soon passed by Camier, at an evident advantage on the Aprilia when it comes to top speed. The Ducati Xerox rider subsequently held sixth position until the very last corner of the final lap when Xaus on the BMW sneaked past, with Michel crossing the line in seventh position. Team-mate Noriyuki meanwhile spent the best part of the race battling with Ducati privateer Scassa and then, in the second half of the race, with Guintoli on the Suzuki. From sixteenth on the grid, the Japanese rider immediately made up three positions before moving up to eleventh place when Rea fell. Noriyuki held eleventh position for the remainder of the race; although managing to pass Guintoli on two occasions, the Frenchman quickly regained the advantage to take tenth position ahead of Noriyuki.


Race 2 got off to a dramatic start when Toseland, Rea and Xaus crashed out at the first chicane. Michel’s bike, knocked in the ensuing confusion, ran off track, causing Michel to lose a few positions; after this collision Michel suffered from a malfunction with the electronic gear shifter. Fabrizio tried to ride around the gearing problem but found himself in difficulty and at the start of the second lap he slipped, losing the rear of his 1198, and unable to rejoin the race. Noriyuki meanwhile gained, immediately progressing from sixteenth to seventh position, with Michel just behind him in eighth. Noriyuki battled for sixth position against Sykes on the Kawasaki for the remainder of the race, unfortunately losing out to the Englishman in the final stages, although a crash for Crutchlow up ahead of them meant that Haga eventually concluded the race in sixth place.


Noriyuki still lies in sixth position in the overall standings with 100 points; Michel is eleventh with 62 points. Ducati remains in third position in the manufacturers classification (149 points) behind Suzuki (181) and Aprilia with 184.


Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 - DNF)
“Race 1 was going quite well; it’s only a shame that we don’t have the top speed to be able to stick with the guys on the straight, with more engine power I could have done a lot better. In Race 2 I ran off when those guys crashed at the first chicane of the first lap and I tried to keep riding but I couldn’t get the bike into gear, and then I slipped. It was tough out there today but at least we take home some valuable points and hope that things go better at Kyalami.”


Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 11th, Race 2 – 6th)
“In both races I was having a lot of difficulty turning the bike and didn’t have enough grip at the rear. In Race 1 I was having to put it right down on its side to get it to turn as I wanted and this of course meant that I couldn’t keep pace with those ahead of me. We changed a few things before Race 2 and improved the situation a little. Grip was good in the first five laps or so but from mid-race it was really hard, as the bike was drifting wide and was hard to control. In the end I’m quite satisfied with sixth position, as it was tough here this weekend.”


Filippo Preziosi  - General Director, Ducati Corse  
“I’m sorry for Michel because in Race 1 he did really well considering the disadvantage we have here in terms of power and top speed; he was making up in his riding what was lost in top speed, at a track that penalizes us. I’m happy for Nori because in Race 2, in a difficult situation, both technically and personally, he fought tooth and nail and proved what a champion he is.”


RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Toseland (Yamaha); 3. Crutchlow (Yamaha). Race 2 – 1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Haslam (Suzuki); Corser (BMW)


CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haslam (Suzuki) 181; 2. Biaggi (Aprilia) 178; 3. Rea (Honda) 110; 4., Checa (Ducati) 110; 5. Toseland (Yamaha) 106; 6. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 100; 7. Corser (BMW) 92; 8. Camier (Aprilia) 72…. 11. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 62. Manufacturers – Aprilia 184; Suzuki 181; Ducati 149; Honda 119; Yamaha 113; BMW 95; Kawasaki 37

“Amazing”. “Hardest day of the Rally”. “Hardest Tunisian Rally ever!” These were quotes from some of the veteran competitors of the international Rally Raid series which includes the famous Dakar race. 

Don finished 16th on the stage and 5th in class for the day. It was his best stage of the rally. This places him 21st overall and 6th in class, 12 hours and 24 minutes behind the leader. The race was won by Chaleco Lopez of Chile while Marc Coma of Spain made up an unbelievable 11 minutes over Przygonski to take second place.

We erroneously noted that fellow Canadian competitor Bob Jones has retracted from the race due to clutch failure but apparently he was able to fix the mechanical issues and return for the last day of competition. The official NPO website is showing Bob completing the last stage in 26th position.

There is a very nice video interview with Don and his wife Natalie on http://www.rallyraid.tv . Just scroll down to and look for their photo showing them wearing their black Rally Raid Canada tee shirts.

On behalf of the whole Rally Raid Canada team we would like to thank our fans, supporters and especially our media partners who have been so kind to follow us on this North African adventure. We now look forward to the Sardegna Rally Race in Italy starting May 27.

For more information and photos check out www.rallyraidcanada.com

The first two rounds of the 2010 Canadian National Motorcycle Trials championships are scheduled to take place on Vancouver Island, at Shawnigan Lake, over the May long weekend.

The event is organized by the Island Sport Trials Club and is sanctioned by World Enduro Canada, the national body for this annual championship.

The sport of “observed motorcycle trials” has a longer history than most other forms of motorcycle sport. As its name implies, competitors are observed by officials as they attempt to negotiate a series of obstacles. Points are gained for each mistake made during a rider's passage through a section of these obstacles. One point is gained for each time a rider's foot touches the ground (up to a maximum of three points), or five points for stopping (or falling off) the machine. The ride who ends the day with the lowest score wins the event.

The machines used in these competitions are of a very specialized nature, manufactured by a small number of builders in Europe. The motorcycles are capable of truly amazing feats when climbing vertical rock faces or tackling other seemingly-impossible obstacles.

The combination of these incredible machines, their equally amazing riders and the wonderful terrain that they tackle creates an amazing spectacle for spectators to enjoy.

The chief organizer of the Shawnigan Lake national championships will be Steve Fracy, who was a four-times Canadian national champion in the nineteen-eighties. Steve's thirteen year old son Matt will be competing this year, where great results are expected of him in the Advanced class.

In the elite Championship class, last year's Canadian champ, Steve Foord of Calgary, will be at Shawnigan to defend his title. He will be challenged by previous champion Jonathan English, who will be arriving from Ontario. Another former Canadian champ (and former number five in North America) Wilson Craig of Vancouver will be there, along with yet another former champ (and number two in north America) Ryon Bell of Victoria. Local Vancouver Island riders such as  Will Duggan, Thomas Cordner and Andrew Watson are expected to place highly, along with other top competitors from BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Vancouver Island motorcycle enthusiasts are excited about the prospect of this prestigious event taking place locally. The general public will be truly thrilled at the spectacle that they will be able to enjoy. Admission will be free, and spectators are welcome to walk around the course to find the most interesting viewpoints. For an example of some of the world's top riders in action check out the video: 

“The Longest Day”. That is the warning note on the route overview from the organizers of the 2010 Rally International de Tunisie. It is followed by term such as “fast, undulating tracks: sliding and jumping at daybreak” and “small dunes become large dunes, with less space between them: it becomes increasing difficult to find a route through them”. This is what Canadian Don Hatton of Duncan BC is facing tomorrow on Stage 4 of the rally.

Don finished Stage 3 of the rally 25th on the stage, 28th overall and still 6th in his class, 5 hours and 16 minutes behind the leader Lopez. This is amazing considering the rough, rock strewn terrain that favours the smaller lighter bikes. Couple this with extreme heat and a blinding sand storm described as a “white out” that nearly grounded the helicopters.

Don notes via text message “we needed good navigation skills today as all the tracks were covered with blowing sand”. Although tired by the tough racing conditions – it is hard to train for the extreme heat and the soft sand terrain here in western Canada – he is loving the competition.

Rally Raid Racing Factoid – things you might not know or thought of :

Rally Raid competitors live in a moving bivouac during the race. They are sleeping on the ground in tents usually surrounded by the support trucks with generators going all night long. The support crews work all night in some cases on the various vehicles preparing them for the next day’s competition. Come early morning, usually before 5:00 AM the racers are up getting ready for another 18 hour day. Then the support crews and race organizers pack up the bivouac and move to the next night’s location, which may be sometimes some 400 to 500 kilometers away. This is not your usual riding “holiday”.

Canadian Don Hatton successfully completed Stage 2 of the Rally International de Tunisie in 24th position for the day. Don was 2 hours and 9 minutes behind the leader Chalelo Lopez of Chili. This places Don in 29th position overall in the rally and 6th in his class with four more days of competition to come.

It was an incredibly hot day, temperatures in the high 30’s degree Celsius, with a winding route through the sands of Tunisia. This was the first day of racing in the sand dunes that all the competitors were looking forward to. Don is not reporting any ongoing issues with his motorcycle after yesterday’s mechanical delay.

Stage 3 will be a loop from Nekrif back to Nikrif totaling 265 kilometers in length. It is reported to be a fast special with a mix of small sand dunes, canyons and winding rocky tracks. As the organizers note: “ there will be something for everyone”. They are also reminding riders to “follow the right bearings through the sea of dunes” as the “track keeps disappearing under the wheels”.

Rally Raid Racing Factoid – things you might not know or have thought of :

We think of rally racing as a fast cross country style of racing. Going from point A to point B as fast as you can. When in actuality it is a navigation rally held at speed. A rider must be able to navigate through unknown territory with just a route book and a compass. No GPS units are used and they must hit certain check points to ensure they are on course. If they miss a check point they may be docked a timing penalty or if they miss more than one they may be disqualified from the race. Being fast is not good enough to win at Rally Raid – you must be fast and on route to win.

Don Hatton finished in 30th place on Stage 1 of the Rallye International de Tunisie in Tunisia.

Don Hatton of Rally Raid Canada is competing in the Rallye International de Tunisie starting today in Tunis, Tunisia. Don has passed all the scrutineering procedures with the Desert Rose team and his KTM 690 Rally bike, the same bike that he rode in the 2010 Dakar race.

“Tunisia is definitely Africa” Don’s wife and onsite support crew member Natalie comments. Temperatures are in the mid 30 to low 40 degree Celsius during the day and low teens at nighttime. There will be an excessive amount of sand riding for the competition stages with long liaison stages in between.

Today’s Stage 1 – Tunis to Douz – is a total of 586 kilometers of which 180 kilometers is the special stage. The organizers note that it will be challenging to navigate with numerous intersections and change of directions. They also gave warning regarding the cacti - “get too close and you’ll get hurt”

Follow Don on the NPO web site at www.npo.fr website or visit our website www.rallyraidcanada.com . His competitor number is 18.

New to this year’s rally is “live broadcasting” by the event organizers. We will be following the event at www.npolive.com/tunisie2010/en to see how well this works.
 
Rally Raid Racing Factoid – things you might not know or thought of :

Due to the extremes of temperature a lot of the motorcycle riders install heated grips on their bikes to help keep them warm in the mornings. The riders have to dress in multiple layers to combat the cold – with temperatures sometimes in the single digits in the morning - and then strip down to allow them to survive the 40 degree heat of mid afternoon. Layering and preparation is key to combating the elements.

Warm conditions at the Misano World Circuit allowed the Ducati Xerox squad to carry out two day’s worth of work on track today and yesterday, with positive results. Despite battling against flu and a high fever, Noriyuki Haga rode alongside his team-mate Michel Fabrizio yesterday and both demonstrated a fast pace.

On track together with the Aprilia, BMW and Yamana factory teams, the two Ducati Xerox riders and their technicians concentrated above all on making modifications to the 1198 bikes in order to improve feeling and refine set-ups in preparation for the next race at Monza, the weekend of 7th to 9th May.

Today Noriyuki’s physical condition unfortunately worsened and after making two exits in the late morning, during which it was evident that his weakness was preventing him from pushing, the Japanese rider decided to finish up early, at lunchtime. Work continued for Michel however, and he spent the afternoon working on race pace and testing some different settings dedicated to the qualifying tyres, to better prepare for the Superpole sessions.

At the end of the tests, the team returned home satisfied with the work achieved. Michel made more than 150 laps over the two days, recording a great (unofficial) time of 1m35.7 with the race tyre, followed by a 1m35.2 on a qualifier, while Noriyuki, unwell, registered a best time yesterday of 1m36.6 on a race tyre.

Michel Fabrizio
“We’ve worked really hard, my best time of 1m35.2 on a qualifier was good but I’m more satisfied with the 1m35.7 that I set on a race tyre and the fact I was able to lap consistently fast. My technicians made various changes to the suspension settings of my 1198 and I didn’t have any real problems. At Monza we absolutely must do well, we need to make good points in order to make up lost ground. We’ll see.”

Noriyuki Haga
“Yesterday everything was going well, lap times were better than they were during last year’s racing, but of course track temperatures were lower too of course which helped.  The feeling I had with the tyres was good and we also identified a better suspension setting, as well as trying some engine settings too. Now we have to see how those solutions work at Monza. Everyone knows that Monza has many long straights where we have difficulty with top speed but I plan to open the gas and give it my all.”

Ernesto Marinelli – Team Manager
“We’re going through a very difficult phase, perhaps the most difficult that I remember, but the important thing  is to react and never give up, and in this respect the whole team is very strong. This test has been very important and the problems regarding lack of feeling (the hardest kind to fix), that both riders were citing at Assen, seem to have been resolved or at least greatly reduced. It’s a pity that Noriyuki was affected by the flu, but Michel’s solid test is certainly an important base from which to start at Monza, where we’ll give 200%.”

The World Superbike and Superstock races are coming to the US. BMW Motorrad USA invites you to join us at Miller Motorsports Park on May 29-31, 2010 for the second year of SBK races in the U.S. with a special ticket package for BMW owners and racing fans. This special promo is quite popular and ticket packages are going fast. Act now and catch the world's most exciting motorcycle races on our turf at Miller.

Be a part of the action with a special BMW Motorrad ticket package that includes:
Three days (Saturday/Sunday/Monday) access to special seating at Stansbury Grandstands.
Three days of access to the Racing Paddock. 

This year’s Isle of Man TT runs from 29 May to 11 June. The Isle of Man’s Manx Museum will have an exhibition marking Suzuki’s 50th year of TT participation from the end of May to the beginning of September.

Assen (The Netherlands), Sunday 25th April: a difficult fourth World Superbike round for Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio at the TT Circuit of Assen.

In Race 1 neither Noriyuki or Michel got off the line particularly fast, Noriyuki in 13th and Michel dropping to 14th position from eighth on the grid. For the first half of the race the Ducati Xerox riders oscillated between 13th and 16th position and by mid-race they found themselves in a duel with the two Suzukis of Haslam and Guintoli. When the Suzuki riders made some mistakes, Nori was able to pass both of them and Michel too got by Guintoli. Over the 22 laps Noriyuki made up several places, to move from sixteenth at the end of lap two to tenth, the position he held from lap seventeen until the finish line. Michel closed Race 1 in thirteenth position.

The Ducati Xerox men made similar starts to Race 2. Noriyuki went wide at the first corner when he tried to pass riders by going  around the outside. Feeling strong vibrations from the engine of his 1198, which only became worse during the first couple of laps, and realizing there was an engine problem, Noriyuki was forced to return to the box, thus retiring from the race. Michel, in the first half of the race, had a good pace which allowed him to make up a few positions but he then suffered from a sudden drop in the performance of the rear tyre which badly affected his lap times; he concluded the race in twelfth position.

After this fourth round of the World Superbike Championship, Japanese rider Noriyuki lies in sixth position in the general standings, with 85 points. His team-mate Michel is in ninth with 53 points. Ducati is in third position in the manufacturers classification, with 130 points to Aprilia’s 134 and Suzuki’s 148.


Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 10th , Race 2 – DNF)

“It was a very difficult day for us today. In Race 1 I didn’t make the good start that I needed to, and from the fourth row I had to push very hard even to make up one or two positions. In Race 2, I realized already during the warm-up lap that the engine vibrations I was feeling were maybe stronger than normal. I hoped it wouldn’t be a problem and started the race but it became worse as I rode and I knew there was something wrong technically. It’s very disappointing of course because this year, more than ever, it’s important to be consistent – there are so many of us fighting for the positions that count and it’s becoming more and more of a battle.”

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 13th , Race 2 – 12th)

“In Race 1 I got off to a bad start and it was difficult to match the pace of those ahead of me. We made a few changes to my 1198 between the two races and for the first half of race 2 it was better; I was able to push hard and make up a few places. But then, in the second half of the race, practically from one lap to the next, the rear tyre performance dropped dramatically. I risked falling a couple of times and realized I had to take it easy if I wanted to finish the race. I’m looking forward to Monza where I hope we can perform a lot better in front of my home crowd.”

RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Rea (Honda); 2. Toseland (Yamaha); 3. Camier (Aprilia) Race 2 -  1.  Rea (Honda); 2. Haslam (Suzuki);  Toseland (Yamaha)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haslam (Suzuki) 148; 2. Biaggi (Aprilia) 128; 3. Rea (Honda) 110; 4. Checa (Ducati) 103; 5. Toseland (Yamaha)  86; 6. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 85; 7. Corser (BMW) 68; 8. Guintoli (Suzuki) 55; 9. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 53….

Manufacturers– Suzuki 148; Aprilia 134; Ducati 130; Honda 111; Yamaha 93; BMW 69; ; Kawasaki 19

World Enduro Canada is pleased to announce that one of our main media partners - Inside Motorcycles and their sister publication Inside MotoX and Off Road Magazine - will be returning as sponsors for the 2010 Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship presented by Parts Canada. Both publications pride themselves as being on the cutting edge of the Canadian Motorcycle scene with a large readership.

Inside Motorcycles will sponsor the Top Pro Junior award. At each of the four events the Top Pro Junior (age 20 or younger as of the first event in July) over both days of the event will recieve a special recognition award from Inside Motorcycles. At the final round in Labelle, QC on September 19th Inside Motorcycles will present the Top Pro Junior from all 4 events combined a cheque for $500. Last years winner was Ryan Graffunder and his success landed him a spot on the Feeding Performance Husqvarna team for 2010!

Inside MotoX and Off Road will once again be sponsoring the East and West Amateur Championships. There will be an East and West champion crowned in all 6 amateur classes - A, B, C, Vet (40+), Super Vet (50+) and Ladies. The individual champions will be presented with prize packages put together by Inside MotoX in Penticton, BC and Labelle, QC.

Bruce Parker, President of Joe Rocket Canada is pleased to announce a comprehensive sponsorship agreement with reigning Canadian Superbike and Sportbike Champion Jordan Szoke.

"Jordan has been an integral part of our heritage, our success on the racetrack, and to Canadian motorcycle culture," said Parker. "As Canada's winningest Superbike racer, Jordan reflects all that we strive for as we develop motorcycle apparel designs that meet the unique demands of Canadian Riders".

Jordan will defend his national titles during the 2010 race season on board his 'Waznie Racing' prepared Honda CBR Superbikes and Sportbikes. To spur him on in the chase, Jordan's wife Amy joins him on the team, piloting her CBR600RR in the Amateur 600 series. "I'm thrilled to be again working with my friends at Joe Rocket Canada. We've shared great victories in the past and together we're committed to meeting whatever challenges the 2010 Race season throws at us," said Jordan.

Jordan Szoke is a 12 time Canadian National Champion and has won 4 consecutive Superbike and Sportbike titles. Jordan and Amy Szoke launch into action at the Canadian Superbike Series season opener - May 28-30 weekend at Mirabel, Montreal, QC.

Valencia (Spain), Sunday 11th April: having scored a solid fifth place finish in Race 1, Noriyuki Haga triumphed in Race 2 (which ran in two parts), finishing 25 thousandths of a second ahead of Carlos Checa. The win, on board his Ducati 1198, was far from easy as a red flag during the third lap led to a second heat, 20 laps in length. Michel Fabrizio was less lucky today, victim of a crash in the first race and returning to the box in Race 2, lamenting a lack of front brake consistency.

In the morning, during warm-up, Noriyuki had registered the fastest time (1m34.2), having completed a strong mini run. Michel concluded the brief session in eighth position.

In Race 1 neither Michel nor Nori made a particularly fast start and both were caught up in traffic. Michel made up a couple of positions but during the fifth lap, a lack of grip at the front, during braking, caused him to crash. Noriyuki pushed on despite a lack of rear traction and although he needed twelve laps before he could get past Crutchlow, the next lap he passed Rea and in four laps he had made up 1.5 seconds to catch Corser (BMW). Unfortunately however, after passing Troy at the final corner, the Australian again overtook Nori along the straight, leaving the Japanese rider in fifth position, just one tenth of a second behind Corser.

In Race 2, during the third lap a serious crash involving Andrews on the Kawasaki and Iannuzzo on the Honda led to a red flag. With all riders having completed three laps, the second heat was declared to be a 20-lap race and the grid was reset according to the results of “heat 1”. Noriyuki, this time starting from fifth position started well and after a few laps was already third, behind Checa and Biaggi. After twelve laps he got past Carlos and then past Max and from this point on he held the lead, crossing the line 0.806 of a second ahead of Biaggi and 1.282 seconds in front of Checa. This advantage cancelled out Checa’s advantage in the first heat and meant that Noriyuki had beaten the Spaniard by 0.025 of a second. Michel did not shine at the start of the race, losing a few positions in the first laps, only to recuperate a few in the following laps, before a problem with the front brake consistency caused him to lose confidence and return to the garage.

After this third round, Noriyuki Haga is in fourth position in the overall standings, with 79 points while his team-mate Michel lies in eighth, with 46 points. In the manufacturers standings, Ducati has 107 points behind Suzuki with 123 points.

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 5th , Race 2 – winner)
“The track was a lot warmer in Race 1 than in the morning’s warm-up and I was lacking rear grip. The more I pushed, the more my 1198 slid around and this needed to be fixed before Race 2. Before that race we made a change, reverting to the setting we’d used in the warm-up and it worked well. I was able to push hard, stick with Biaggi and Checa and eventually pass them. I’m very happy to have been able to win today. I thank my team, Ducati of course, and all the sponsors who helped contribute to this great result.”

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – DNF , Race 2 - DNF)
“It was a weekend to forget, we’ll turn the page and concentrate on the next race. Today in Race 1 I had good pace and was able to make up a couple of positions very quickly, but then I unexpectedly lost the front and found myself on the ground. We made some changes for the second race but the front brake was not consistent and I came back to the garage.”

Ernesto Marinelli – Team Manager – “Today’s win is very important. We’ve experienced a difficult period but it is essential to keep fighting with determination, always, and this is what Noriyuki did today, and what the whole team has been doing since the start of the championship. We must continue to work hard and on Tuesday we will be back on track with Michel, at Mugello, to try to resolve the problems that have emerged in the last two races.”

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Haslam (Suzuki); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Toseland (Yamaha). Race 2 -  1.  Haga (Ducati Xerox); 2. Checa (Ducati); 3. Biaggi (Aprilia)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haslam (Suzuki) 123; 2. Biaggi (Aprilia) 105; 3. Checa (Ducati) 80; 4. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 79; 5. Rea (Honda) 60; 6. Toseland (Yamaha) 50; 7. Guintoli (Suzuki) 50; 8. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 46

Manufacturers – Suzuki 123; Ducati 107; Aprilia 105; Honda 61; Yamaha 57; BMW 47; Kawasaki 13

CGRT READY FOR 2010!

Spring has sprung and along with it comes a much anticipated racing season for the Corner Grass Racing Team (CGRT). The ice racing spikes have been replaced with rubber knobbies and CGRT in excited to start the season with the opening round of the CMA Alberta Harescramble series this coming April 10/11th weekend in Lethbridge, Alberta.

The five member team will once again be the official Canadian Husaberg Factory supported team lead byveteran Shane Cuthbertson whom is looking to improve upon his 2009 Canadian Enduro  Championship (CEC) 3rd place overall finish in the highly contested E3 category. This year Cuthbertson will be equipped with the all new 2010 Husaberg FX450 and is anxious to get the season underway. He will however have to wait until June for his first taste of dirt as some elected surgeries during the off season are keeping him away from the bike for now. “I am really chomping at the bit to get riding and it is taking all I have to keep from swinging my leg over the ‘Berg. My main focus this year will be the CEC series; so much so that I have elected not to compete at Erzberg or Romaniacs this year in order to aid in my recovery and training for the series. I am going to be fresh and fit; ready to put my best effort into Canada’s premier series!”

CGRT’s mission statement is to ‘provide the foundation to enable a long term focused CANADIAN effort to promote and compete in off-road motorcycle events throughout Canada, USA, and Europe.’ This year the team has really stepped up and will be supporting 16 year old Cole Dobovich in his venture to become one of the elite riders in Canada. Cole has come through the ranks within the local Alberta series and has really shown the drive and desire to improve. “We are really excited to have Cole on board! He is a great kid, has unbelievable family support, and is already a very accomplished motorcycle rider. We really want to give back to our sport and what better way than to lend our resources and experience to a young rider of his caliber” commented team manager Lee Fryberger. Cole will be competing in the Expert class this weekend aboard the 2010 Husaberg FX450, followed by several local Off-Road and MX events in preparation to represent CGRT at the CEC series where he will look to make his mark in the Amateur ‘A’ class.

Nick Riewe, Jay McGregor, and Lee Fryberger round out the team and all have plans to compete regularly in both the Alberta provincial series and the Canadian Enduro Championships. In addition to racing, these gentlemen go to extreme efforts in promoting several marquee Canadian events such as the Corner Grass Harescramble (June 26/27) and Canada’s First Extreme Hard Enduro – XTINCTION (August 21/22).

CGRT relies heavily on strong partners to help us attain our goals and are proud to announce that Husaberg, A&E Racing, Motovan, Ronwood Enterprises, Lee Built, UFA Petroleum, Limenine Graphics, Opti Lubricants, Rekluse, and Sosa Original have all continued their support for 2010. Two new partners to the team this year are Xtreme Hot Oil Services and Airoh Helmets both of whom we are very excited to have on board.

To find out more about the team and riders, please visit www.cornergrass.com.

Once again the friends of the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship at West Jet have stepped up with a discount deal on flights for the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship. They are providing 10% off thier lowest rate for flights to Calgary and Kelowna for the western rounds and Toronto and Montreal for the eastern rounds. 


The discount is good for up to 3 days on either side of each event. 


Call 877-952-4696 and use discount code CC5986 and be sure to thank them for thier support.

For those Dakar fans wondering what KTM factory rider Marc Coma does when he's not racing in the Dakar.... Well, he's dominating races in other places all over the world! That's what.

He just took his fourth victory in the competition for Rally World Champion when he won the Desert Challenge in Abu Dhabi.

Full details below:



Coma dominated the open class, 2-wheel category on his KTM 690 rally bike throughout the five stage event on the shifting sands. But he was closely shadowed especially in the final two days and had to fight hard to convert his 10-minute lead into overall victory in the open class.

Britain's James West, also a KTM rider, rode to a valiant second overall after a fast and furious final stage. David Casteu (Sherco) was third overall. Sean Gaugain of South Africa (Honda) had looked set for a minor place but crashed and broke his leg in the final stage.

After securing a tactical starting position after the opening Super Special Coma edged ahead on day one and took the stage victory by five minutes. Riders had to cope with hot and humid weather on day two which saw Coma finish the stage in fifth but with still enough advantage to maintain his overall lead albeit trimmed to just 3 minutes.

By the end of Stage 3, Coma had extended his overall lead to 12 minutes as riders battled their way through sand storms and high winds. Coma went on to conquer the tough weather conditions and the dunes in the last two stages to claim the victory and top the podium for the fourth time.

Coma and fellow KTM factory rider Cyril Despres are the dominant international riders in international rally and are both multiple winners of this event. But Despres decided not to compete this year after having already won the event five times. Coma has also won here in Abu Dhabi in 2009, 2007 and 2006.

Riders onboard the Austrian sports motorcycle manufacturer's bike have dominated the Desert Challenge going back to Austrian Heinz Kinigadner's victory in 1998 and have won every year except in 2000.

This year the competition covered more than 2,000 km through spectacular desert terrain to once again underline that this really is the Desert Challenge.

Overall Results
1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM
2. James West, Britain, KTM
3. David Casteu, France, Sherco

Honda announces contingency for riders in the Canadian Enduro Championship. $34,000 in total. News came by way of the folks at the CEC.

Full details below:

Sitting on the fence and can't decide which brand of motorcycle to buy this spring? Want to race in the exciting Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship, Eastern Canadian Enduro Championship or Western Canadian Enduro Championship and make some money doing it? Then it is time to get on on a Honda!

Honda Canada has been a strong supporter of World Enduro Canada racing activities and this year there is over $34,000 up for grabs to qualifying Honda riders. See your local Honda dealer for more details.

2010 Honda Off-Road Contingency - Red Rider Program

W.E.C. ENDURO (Canadian Enduro Championship Series) -- OVERALL CLASS WINNERS

Portimao (Portugal), Sunday 28th March : Racing at Portimao today proved difficult for the Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio, who had to fight hard for points, having started the races from the fifth row of the grid; the two races brought identical results for the factory riders, two eighth place finishes for Nori, two 11th places for Michel.

In the morning warm-up Noriyuki had picked up his pace with respect to yesterday, completing eight fast laps and concluding the short session in third position. Michel, still working to improve grip, finished in fifteenth place.

Race 1 - Both riders were aware that they needed a blistering start in order to help their chances of carving their way through the pack from the fifth row, and Nori was able to do this in Race 1, rocketing from eighteenth to ninth position straight off the line. Michel, caught up in traffic, remained in sixteenth position for the first lap but had worked his way up to twelfth by lap two. During the fifth lap Haga was able to pass Corser and on the same lap team-mate Fabrizio passed Corser’s team-mate Xaus. From mid-race on, and now in eighth position, Noriyuki remained there, with Corser and Toseland chasing him down, until three laps from the finish where he briefly moved up to seventh place before Toseland, on the very last lap, pushed him back down to a final eighth position. In the second half of the race, Michel made a couple of mistakes, going off track twice and allowing both Smrz and Xaus to take advantage and move ahead of him. Smrz later crashed but Michel was unable to catch Xaus, thus closing the first race in eleventh place.

Race 2 and the Ducati Xerox pair made a carbon copy start, with Noriyuki slicing through the pack from eighteenth to ninth position and Michel in sixteenth. The Italian then made up five positions within the  first three laps before tucking in, in eleventh position, behind team-mate Haga. The two Ducati 1198s had trouble catching the Suzuki of Guintoli, and although Nori closed the gap two-third of the way through the race, getting past Corser in the process, he didn’t manage to pass the Frenchman, and make it stick, until the very last lap, to take eighth position overall, exactly as he did in race 1. Although Michel held eleventh position from lap 8 right until the end of the race, he lost a little ground to Nori in the final laps, citing difficulty in braking.

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 8th , Race 2 – 8th)
“We’ve worked hard all weekend and today finally I had slightly better feeling with the bike but it was very difficult to score great results from the fifth row. In race 1 I made a good start, which I knew was essential if I wanted to make some good points. I tried to push as hard as possible but by the last five laps or so I was lacking rear grip and this meant that my traction was very much affected. The second race was quite similar, the tyre performed better but I had a hard time getting past Guintoli, and again finished eighth. I apologise to the team, the fans and the sponsors for my poor results but at least I was able to make up a few positions and take some points. Now we look to start challenging for the podium every weekend from Valencia onwards. The important thing is not to crash, and to take as many points as possible each race. Biaggi and Haslam have demonstrated their strength both here and at Phillip Island and we hope we can be back up there on the podium at Valencia.”

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 11th , Race 2 -11th)
“Let’s say that this weekend we were not able to refine the set up of my 1198 as we had hoped to. I continued to have the same problem, the same lack of feeling at the front, in both races. We made many modifications over the weekend but it didn’t make much difference; I just never felt right on the bike. At the start of race 2 I managed to make up a few places straight away by pushing as hard as I could but after a few laps it became more and more difficult to turn; I went off track a couple of times in race 1 and then I went straight two or three times in the next race. We of course hope for much better results at Valencia, where I need to start from the front rows.”

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Haslam (Suzuki); 3. Rea (Honda). Gara 2 -  1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Haslam (Suzuki); 3. Crutchlow (Yamaha)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haslam (Suzuki) 85; 2. Biaggi (Aprilia) 69; 3. Checa (Ducati) 60; 4. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 46; 5. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 43; 6. Rea (Honda) 39; 7. Guintoli (Suzuki) 33; 8. Camier (Aprilia) 32….

Manufacturers – Suzuki 85; Ducati 71; Aprilia 69; Honda 40; Yamaha 32; BMW 29; Kawasaki 7

Motorcycle racing has always been part of the pedigree of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada. This year more than ever, while other manufacturers see themselves having to turn their backs on racing due to the recent recession, Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada is committed to looking ahead and continues to be a key player in its contribution in keeping this fascinating sport in the country.

Ruthless Racing Inc. sponsored by Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, will present a mix of Buell  motorcycles on Canadian tracks in the 2010 season and is excited about the debut of the highly acclaimed Harley-Davidson XR 1200R motorcycle within the Canadian Sports Twins class.

The talent pool on the Ruthless Racing Inc. team will consist of team owner and no. 29 racer, Darren James, who most recently established himself as the West Coast Champion for 2009 in both the 600 and Thunder classes, the Floridian no. 123 racer, Dave Estok, racer and no. 77, Olivier “Ov” Spilborghs, to round off the team on his 2OO7 Air Cooled XB12R in the CST class. The trio will be gracefully orchestrated through Caroline James as the Team Manager. Sponsors including: Ruthless Racing Inc; Dragon Eyewear; Ogio; Flexi-Glass; RMR Suspensions; Twist Conditioning; Moto-International will be supporting the Ruthless Racing Inc. team in their endeavors to dominate the podium in 2010.

Ruthless Racing Inc. will participate in all of the races outlined below. The team will be running 2009 Buell 1125R bikes in the Pro Superbike and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike categories, as well as running a 2OO7 Air Cooled XB12R and making a debut with the Harley-Davidson XR 1200R bike in the Canadian Sports Twins Pro/Am Classes.

For those of you who will not be lucky enough to attend any of the races in person, the series
will once again be televised on TSN.

2010 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Schedule

Round One
May 28-30
Circuit ICAR
Mirabel, Quebec

Round Two
June 24-27
Race City Motorsport Park
Calgary, Alberta

Round Three
June 24-27
Race City Motorsport Park
Calgary, Alberta

Round Four
July 8-11
Mosport International Raceway
Bowmanville, Ontario

March 9, 2010 – Saint John, NB – After the successful launch of its race program at the Toronto motorcycle show in December, Feeding Performance Inc. and Husqvarna Canada are pleased to announce the addition of two up and coming racers to the FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada team.

Canadian off-road warriors Guy Giroux from Quebec and Marty Halmazna from Alberta will now be joined by young guns Nick and Ryan Graffunder from British Columbia to compete at select events in 2010 including the Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC) rounds and various regional events across Canada. As indicated in December, Halmazna also has his sights set on some of the worlds most extreme races including a return to the infamous Erzberg Hare Scramble in Austria.

“I am really happy to have brothers Nick and Ryan Graffunder as part of this program” says Marc Coffin, Director of Racing for the FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada Team. “We felt that it was important to support some young, rising stars that represent the future of this sport and I really wanted to reward riders who have proven that they have the skills and desire to compete at a top level.”

Both Ryan and Nick have won Regional Championships in Western Canada and more importantly, they contested the new CEC series in 2009 and turned heads with their impressive rides. The brothers both earned top 10 results highlighted with Ryan finishing top 5 overall in the E2 class and also earning the Top Pro Junior Award for riders under 20 years old. Guy Giroux, who in addition to racing for the team, will be the driving force behind its operations and will provide valuable guidance to the rest of the team. “I was able to get to know Nick and Ryan during last year’s CEC series. They are great guys with loads of potential and I am definitely looking forward to working with them this year.”

With the 2010 season just about ready to shift into high gear, the Husqvarna Canada program is shaping up nicely and the team is eager for the racing to get started!

Team sponsors include Motovan, Rekluse, Ogio, Dragon, Throttle Entertainment, Lime Nine and Zip Ty Racing.

Phillip Island (Australia), Saturday 27th February : the first Superpole of the 2010 World Superbike season took place this afternoon at a breezy Phillip Island, and Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio was undoubtedly one of the protagonists, putting in a strong and consistent performance to snatch second place on tomorrow’s grid, and missing out on pole by just a fraction of a second. Team-mate Noriyuki Haga had a more difficult time, qualifying in tenth place for the opening races of the year. Of the first ten bikes on tomorrow’s grid, five are Ducati 1198s, yet another a demonstration of the bike’s competitiveness.

In this morning’s qualifying, and on a much cooler track compared to yesterday, the three fastest riders from yesterday, Checa, Fabrizio and Haslam did not manage to improve on their best times but they nevertheless held on the top three spots on the timesheet, qualifying first to third for the afternoon’s Superpole. Noriyuki, maintaining a similar pace to yesterday, preferred to work with a used tyre than change to a fresh one in the final minutes to record a fast lap, meaning that he qualified for Superpole in fourteenth place. It is interesting to note that the fastest seventeen riders lapped within seven tenths of a second of each other, a sure sign that this year’s championship will be extremely hard fought.

As expected, Superpole was a close battle between the top eight. In the first of the three phases, 14 minutes in length, Nori immediately recorded a time fast enough for him to be able to return to the garage, safe in the knowledge that he had done enough. Michel meanwhile needed a tyre change before his fastest lap propelled him up the timesheets to third place, to easily proceed to phase two along with his team-mate.

In the second mini-Superpole both factory riders went out on qualifiers, Michel making a fast lap and Nori changing tyre mid-session. What seemed to be a clean lap for Haga unfortunately failed to equate to a fast enough lap, due to an apparent lack of rear grip which meant that Haga’s Superpole finished here, with the tenth fastest time of the afternoon, although only two tenths off Michel’s pace in the same session.

Michel, who still had a qualifier left to use in the final phase, pushed to the limit and it seemed that the pole position was within his grasp, but it all came down to a fraction of a second, with Michel ultimately closing in second place, just 0.016 of a second from Haslam on the Suzuki. Lining up in the first eight on tomorrow’s grid are also the Ducati 1198s of Checa (Althea Racing) in fourth and Smrz (Team Pata B&G Racing) in sixth.

Three-time world champion Troy Bayliss is once again special guest at the Phillip Island circuit this weekend  and it was he who presented former team-mate Michel Fabrizio with his Superpole trophy today. Troy will continue to work as a Ducati “ambassador” in 2010.

Michel Fabrizio
“Today’s Superpole was very difficult but I am very happy with the final result. I lost out on the pole by just a fraction of a second which is a shame, but it’s not the first time that that has happened and the important thing is that I’m on the front row tomorrow. I was happy with my flying lap, a clean lap, with no-one in front of me. Tomorrow will be an equally difficult challenge, and various riders, me, Haslam, Checa, Biaggi and Nori will surely be in contention. We know we have a good race pace and I’m feeling confident for the races.”

Noriyuki Haga
“In the second phase of the Superpole I went out on a race tyre but even though it felt like a clean lap, the time was not quick enough and unfortunately that put me out of the fight, and I finished tenth. Tomorrow I will of course need to make a fantastic start but I am confident that I am able to do that. I apologise to Ducati for the fact that I’m on the third row but I will, as ever, do my best in the races. Last year I started from 13th and won the race so I know it is possible to achieve a great result regardless of grid position.”

TIMES (Superpole): 1. Haslam (Suzuki) 1’31.2;  2. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1’31.2; 3. Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1’31.6; 4. Checa (Ducati) 1’31.6; 5. Guintoli (Suzuki) 1’31.6; 6. Smrz (Ducati) 1’31.7; 7. Rea (Honda) 1’21.9; 8. Toseland (Yamaha) 1’32.0; 9. Lanzi (Ducati) 1’32.3; 10. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1’32.7

Phillip Island (Australia), Friday 26th February : The World Superbike Championship officially got underway at Phillip Island today and, for the Ducati Xerox team and riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio, results of the first qualifying session were very positive, Fabrizio propelling himself to second place on the timesheets and Haga concluding in fifth.

After the very encouraging results of the recent tests held here last weekend, Michel closing fastest and Noriyuki in sixth, the team returned to work today in a motivated and enthusiastic frame of mind.

In the early afternoon the Superbike riders took to the tracks for the first free practice session. Faced with hotter track temperatures (circa 45°C) compared to those of last week’s test, both Noriyuki and Michel continued to work on the set-up of their Ducati 1198 machines. Both riders concentrated on tyre durability, trying to find the best set-up on used tyres. Michel was victim of a crash mid-session caused by an unexpected lack of grip at the front on entry into a corner, the asphalt was extremely slippery due to the heat. Having lost valuable time, the Italian rider exited on his second bike but was unfortunately unable to record a very fast lap, closing the session in 11th.

Noriyuki made his fastest lap near the start of the session, closing in seventh place, but confident.

Later on, in the first qualifying session, the two factory riders significantly improved on their times , lapping consistently fast and towards the end of the session, on soft compounds, they both registered times that left them both happy and in the top five. Noteworthy performances also came from Carlos Checa and Shane “Shakey” Byrne (Althea Racing), they too riding the 1198, who finished the session in first and fourth placed respectively.

Michel Fabrizio 1m32.1s
“We tried different tyre solutions this morning and various setting solutions in agreement with my engineer. I had a fall, losing the front, but without causing myself, or my bike, too much damage fortunately. Then in the qualifying session we found a good direction with the tyre solution that may well be the one to choose for the race; the results were quite encouraging. During my fast lap I lost a couple of tenths through the last corner but I’m happy; we’ve worked well and I’m satisfied with the results. We have a good race pace but a lot will depend on Sunday’s weather.”

Noriyuki Haga 1m32.7s
“We’ve tested the different rear tyres that Pirelli make available to us this weekend but we are still undecided as to which will have the best durability in these hot conditions. Tomorrow we’ll try a different solution for the setting but overall I’m happy. The lap times have been consistent but today was very hot and although I felt I could have pushed a little more, I didn’t want to risk it, also because I saw that several riders crashed."


TIMES:  1. Checa (Ducati) 1.32.1; 2. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1’32.1, 3. Haslam (Suzuki) 1’32.3; 4. Byrne (Ducati) 1’32.6; 5. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1’32.7; 6. Biaggi (Aprilia)  1’32.8; 7. Rea (Honda) 1’32.8; 8. Guintoli (Suzuki) 1’32.9

Ducati North America is excited for the beginning of the 2010 US racing season, with a record eight privateer Ducati teams entering the Daytona Superbike and Daytona 200 races.

As one of the most storied and famous names in motorcycle racing, Ducati lives and breathes the sport. This is something reflected in the DNA of its road-going performance models. Defined by the motto “Engineered by the stopwatch, designed by the racetrack,” Ducati’s Superbike range represents the ideal platform from which to build a professional racing contender.

This year, no fewer than eight privateer teams have done exactly that- with three representing Ducati in the flagship Superbike class aboard the 1198R, and another six entered in the grueling Daytona 200 aboard the middleweight 848. Ducatisti worldwide will have all eyes on the Bolognese machines, cheering them on from start to finish for their efforts in dominating the most anticipated race of the year.

Ducati is proud to announce the return of Larry Pegram -winner of three AMA Superbike Races in 2009- who is aboard his 1198R Superbike for its second full season of AMA competition. He will surely be a force to be reckoned with in the Superbike class. On the grid with Pegram in Daytona will be Floridian Barrett Long of Longetivity Racing, and Shawn Higbee aboard a Moto Forza- backed bike.

The Ducati 848 will make its Daytona 200 debut en masse, with eight bikes entered into the Sportbike class. This represents the strongest Ducati field in years, and there will no doubt be a race to the finish for these middleweight champions.

Running the full 2010 season will be Motocorsa-backed Latus Motors rider Steve Rapp- a rider with previous Ducati knowledge-  and the two Crozier Roberson Motorsports bikes of Mark Crozier and Bobby Fong. They will be sharing the Daytona grid with Jake Holden, Barrett Long and Calvin Martinez. Daytona is seen in Europe as one of the world’s most exotic and appealing races, the mystique of which has drawn Andrea Padovani and Dario Marchetti of Italy over to compete.

For those who would like to see the brand new 848 Dark and 1198R road bikes; the 2010 Ducati lineup will be on display at Ducati Motorcycles of Daytona throughout the week. Many of these models will be making their US debuts. The famous Ducati Caffe will be there, and all are welcome to come by for an espresso and to enjoy the Ducati lifestyle displays.

December 11, 2009 – Toronto, ON - On the heels of the announcement that Husqvarna Corporation has chosen Barrett Marketing Group (BMG) as the new Canadian distributor of their motorcycle products, Husqvarna Canada is pleased to announce an exciting new off-road race team for 2010.

Canadian off-road icons Marty Halmazna from Alberta and Guy Giroux from Quebec will compete at select events in 2010 including the Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC) rounds and various regional events across Canada. Halmazna also has his sights set on some of the worlds most extreme races including a return to the notorious Erzberg Hare Scramble in Austria.

“It has been an exciting and satisfying process to put this race effort together” explains Husqvarna Canada’s Josh Barrett. He indicated that he has been working closely with Feeding Performance Inc.’s Race Team Director, Marc Coffin to select the best combination of racers for their program. “We really wanted a solid combination of proven racers” indicated Coffin.

“Halmazna and Giroux were easy choices when it came to picking seasoned racers. They both have had amazing careers and are still keen on continuing to add to their trophy collections and causing grief for their competition.”

In addition to numerous regional titles and an ISDE medal, Halmazna has accumulated four Canadian National Cross Country Championships and has earned the respect of fans and fellow racers in Canada and around the world with his outstanding performances in international events including finishing the nearly impossible Erzberg Hare Scramble on his first two attempts and solid results at Last Man Standing in Texas and Hell’s Gate in Italy”.

“Giroux is one Canada’s most versatile and well known off-road racers and has been a force to be reckoned with for many years” said Coffin. Guy has an impressive list of accomplishments including 17 Quebec Off-Road Championships, 2nd in the E2 Class and 4th overall in the 2009 CEC series and 3rd at the Endurocross race that was held during this year’s Montreal Supercross. He also has a ridiculous laundry list of results including an ISDE Gold Medal, 3 top 10 overalls in the Canadian Motocross Nationals, over a dozen main event appearances at the Montreal Supercross and is one of only a handful of Canadians to finish the legendary Paris to Dakar Rally. “I have known Guy for many years” adds Barrett. “We have worked together in the past and he has also raced for me on other brands. He is a great fit for what we are trying to accomplish and I am very pleased to have him on board.”

The team will operate under the direction of Feeding Performance Inc. and in addition to having direct factory support from Husqvarna; the team will have some serious assistance as a result of securing backing from Ty Davis and his Zip-Ty Racing program. “I called Cory Graffunder, who has earned a Factory ride with Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna in the USA, to get the scoop on some Canadian riders that I was considering for our program” says Coffin. “That led to discussions with Ty Davis about what I was trying to accomplish in Canada. Ty was very receptive and has agreed to not only provide us with technical and parts support, but has also opened the door for our riders to train with his crew in California. With the success that Ty has had as a racer and in preparing Husqvarna’s for battle, I could not have dreamed of a better fit. My whole goal is to provide better support for Canadian racers and to raise the bar in our sport. I think this is a huge step forward. The off-road racing scene in Canada is really gaining momentum. It is an exciting time and I am looking forward to how things will develop in the coming years.”

In an addition to racing for the new FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada team and working with Coffin to run its race program, Guy Giroux is joining Husqvarna Canada as an employee. Guy will be providing technical support to dealers across the country and will also have responsibility for Husqvarna Canada’s race program for dealer supported riders.

Following its launch at the Toronto motorcycle show, FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada will be promoting its new team at the upcoming shows in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Montreal. Look for announcements about additional riders to this new team in the coming weeks.

World Enduro and GNCC Champion Shane Watts has confirmed he will be competing at the opening round of the 2010 Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship in Blairmore, AB on July 3 & 4. Shane will be in Calgary the week prior to the event with his Dirtwise Academy of Off Road Riding. Check out his site www.shanewatts.com for exact dates and times.

Shane's riding schools have recieved rave reviews and there are limited openings at each one so you'll want to sign up early. Shane's racing skills should prove to be a good spoiler to the CEC Pro's.

Don Hatton, Canada’s own international motorcycle racer has finished in fourth place in the Enduro class in the 2009 NPO Shamrock Rally de Maroc (Rally of Morocco).

The rally ran over six days, 2650 kilometers in total distance with nearly 2000 kilometers of that under race conditions. Through rock, sand, dunes the size of small office buildings and scorching heat in 40 degree Celsius range Don dug deep mentally and physically to complete the rally

These words from Don:

“I just could not overcome the time difference between myself and third place. The only way I could have caught him was for him to have a problem. I did catch up and pass him at one point in the Rally only to lose the gain when we hit a really rocky stretch forcing me to slow to a snails pace.”

“I am not disappointed with my finish in anyway, I had to really dig in and work to achieve what I did, my navigation went very well. I did make a couple of minor navigation errors but nothing serious, my only real problem in the Rally was the limits created by the lack of suspension on the stock KTM690 Enduro. I believe with better suspension I could have won my category.”

“I was a little caught off guard by the heat in stage 2 however after a short rest in the desert I recovered enough to finish well that day. After that I wore a few less Items of clothing. “

“In any case I did finish and finished in a respectable position. “

Duke Video has put together a reel of slow motion action from the 2009 Isle of Man TT.

What is the Isle of Man TT you may ask? Only the most insane motorcycle racing on the planet. More about it HERE.

When the speeds are slowed down like this you can really see just how incredible the forces the riders and the bikes are put through in this high speed event where average speeds top 130 miles per hour; that's approximately 210 KM/Hr. Now if that doesn't seem really fast to you, well you should see the twisty, close course, public roads they're achieving these speeds on.

Bikes get airborne, tires compress, forks bottom out, and belly pans scrape - all in glorious slow motion eye candy.

Check out this little clip of the full video. Too bad there's the big Duke advertisement blocking some of the screen but it's still a great preview.

Don Hatton is still going strong after stage four of the 2009 Morocco Rally.

“Don had a good ride today” Natalie Hatton, Don’s wife, commented.

The race has been grueling. “ Rocks, rocks and more rocks” Don says. Stage 4 of the race was treacherous enough for the organizers to issue a warning to the racers regarding unmarked holes in the course.

Attrition among the competitors is rising. Don’s team mate and fellow Canadian rider Rick Hatswell is out of the race with a broken leg suffered during stage 3 of the rally. Another of his team mates David Dickinson is reported injured in stage 4 with a broken sternum.

Stage three’s extremely high heat along with the extensive racing in sand dunes caused Don to have heat stroke. Although it did not require medical attentions it caused a delay as he sought relief from the heat by using his KTM 690 for shade from the hot Moroccan sun. Don’s comment is “it was fun and challenging”

Munich. Juha Salminen has taken the win at the "Rund um Zschopau" Enduro classic. The Finn held off fellow countryman Eero Remes to give BMW their first victory at the prestigious event. The race held on Saturday marked the final round of the German Enduro Championship. Salminen won the overall and the E2 class.

Zschopau used to be the center of the sport in former East Germany. The region has plenty of enthusiastic fans who showed up in thousands to witness brilliant motorsport and what Enduro racing is all about: man and machine fighting the elements.

World Championship runner-up Salminen came to Saxony to end the season with a win, fully aware that Remes was going to be his main contender. By taking the prologue on Friday night, Salminen fired an early warning, but the 33-year-old had to suffer through the following day like everyone else before finally stepping on top of the podium. The BMW factory rider won by 0.04 seconds over Remes, with Markus Kehr and Samuli Aro next on the list of results.

Juha Salminen: "What a perfect end to the season. Zschopau has always been a great event. The race and the special tests were among the best of the year, better than most of the World Championship rounds. It´s really special to win in front of this huge crowd. Eero gave me a hard time, guess I had that little bit of extra luck. The bike worked perfectly."

"Rund um Zschopau"
1. Juha Salminen (FIN), BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 48:55,25
2. Eero Remes (FIN), KTM, 48:55,29
3. Markus Kehr (GER), KTM, 49:36,11
4. Samuli Aro (FIN), KTM, 50:03,05
5. Marko Straubel (GER), KTM, 50:26,04

Munich. Despite bad luck in Portimao, Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport are more than happy with their first year in the Superbike World Championship and are already looking forward to 2010. The team always knew that this year was going to be hard, but Troy, Ruben and the whole team have performed better than many expected in their first year of World Superbike competition, taking seventeen top finishes during the season.

The bad luck, once again befell Ruben Xaus. He was behind Carlos Checa (Honda) in race two, when Checa’s engine blew up and showered the front of Ruben’s bike with oil. Ruben saw the oil, but there was no time to take avoiding action and he was highsided between turns one and two, breaking his right leg in the process. Ruben had only recently come back from injury, so the accident was a hard blow for him and the team, but despite that he was soon back in the garage smiling and telling the team how much the bike has improved.

Troy also had some bad luck today in race one, when a severe case of chattering forced him to pull into the pits and change the rear tyre. He later returned to the pits and changed the front tyre, but the problem persisted and he was unable to get into the points.

American Ben Spies (Yamaha) won the first race and, with previous championship leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) crashing out, went into race two with a healthy 15-point series lead. Second was Jonathan Rea (Honda), with Max Biaggi (Aprilia) third. Race two was won by Michel Fabrizio (Ducati), and although Haga was second, Spies took fifth place and, with it, the 2009 World Superbike Championship title.

Troy - Race 1: DNF, Race 2: 9th
I had a big problem with chattering in the first race and pitted twice to change first the rear tyre and then again to change the front. However, the problem carried on, so I just had to keep going as best I could to give some info to the engineers. We’re not actually sure if it was a problem with the tyres or something else, but no doubt the guys will look at all the data and sort it out.

I used my number two bike for the second race and it had only done a handful of laps so I wasn’t as familiar with it as my number one bike. It felt OK up until about half race distance, but then the grip went and the bike started spinning quite a bit.

I couldn’t get enough forward push without it spinning and that prevented me from pushing any harder. There are some areas we need to work on, but it’s hard trying different things during a race weekend when you also have to qualify well. Some of the problems only happen after a tyre has done 12-15 laps and we don’t often do long runs in practice because we are trying to get a good bike set-up.

Today has been a bit frustrating because the bike is improving, but sometimes it improves and then we get a new problem to solve. We just need more time on the bike and more laps, but I really feel that the bike has the potential to be a contender and I am keen to work hard with the team and make that happen.

Ruben - Race 1: 8th, DNF
Just an unlucky day for me, or maybe it has been an unlucky season. Checa’s bike blew up and covered the front of my bike with oil and obviously some of it went on to the front tyre. That caused the crash, so I am happy that the crash wasn’t my fault, but I am unhappy with the result.

This season has been hard for us all, but we knew that before the start and it is thanks to all the hard work everybody has put in that we have had so many top ten finishes. Considering that this is our first season, I think we should be happy about what we have achieved so far - and there’s much more to come, I’m sure of it.

The bike has improved since the last time I rode it and that makes me eager to find out how much more I can push it. The team are fantastic and the team spirit has been superb right from the start. It’s not nice ending the season with a broken leg, but there was nothing I could do about the crash and I prefer to think about the potential of the bike and working with Troy and the rest of the team to put it on the podium.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
The season has been a long, hard one, but the time has gone very quickly and I am surprised that we have now come to the end. It has been a wonderful experience and one of the most exciting years of my life.

I'm sorry about the stupid crash that caused Ruben to break his leg, but these things happen in racing and it was good to see him back in our pits chatting away to the team about how the bike is right now, instead of talking about his injury.

We managed seventeen top ten finishes this year and I think you can say that is ‘mission accomplished’. We’ve had ups and downs and have not been far off the podium at times and that is a testament to the potential of the bike. We know we have to improve in some areas and I can assure you that this will happen before next season begins.

This is our ‘rookie’ year and I think the whole team can feel happy and proud about our first season. I would like to thank Troy, Ruben, all the mechanics, engineers, InFront, Pirelli, all the background staff, and all our sponsors for all their hard work and support in a great first season.

I would also like to congratulate Ben Spies and Yamaha for taking the world title this year. Spies has shown what a class act he is and his team have supported him well throughout the season and they deserve the title. Final thanks also, to all our competitors this year, for making our life difficult, but also for making us work harder and keep improving. See you all next year!

Race 1
1 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 38:15.390
2 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1.697
3 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 2.113
4 Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 2.757
5 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 14.753
6 Camier (GBR-Aprilia) 20.044
8 Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 31.104
Troy Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) DNF

Race 2
1 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 38:19.654
2 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 1.195
3 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1.494
4 Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 5.553
5 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 5.842
9 Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 17.010
Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) DNF

Portimao (Portugal) Tuesday 27th October 2009: Just two days after the final round of the World Superbike Championship 2009 and the Ducati Xerox Team begins testing in preparation for the new season. Noriyuki and Michel, second and third at the end of this year’s campaign, and both already confirmed with the Ducati Xerox Team for 2010, were back on track this morning with most of the other Superbike team for the first of two days of testing.

At ease on the Portuguese track after several days riding, both Ducati men were immediately fast and got a lot of work done throughout the day. Between 9am and 5pm, and with the continuation of the race weekend’s warm, sunny conditions (with a track temperature hovering around 30°C) the factory riders were able to test various new parts, including a new exhaust and modified clutch. The Öhlins technicians also brought a new fork for the riders to use and Michel tested it this afternoon, with very positive results.

Italian rider Michel, as is often the case during winter testing, was the most consistently fast rider on track today, making numerous laps in under 1m43, with an (unofficial) best time of 1m42.3s while Nitro-Nori recorded a fastest lap time of 1m43.0s

Noriyuki Haga
“Today I’ve tried a harder rear suspension setting and I had a really good feeling with that, then we modified the front setting too but I’m not 100% happy with that yet so we’ll continue to work on it tomorrow. Tomorrow we’ll also try the new front fork and see how we go. For now I’m fairly happy; times have improved from those recorded over the weekend and I’m confident we can make further improvement tomorrow.”

Michel Fabrizio
“We’re all very tired after the weekend but it’s been a positive day. There are several new things to try, and me and Nori are dividing the work up; there’s quite a lot to do. Today I tried the new fork with the new clutch and both seem a lot better, we’ve seen big improvement. For the tyres, we’ve continued with the only one that worked for us over the weekend. I’m very satisfied, tired but happy.”

TIMES (UNOFFICIAL): Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m42.3s; Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1m43.0s

Portimao (Portugal), Sunday 25 October 2009: a bittersweet finale for Noriyuki Haga and the Ducati Xerox Team today when they lost the World Superbike riders title by just six points, after the Japanese rider crashed out of Race 1, to then finish on the podium, second, in Race 2. Already winners in the constructors championship, the Ducati factory team fought until the final lap of this last race but unfortunately they couldn’t do enough and it was Yamaha’s Spies who lifted the trophy. Michel Fabrizio, fifth in the first race, made a great recovery from eleventh position at the start of Race 2, to eventually win the race ahead of his team-mate, thus consolidating his third position in the final championship standings.

Race 1 did not go at all to plan for the Ducati Xerox Team. Japanese rider Noriyuki made up three positions with a strong start, progressing immediately up to seventh place, from where, in the space of four laps, he was able to catch up to both Haslam and Byrne. In the course of the fifth lap, Haga, followed by his team-mate Michel, was able to pass Haslam but unfortunately on the very next lap Haga unfortunately lost control of his Ducati 1198 and fell going into a corner, unable to restart his machine to continue the race. Michel, registered the fastest lap of the race before witnessing Nori’s accident from behind. He then maintained his fifth position for the remainder of the race, suffering from a lack of rear grip from the fourteenth lap onwards which meant he was unable to make up time to catch the leading pack.

In the second race, having changed both his bike and the tyres, Noriyuki made a better start and after two laps was positioned fifth. A couple of laps later Michel passed him, aiming to catch Byrne and Rea up ahead. Fighting the two British riders for several laps, the Italian finally got ahead of both of them during lap thirteen, only to lose the lead once more to Rea a few laps later. Haga in the meantime caught the leading group, passing both Biaggi and Byrne to move up to third position. An error by Rea during the very last lap allowed both Ducati Xerox riders through and Michel and Noriyuki thus closed in first and second, another double win for the team at this final event of 2009.

During the 2009 season, Noriyuki Haga has achieved an impressive collection of 8 race wins, including 2 double wins, in Valencia and Kyalami, and 19 podiums in all. Michel clocked up 15 podiums, 3 of which were race wins, and together the two riders have amassed a total of 838 points. Ducati has won the constructors title with an advantage of 67 points over second-placed Yamaha.

Noriyuki Haga (2nd in classification, 456 points)
“All weekend I have had problems with the set up of the bike, mainly with the tyres that didn’t give me total confidence. Usually we have a package that works well at every track and here too we didn’t change so much with regard to the setting, only really tyres. In Race 1 we mounted two hard tyres and they didn’t perform as we’d hoped, they didn’t give me the necessary grip so it was hard to brake and unfortunately I fell even though I wasn’t pushing so hard. We changed bikes for Race 2, just to be sure, as well as changing tyres of course. This time I had more grip and was able to make a good race. Unfortunately second in the race was not enough to take the title and it’s a real pity, but I must say that I have had a great first year with this fantastic team that always provides me with a good bike. I thank my whole technical team, Ducati, the sponsors and the Clinica Mobile who have taken good care of me throughout the season. My compliments go to Ben who has been such a strong rival this year and even though he is going to MotoGP next year, I am sure we will remain friends. This week we’ll start testing in preparation for next year. This year was a new adventure with Ducati and we’ll continue to give 100% in 2010."

Michel Fabrizio (3rd in classification, 382 points)
“The first race was very difficult. I didn’t make the best start but immediately started to push to make up time. Then, following behind Nori, I lost concentration for a minute when I saw him go down. I then tried to catch the leading group but I didn’t have great feeling with the front tyre and then, about eight laps from the end, the rear tyre started to drop off too. In Race 2 on the other hand I was able to fight hard against Rea. The last time we raced together, at Misano, he got past me so it was my turn to do the same to him today. It was only for the fact that Rea made a mistake on the last lap that I was able to pass him as he was very strong today. I am very sorry for Nori of course but we demonstrated that we are strong and, for me, both Ben and Nori are winners because they have given us a fantastic season’s racing, fighting until the very end for the title.

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Rea (Honda); 3. Biaggi (Aprilia); Race 2 - 1. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); 2. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 3. Rea (Honda)
FINAL CLASSIFICATION:
Riders– 1. Spies (Yamaha) 462; 2. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 456; 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 382; 4. Biaggi (Aprilia) 319; 5. Rea (Honda) 315; 6. Haslam (Honda) 241….

Manufacturers – Ducati 572; Yamaha 505; Honda 431; Aprilia 329; Suzuki 173; BMW 141; Kawasaki 76

Munich.

The final round of this year’s Superbike World Championship takes place at the Autodromo Algarve in Portugal and both Troy and Ruben are aiming to end the season on a high. This year’s championship has been the most competitive in its twenty-two year history, but Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport has acquitted itself very well in its first year of competition and is now looking to build on this year’s experiences and come back even stronger next year.

The Portimao track is relatively new to the calendar and is one of the most technically challenging circuits of the series, thanks to its changes of elevation and blind corners. Both Troy and Ruben raced there last year, albeit on different machines, so although they know which way round the track goes, the first day of practice and qualifying will be used to try and find a good set-up for their bikes.

Troy
It seems to have been quite a long year, but I am satisfied with the progress we have made throughout the season and I am especially pleased with the S 1000 RR in the past few races. The series is so competitive and hard this year and often less than half a second is the difference between a good grid place and something further down the order. And if you don’t get a good grid position, you are always playing catch-up. If we took our race times from this year and put them into last year’s results, our bike would’ve been on the podium quite a few times, so that shows how much faster everybody is going this year. I am looking forward to Portimao and finding out what our engineers have come up with since the last round. I am hoping that another step forward has been made and that Ruben and I can finish BMW’s debut season on a high.

Ruben
I cannot wait for Portimao because I really want to see what the guys have done to the bike since Magny-Cours and see if I can push it and myself to our best result of the year. I am happy that I can race in Portugal because originally my doctors told me that I wouldn't race again this year after my crash in Brno. So, a big thank you to my physiotherapist and everybody at the clinic where I did a lot of rehabilitation and training. My body is not yet 100%, but I will be stronger than I was at Magny-Cours and you need to be fully fit to ride these kind of bikes hard.

Portimao is a very physical circuit, so I know that my body is going to get a pounding, but I am going to do my best and try and get my best finish of the year.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
This year has been a big adventure for us all and an exciting challenge. We knew that this year was not going to be easy, but I think we have done very well considering we are such a new team. Our bike (and our team) has a big potential and we know that we are going to make more and more progress. Already, we are looking forward to continuing our development over the winter and coming back even stronger next year.

I am very happy that we will have Troy and Ruben with us again in 2010. From the very first day, they have been part of the team and have helped create a super team atmosphere. Both are strong and are determined to win and hopefully we can give them the opportunity to do it next year.

2008 results
Race 1: 1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati), 2 C Checa (ESP-Honda), 3 Troy Corser (AUS-Yamaha), 9 Ruben Xaus (ESP-Ducati),
Race 2: 1 Bayliss, 2 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), 3 Haslam (GBR-Honda), 6 Troy Corser, Ruben Xaus DNF

Munich. Finland is one of the most successful teams in recent history of the International Six Days Enduro. This year´s six-man team was made half of BMW factory riders. Juha Salminen, Marko Tarkalla and Simo Kirssi were all representing their country and the Bavarian bike maker at what´s generally considered to be the Olympics of Enduro motorcycling.

After six days of brutal racing around the city of Figueira da Foz (Portugal), the Finnish team ended the prestigious event in third place overall. Tarkalla and Kirssi who, after an early crash, impressively rode through the pain barrier basically all week, contributed to the podium result.

With winning performances at the final two rounds of the 2009 World Enduro Championship, BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Juha Salminen arrived in western Portugal with high hopes of a strong result at the 84th edition of the International Six Days Enduro. Starting well with a close third-place in the E2 class at day one, Juha disappointingly suffered mechanical problems the following day, which dropped him down the E2 class results. With all machines being worked extremely hard by the soft, power sapping sand, Juha ran into trouble on the fourth test when his bike unexpectedly stopped. Losing several minutes, Juha was able to finish the day once restarted and went on to win the seventh and final special test before service. The following morning Juha's event was brought to an end as further troubles ruled him out of the competition.

This was a bitter blow to the Finnish squad, as each team is only allowed to scrap one rider from the scoreboard. And there were still four days to go.

Competing in the ISDE for the first time, BMW's second E2 class team rider Simo Kirssi put in one of the bravest performances of any rider. Crashing heavily early on the opening day, Simo broke his left little finger and injured his wrist. Riding in considerable pain - and with a heavily strapped hand - Simo dug deep to not only finish the event but also to win his Motocross race on the final day. Determined not to let his Trophy team mates down, Kirssi placed an impressive 12th in the E2 class on day two before he started having severe problems simply holding on to his bike. Picking up time penalties on day four, due in part to having been given incorrect information by the Finnish team, Kirssi went on to finish 41st in the E2 class, still a truly heroic effort considering his injuries.

In comparison to his Finnish Trophy and BMW team mates, Marko Tarkkala enjoyed a relatively trouble free event in Portugal, claiming eighth in the Enduro 3 class. Consistently placing inside the top 10, Marko scored his best results on days one and six, where he finished seventh on both occasions and helped Finland finish third in the Trophy team competition.

Juha Salminen - Enduro 2 class: "I don't seem to have much luck with the six days, and this year was no different. I'm not sure exactly what the problem was but something happened to the engine, which forced me to retire. I was enjoying the event up until I had my problem. The sandy conditions were good for the Finnish team so who knows what our result could have been if I'd been able to finish the week. It's disappointing but as everyone knows anything can happen in the six days, and usually does to me."

Simo Kirssi - Enduro 2 class: "One things is certain the ISDE isn't like the World Enduro Championship. It's hard and gets harder with every day. Especially when you get injured. After my crash on the Enduro test on day one I struggled a lot. The whole event was so rough that I couldn't relax or take it easy anywhere. I broke my left little finger when I crashed, after that just holding on was difficult. Apart from my injury everything else went ok - my bike ran perfectly and I had a good final Motocross race."

Marko Tarkkala - Enduro 3 class: "It was a very hard race but I enjoyed it. My speed wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, but I didn't have too many problems during the week. Because of the heat and the soft sand it was hard on the bikes, but I didn't have any problems."

The overall win at the 84th International Six Days Enduro went to France ahead of Italy and Finland.

Portimao (Portugal) Monday 19th October:

The final round of the 2009 Superbike World Championship, taking place this weekend at the Portuguese track of Portimao, will see an all out battle for the title between championship leader, Ducati Xerox rider Noriyuki Haga and Yamaha’s Ben Spies. Noriyuki, having led the championship for the best part of the season, and having finished five previous championships in either second or third position, now has a small, but significant, ten point advantage over Spies and is hungry for his first World Superbike Championship title, as is his squad, the Ducati Xerox Team, winners of the 2008 championship with Troy Bayliss.

The Ducati Xerox Team has already secured the 2009 World Superbike Manufacturers title, for the sixteenth time, after a stunning win and second place finish by Nitro-Nori at Magny-Cours two weeks ago. Over the season, Noriyuki and Michel have so far clocked up ten wins and thirty-two podium finishes between them and already hold a combined points total of 782 going into this final round.

The factory squad now looks to Portimao and, now that the Manufacturers title has already been brought home to Borgo-Panigale, concentration turns to the all-important Riders title, already won thirteen times in the past by the Ducati team, with riders of such calibre as Troy Bayliss and Carl Fogarty.

Last year at Portimao both Noriyuki and Michel had problems in the first race, with Nori suffering a technical setback and Michel crashing out on the opening lap. In Race 2 Michel had a much better time of it, running up front before crossing the line in second place, behind former team-mate Bayliss. Noriyuki was unfortunately penalised for a jump start in the second race and, once he’d made a ride through the pits, he was unable to make up the lost ground, closing in 14th position.

With everything to play for, Noriyuki, Michel and the Ducati Xerox Team are fighting fit and ready to fight for the ultimate prize, during a weekend that promises spectacular racing.

Noriyuki Haga (1st in championship, 436 points)

“Last year at Portimao didn’t go to plan; I had some bad luck. This year I am in a better position and now everything comes down to this last event. My strategy won’t be any different from normal; I always go out with the aim to win and I always give 100%. I’ve finished second or third in the last five editions of the Superbike championship and so all I am missing is the title win, a title I hope to be able to bring home to Ducati and to Japan this weekend.”

Haga’s Superbike form at Portimao:
2008: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 14th

Michel Fabrizio (3rd in championship, 346 points)

“I’ve very happy with how my season’s gone and I would like to finish the year with two more podiums. I’m feeling confident and am reassured that the third position that I hold in the standings can’t be taken from me as fourth place Max is too far behind to catch up now. I hope Noriyuki can take the title for Ducati and I’ll be backing him all the way this weekend.”

Fabrizio’s Superbike form at Portimao:
2008: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 2nd

CIRCUIT DATA:

Country: Portugal
Name: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
Circuit length: 4.658 km
Corners left: 6
Corners right: 9
Length of race: 22 laps= 101.024km

LAP RECORDS: Best lap – Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1'43.787 (2008). Superpole – Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1'58.548 (2008).

2008 RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); 2. Checa (Honda); 3. Corser (Yamaha) Race 2 – 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); 2. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); 3. Haslam (Honda)

Ever heard of a little race called the ISDE? ISDE is, according to Wikipedia, "The International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) is the oldest 'off road' motorcycle event on the FIM Calendar. The ISDE was first held in 1913 at Carlisle, England." It's usually referred to as the 'Olympics of Motorcycling.' Did you catch the whole six days part? Yup, six days of gruelling, exhausting, flat out racing.

It's being held as you read this in Portugal and there's a few Canadian's on the roster, 6 of them if my counting is right. We sent a few Canucks to Greece for the ISDE event held there last year.

Looks like they're got a blog this year where you can monitor the action. Follow the 2009 ISDE Team Canada blog HERE. Check it out!

Go Canada!

Image courtesy ISDE Team Canada 2009

07.10.2009 - Press Release - Munich.

A day of hard graft in Magny-Cours today, saw Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Troy Corser grab a pair of top ten finishes. He finished ninth in race one and tenth in race two, and left the 4.411kilometre circuit satisfied, but not entirely happy. His team mate Ruben Xaus continued to fight his pain and was rewarded for his efforts by a strong 11th in race one and a 12th in race two. Today’s race wins were once again split between American Ben Spies (Yamaha) and Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga (Ducati). Spies won the opener, with Haga second and Max Biaggi (Aprilia) third. Behind Haga in race two was Biaggi, with Jonathan Rea (Honda) third.

Troy - Race 1: 9th, Race 2: 10th
The bike’s progress continues every time we go out - and that’s good news. The improvement is steady, but I guess both Ruben and I would like much more - but then we are racers! My results today are OK and I supposed it’s probably what was expected, but I am a little disappointed because we are so close to a great result and I’d like it to happen sooner, instead of later. This weekend the bike wanted to wheelspin and wheelie and we have to control these things if we want to progress more quickly. My crew chief told me that my race distance time today would have been good enough to win the race last year! That surprises me, but it shows just how competitive the series is this year and the strength of our rivals.

Ruben - Race 1: 11th, Race 2 :12th
Sometimes racing is a bit frustrating and today was a bit like that. Our bike has a big potential and we are working hard to realise that potential and challenge the leaders more often. It’s a bit frustrating because Troy and I realise that there’s so much more to come from the bike and we want it now. Clearly, I am not fully fit at the moment, so to finish 11th and 12th in my condition shows that the bike is a very good one. Today I had some small problem keeping the bike on the line that I wanted. This was my first four cylinder race at Magny and that, together with my physical condition, meant that I would always be playing catch-up today. Now I’m looking forward to going back to my physio and getting fitter and stronger for Portimao.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
It is good to have both our riders back together again and I am happy that our progress continues. Both riders did perfect jobs in this very competitive series. Our goal for the year was the Top 10 and I’m happy that we are on target and now we’re all looking forward to the next step which should be in Portimao.

Results Race 1:
1 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 37:57.110
2 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 0.181
3 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 5.009
4 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 16.347
5 Haslam (GBR-Honda) 22.622
9 Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 28.486
11 Xaus (ESP- BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 52.680
Race 2:
1 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 38:00.282
2 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 1.480
3 Rea (GBR-Honda) 6.024
4 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 18.135
5 Haslam (GBR-Honda) 21.236
10 Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 32.507
12 Xaus (ESP- BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 44.727

HAGA (DUCATI XEROX) REGAINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Magny-Cours (France), Sunday 4th October 2009: this afternoon on the French track of Magny-Cours, Noriyuki Haga took a fantastic Race 2 win on board his Ducati 1198, coming straight after his second place finish in the first race. With these results, Noriyuki regains the championship lead with an advantage of ten points over Spies (Yamaha). At the end of this, the penultimate round, and thanks to today’s two podiums, Ducati celebrates winning its sixteenth Constructors title in the World Superbike Championship. This was not the only success of the day as this morning the Belgian rider Xavier Simeon and the Ducati Xerox Junior Team won both the riders and constructors titles in the Superstock 1000 championship.

A spectacular first race in which the two championship leaders Haga and Spies battled it out for the victory until the final corners of the last lap. For the first fifteen laps Noriyuki was hot on the heels of Biaggi but found it hard to get past him. Finally, during the sixteenth lap of twenty-three, he made his move and got ahead of Max to move into second position, immediately turning his attention to closing the gap of more than a second that had opened between himself and race leader Spies. On the very last lap Nori had caught the American and when the latter made a mistake entering a corner, Nori took the opportunity to get up alongside Ben but unfortunately he couldn’t hold the line into the next corner and so it was Spies on the Yamaha to cross the line first, just 0.181 of a second ahead of Haga. Fabrizio did not made a good start and then had to work to pass Haslam on the Honda. By the time he managed this, during the course of the fourth lap, the gap between himself and the leaders was already fairly large and it was impossible to catch up. Michel concluded the race in a solid fourth place, 5 seconds behind Biaggi and 11 seconds ahead of Haslam.

In Race 2 Noriyuki made a blazing start and after a few corners he got straight past Biaggi to take the race lead, closely followed by both Biaggi on the Aprilia and Rea on the Honda. Haga pushed hard from the start but was unable to shake the chasing pair. In this race however, it was the Japanese rider who was the stronger competitor and, aware of the importance of the points, he continued to push to ensure himself of the win, his eighth of the season. Fabrizio unfortunately fell on lap three, having erred while braking at the end of the straight. He managed to rejoin the race and subsequently made a good recovery, moving up from last position to thirteenth and thus gaining two points.

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 2nd , Race 2 - winner)

In Race 1 I really enjoyed myself, it was a fantastic race. I didn’t make the best start and then it took a lot of laps before I was able to pass Max. Once I got past him I realized I didn’t have many laps left in which to catch Ben; if I’d had just one extra lap, I think I’d have won. On the last lap I was waiting for Ben to make a mistake and when he did so, I managed to get up alongside him but unfortunately the next corner worked in his favour and he got past me. Then, in the second race, we made some small changes to my bike and they worked, giving me more confidence. This victory is truly a great result as we have regained a small advantage. I am also extremely pleased that my results have awarded us the Constructors title. Thanks to Ducati and to my race engineer Ernesto Marinelli for giving me a great bike for Race 2; and to the whole Ducati Xerox team because my first year in Ducati is fantastic. Now we go to Portimao where Ben and I will fight for the 2009 title – I can’t wait.”

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 4th , Race 2 – 13°)

“Obviously I’m very disappointed by my results today; I hoped to do a lot better. In Race 1 I wasn’t able to catch the leading group and finished in fourth which isn’t bad but I would have liked to be on the podium. My bad start in the second race conditioned the outcome, I tried to catch up quickly so as not to lose the leaders as I’d done in Race 1 but unfortunately I messed up my braking at the end of the straight and lost the front. I am very sorry because I think I could have got past Spies, giving Nori a couple more points. My compliments go to Nori because he was very strong today and deserved the win.”

Gabriele Del Torchio (President of Ducati)

“Today was a great sporting day for Ducati and the results demonstrate once again that technology, combined with the passion and determination of those who “never give up”, allow us to achieve important goals such as today’s victories. A big thank you to the entire factory and to everyone in Ducati Corse. Thanks to the Superbike team that gives us our sixteenth World title, and to the Junior Team that, for the third consecutive year, has won the Superstock 1000 Championship, confirming the technological supremacy of the Ducati 1198, a winner right from its debut. I would like to dedicate these victories to the entire family of Ducatisti, who, with their passion and enthusiasm, support us in our decisions and in our endeavours, whether the outcomes are good or bad. If we are World Champions, it is thanks to each and every one of them.”

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 3. Biaggi (Aprilia). Race 2 - 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Rea (Honda)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 410; 2. Spies (Yamaha) 325; 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 203; 4. Rea (Honda) 316; 5. Biaggi (Aprilia); 6. Haslam (Honda) 284. Constructors – Ducati 520; Yamaha 461; Suzuki 384; Honda 379; Kawasaki 82

DUCATI TAKES TITLE FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

Nevers Magny Cours Circuit (France), Sunday 4th October 2009 – a second place finish in today’s race was enough for Xavier Simeon to take the 2009 title on board his Ducati 1198. The Ducati Xerox Junior Team thus lifts the Superstock 1000 FIM CUP championship trophy for the third consecutive year, following on from those achieved by Niccolò Canepa in 2007 and by Brendan Roberts in 2008. Daniele Beretta, after a good recovery, closed the race in tenth place.

Xavier Simeon’s weekend finished in the best possible way for him and his team. Having made a good start from pole position, he left little room for Barrier to pass him during the second lap. He didn’t totally escape from the pack however as Berger, one of his strongest rivals in the championship, stuck with him throughout the race. For the new champion it was a only a small mistake in the penultimate lap that allowed French rider Berger to pass him. With the championship win only a breath away Xavier chose to close the race safely, in second position, in order to take the title.

XAVIER SIMEON – “It’s a very emotional moment for me, a fantastic day at the end of a fairy-tale weekend. My 1198 was just perfect and I kept the situation under control even though Berger was tough competition. On the last but one lap I lost the front on the downhill and risked falling; at that point I thought about the title and realized that second place was good enough. Thanks to Ducati, to the team and to my family as it’s thanks to them that I can today celebrate being champion.”

Daniele Beretta recovered from a difficult qualifying session with a fast race, which he concluded in tenth position.

DANIELE BERETTA – “We paid dearly for the crash yesterday as we lost a lot of time in which to prepare the bike. After making changes for the warm-up, the bike was greatly improved e allowed me to hold a good race pace. This track is not among my favourites, and tenth place is not great, but I at least hold fifth position in the overall standings.”

SERAFINO FOTI (Team Manager) – “This is the third consecutive title for the team, with three different riders, an exceptional result for Ducati and for the team members who have always given their all in every single race. This year, up until this penultimate round, Xavier has achieved four race wins, five second place finishes, five pole positions and three fastest laps. This gives us great satisfaction and we share this with all of our partners, with our sponsors and of course with Ducati. Thanks everybody.”

Race result:
1.M.Berger (Honda) in 23’51’’110 in an average of 155,344 km/h; 2.Xavier Simeon (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) 1’’560; 3.S.Barrier (Yamaha) 3’’449; 4.C.Corti (Suzuki) 6’’677….10.Daniele Beretta (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) 27’’619…

Classification:
1.Xavier Simeon 200 points (Campione 2009 Superstock 1000 FIM CUP); 2.C.Corti 148; 3.M.Berger 127; 4.J.Fores 116; 5.Daniele Beretta 85…

Ruben on the way back. Frustration for Troy.

Munich. It was a day of mixed fortunes for BMW Motorrad Motorsport at Imola today, with Ruben posting superb top thirteen positions on his comeback after injury and Troy suffering brake problems which saw him in eleventh place in race one and a DNF in race two. The weekend had started badly for all teams, when the first practice was abandoned due to a very slippery track and everybody lost valuable track time. Ruben soon settled into a groove with the new spec engine in his S 1000 RR, but then had to learn about the new changes and how they affected the bike. Despite this, and having to start from the fifth row of the grid, he rode his heart out to finish 12th in race one and 13th in race two. Race two’s result would have been even better were it not for Ruben having to take to the dirt after having to avoid hitting Fonsi Nieto in one of the chicanes. He rejoined the track, but lost four or five seconds in the process.

In race one, Troy made a good start and was in fifth place after three laps, but then began to suffer with brake problems. He kept going as best he could, but dropped down the order and ended 11th. Brembo technicians changed the brake system for race two, but the problem was worse, not better, and Troy was forced to pull out after just four laps.

Ducati riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio dominated Imola (their home track) today, with Haga taking the win in race one, with Max Biaggi (Aprilia) second and Fabrizio third. Race two was won by Fabrizio, with Haga second and Marco Simoncelli (Aprilia) third.

Troy - Race 1: 11th, Race 2: DNF
Today was very frustrating for me and the team because we had all expected more. Practice had gone well and our times on race tyres would’ve meant top seven or eight finishes for sure. In race one, the brakes started giving problems after about six laps and I was going about 20 kms faster into the turns than I wanted to whilst using much, much more brake pressure. I tried to keep out of trouble and not cause any problems to the other riders and try and keep going as best I could. In the end, I was lucky to finish 11th. Brembo and the team changed the brake system for race two, but this time the problem was worse and maybe air had ingressed. After running off the track a few times and nearly crashing, I decided it would be safer to pull in. The last thing I wanted was to crash and take somebody else out, so withdrawing was the best, and only, option. Hopefully the problem will be sorted out and everything will be OK for Magny-Cours next weekend.

Ruben - Race 1: 12th, Race 2: 13th
I am so happy to be back with my team, because I have missed them all so much in the past few weeks. I couldn’t have raced here today if it had not been for all the tremendous work by BMW’s doctor Vicenzo and Dr Llobet and physio Ricard Huelamo in Spain. It’s a shame we lost time on Friday, because the new specification of my bike means that it is like learning a new machine for me, especially as I haven’t ridden for eight weeks. So, all in all, I am pretty happy with my performance today, but I think it could’ve been better if I hadn’t had to take to the dirt to avoid hitting Fonsi (Nieto) in the second race. At that point, I was chasing a top-ten place, but things like this happen in racing. Now, I am looking forward to Magny-Cours next weekend and getting to know my ‘new’ bike better.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
A day of mixed feelings for us, but we must be happy because Ruben is back and, although he is not 100%, he showed his eagerness and ability to fight. To finish 12th and 13th after starting from 19th on the grid is a very good achievement. What can I say about Troy? There will be an investigation by our brake suppliers and hopefully they will find out what went wrong. We all felt that Troy could’ve finished in the top seven or eight for sure, so to have this result is very disappointing. Sometimes racing is like this and we have to put aside the problems and concentrate on the positives. Our bike is improving and the next step is not far away, so I hope that there will be no problems in Magny-Cours and we can get the results we feel we deserve.

Race 1
1 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 38:32.199; 2 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 2.074; 3 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 2.190; 4 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 5.438 ; 5 Kiyonari (JPN-Honda) 14.470 ;
11 Corser (AUS - BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 35.286; 12 Xaus (ESP -
BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 36.442

Race 2
1 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 38:23.143; 2 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 3.592; 3 Simoncelli (ITA-Aprilia) 6.510; 4 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 7.445; 5 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 14.678 ;
13 Xaus (ESP) BMW Motorrad Motorsport 36.368

Troy and Ruben ready for Magny-Cours.

Munich. After the mixed fortunes at Imola last weekend, both Team BMW Motorrad Motorrad Motorsport riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus are looking forward to the next round of the championship at Magny-Cours, this coming weekend. Brake woes beset Troy last weekend, but hopefully this problem will be sorted out in time for the first practice on Friday afternoon. The strength of Ruben’s return after injury was encouraging, to say the least, and the Spaniard is looking forward to continuing his work on the new ‘spec’ engine and see how it performs at the French circuit.

Troy
I am really looking forward to Magny-Cours, especially after last weekend’s frustrating raceday. I am confident that the team have found out what caused the brake problems so that I will be able to get to grips with the Magny-Cours circuit right from the start of practice on Friday. Our team has never been to Magny-Cours before, so we will have to put in a lot of hard work on day one and try and find a good bike set-up as soon as we can.

The recent improvement of our bike is making riding an enjoyable experience and as long as we don’t have any problems like last weekend, I think we can challenge for a top six or seven place for sure. But anything can happen in racing and we may get even better results if everything goes our way. We shall have to see.

Ruben
I was so happy to get back on the bike last weekend and also to be working with my team again. My only concern about Magny-Cours, is that sometimes the weather can be quite cold and that means I will have to try and warm up my right leg properly. Getting on the S 1000 RR last weekend was like riding a new bike for me and I now have to spend some time understanding how it has developed before I can push as hard as I would like.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
With two races left this season, it is interesting to see how Troy and Ruben are finding the improvements the team have made recently. Both riders have commented favourably about the changes so far and so it was such a shame that brake problems deprived Troy of two good results. But we have to forget that and concentrate on this coming weekend and start over again. We have not been to this track before, so that’s some extra work for us to do, but this has happened many times this season and we are more used to it. There’s more to come from our bike, so let’s hope we our improvement continues and we get good results at Magny-Cours.

2008 results
Race 1: Haga (JPN-Yamaha), 2 Nieto (ESP-Suzuki), 3 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 6 Troy Corser (AUS-Yamaha), Ruben Xaus (ESP-Ducati) DNF
Race 2: Bayliss, 2 Haga, 3 Troy Corser, 5 Ruben Xaus

Sunday 27th September 2009: After two spectacular races, it was the Ducati Xerox team celebrating this afternoon after Noriyuki Haga and his Ducati 1198 stormed to victory in Race 1 and team-mate Michel Fabrizio repeated the feat in race 2. With a race victory apiece, as well as a second place finish for Haga in the second race, and third place for Michel in the first, the result couldn’t have been better for the Ducati Xerox Team at their home track. Noriyuki thus regains his championship lead with only two rounds to go.

A fantastic Race 1 saw Max Biaggi take the lead off the start line, closely followed by the Ducati men Michel and Noriyuki and Honda’s Jonathan Rea. Rea crashed out during the second lap, leaving the Ducati Xerox twosome to battle it out against Aprilia’s Biaggi. Haga got ahead on lap nine only to lose the lead again to Biaggi shortly after. In lap seventeen of twenty-one it was again the Japanese rider who led the pack, and it was he who reigned supreme, crossing the line first, ahead of Biaggi and Fabrizio who battled it out for second position until the final corner.

In Race 2 it was Michel who was fastest off the line and for the first two laps he led the pack, followed closely by his team-mate Noriyuki, Biaggi, Byrne and Spies. Noriyuki got past Michel on the third lap and from then on it became a Ducati showdown, Michel re-passing Nori mid way through the race to then hold the lead to the chequered flag, taking his second ever victory in front of Ducati’s home crowd. Haga crossed the line just 3.5 seconds behind Michel, making it a Ducati one-two, ahead of Simoncelli on the Aprilia who closed in third.

Today’s results, most importantly, take Noriyuki back into the lead in the overall championship standings. The 45 points he takes home from Imola take him up to 391 points, just 3 points ahead of Yamaha’s Ben Spies. Michel consolidates his third position, holding a total of 330 points.

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 –winner , Race 2 – 2nd)
“It’s great to have won again, having not been in this position since Kyalami and having had some tough rounds after the Donington accident. It was a very long race, I thought it would never end, and with all that happened, I don’t even remember when I overtook Max! Over this weekend we have gradually improved and I am especially happy with the result because my father has travelled to Europe for the first time to see me race. For Race 2 I unfortunately had to go out on the second bike as we had problems with the first and we couldn’t get it fixed in time. It was a hard race and I am very tired at the end of it all. Congratulations to Michel in Race 2 of course and also to Marco (Simoncelli) and thanks to my engineer Ernesto, to my team and to Ducati. We are now back in the lead with a three point advantage but there are still four races to go so there’s still a fight ahead. We need the best possible bike for Magny-Cours and Portimao!”

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 3rd, Race 2 – winner)
“What races! I really wanted a win today so I am extremely happy. In Race 1 the problem was that after just a few laps I was having problems with my left arm and it was hard to change gear, I had kind of cramps in my hand. By the end I was really hanging on by two fingers with no feeling in my arm. So all things considered third place was a good result. After the first race I got my trainer to do some work on my arm and it obviously did the trick because it wasn’t a problem in Race 2, and when I got past Noriyuki I knew I could win. I’m happy also for my son, who is here and always asks me why I don’t win more! Thanks to the whole team, to my trainer Leigh “Rok” Bryan, to Ducati, to Xerox and to the spectators who have been amazing this weekend. All of Ducati’s top management were here today too so I hope that our results demonstrate that Nori and me deserve to have had our contracts renewed for next year.”

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); Race 2 - Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); 2. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 3. Simoncelli (Aprilia)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 391; 2. Spies (Yamaha) 388; 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 330; 4. Rea (Honda) 263; 5. Biaggi (Aprilia) 257; 6. Haslam (Honda) 219;. Constructors – Ducati 489; Yamaha 431; Honda 368; Aprilia 267; Suzuki 148; BMW 113; Kawasaki 63

The first year of the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championships is in the books and everyone involved has deemed it a success and we are all looking forward to next year. At the final awards ceremony in Parry Sound we awarded the Overall Pro Championships, the Inside MotoX and Off Road Magazine Eastern Amateur Championships as well as the Overall Amateur Championships. Here is the run down of the Final Awards.

PRO CLASS

Overall Top Pro - Bobby Prochnau (BC) KTM
**For next season Bobby will ride with the #1 plate**
E1 - Patrick Beaule (Quebec) KTM
E2 - Bobby Prochnau (BC) KTM
E3 - Jason Schrage (Alberta) KTM

Inside Motorcycles Top Pro Junior
Ryan Graffunder (BC) Suzuki

Overall Amateur Championships
A - Stephen Shannon (BC) Gas Gas
B - Mike Dobovich (Alberta) KTM
C - Ben Riviere (Alberta) KTM
Vet - Dave Sheridan (Alberta) KTM
Super Vet - Ron Schlosser (Alberta) KTM
Women - Victoria Hett (BC) KTM

Inside MotoX and Off Road Magazine Western Amateur Champions
A - Dillon Bucknell
B - Cedric Peters
C - Ben Riviere (Alberta) KTM
Vet - Dave Sheridan (Alberta) KTM
Super Vet - Ron Schlosser (Alberta) KTM
Women - Victoria Hett (BC) KTM

Inside MotoX and Off Road Magazine Eastern Amateur Champions
A - Adam Millson (Ontario) Yamaha
B - Mike Dobovich (Alberta) KTM
C - Connor Brogan (Ontario) KTM
Vet - Dave Sheridan (Alberta) KTM
Super Vet - Ron Schlosser (Alberta) KTM
Women - Victoria Hett (BC) KTM

VET PRO Champion
Mark Cahill from BC (Valley Motorsports KTM)

Each of the Overall Pro and the East & West Amateur Champions will be recieving a set of tires courtesy of Metzeler. Champions need to contact me to let me know what size you require and which motorcycle dealer you want them sent to. And yes those of you who won an East AND West amateur title will be recieving two sets.

In addition to all these deserving Champions World Enduro Canada wants to recognize all the riders who competed in all the rounds or in rounds on both sides of the country as some riders could not complete the entire 8 event series due to injury. We counted 29 riders from 5 provinces who competed on both sides of the country. It is the cross country support that these individuals put forward that made this Championship a TRUE National Series. At the Labelle round we had riders from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia which gave us representatives from 7 Provinces at that event!!

Jason Wiesner - ON
Marc Zimny - ON
Bruce Moffat - ON
Andre Ferraton - QC
Simon Ferraton - QC
Chris Martin - ON
Guy Giroux - QC
Any Lavoie - QC
Victoria Hett - BC
Steve Shannon - BC
Dave Sheridan - AB
Ben Riviere - AB
Jake Stapleton - ON
Micheal Dobovich - AB
Karine Geoffrion - QC
Pat O'Neill - ON
Alex Conti - ON
Shane Cuthbertson - AB
Ryan Graffunder - BC
Nick Graffunder - BC
Trevor Blysma - ON
Tyler Linton - ON
Brian Marshall - ON
Mark Cahill - BC
Patrick Feal - MB
Brian Wojonarski - ON
Keith Billings - ON
Ron Schlosser - AB
Mark Dzikowski - ON

Friday 25th September 2009: a disorganised start to the World Superbike event at Imola today, as riders faced difficult track conditions in the first free practice session. The Superbike riders, Ducati Xerox men Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio included, were the first to exit onto the track this weekend but, after only a couple of laps and a crash for Yamaha’s Tom Sykes, it became clear that it was necessary to reclean certain parts of the track, left slippery after last weekend’s touring car event.

Free practice was therefore postponed while the track was washed during the afternoon and rescheduled for 17.45. Both Noriyuki and Michel exited immediately and times dropped consistently throughout the sixty-minute session. Having come into the box a few times to make minor modifications to his bike, Michel was then able to make a flying lap only a few minutes before the end of the hour, and thus recorded the fastest time of the day. Fabrizio, the most consistently fast rider during the official tests at Imola two months ago, was the only rider to duck under 1m50 today. Noriyuki, having not taken part in earlier testing and not having ridden here since 2006, didn't immediately find feeling with the track, and found he needed more time to learn the trickier sections, particularly the new chicane. Haga closed the day in thirteenth position.

Due to the lengthy delays earlier in the day, today’s qualifying session was cancelled and qualifying will therefore consist of one session only, to take place tomorrow morning.

Michel Fabrizio 1m49.8s

“I’m very happy to have made the fastest lap but it was not easy. The track is still very slippery and although I’m fairly comfortable with the front of the bike I was having trouble with lack of grip at the rear. Hopefully track conditions will improve over the weekend. My left arm was also giving me pain during the session so I’ll get that looked at this evening in order to be 100% ready for tomorrow.”

Noriyuki Haga 1m51.1s

“I didn’t test here in July of course and so I’m a bit behind with respect to the other guys. I think I just a little more time to learn the track, specifically the last chicane, and we need to find a better solution for the suspension settings.”

TIMES: 1. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m49.8s; 2. Checa (Honda) 1m50.1s; 3. Spies (Yamaha) 1m50.2s; 4. Rea (Honda) 1m50.3s; 5. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1m50.5s; 6. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m50.5s; 7. Haslam (Honda) 1m50.7s; 8. Byrne (Ducati) 1m50.8s…. 13. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1m51.1s

Donald Taylor, sponsored by Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada and Clare’s Harley-Davidson® of Niagara, capped off a brilliant 2009 Canadian Motorcycle Association Dirt Track National Championship season with a powerful performance under the lights last Saturday night. In what was a surprise to many riders, the evening’s races were given championship point status and Taylor simply added to his unassailable points lead with his ride.

With his Harley-Davidson® XR 750 bike carefully massaged for short track competition by George Evans, Taylor dominated for all but one short and exciting segment. Our champion explains, “I kind of goofed on the start of my heat race. I think I spun it up a bit much coming off the line, and Jon Cornwell (XR 750) and Joey Hartrich (XR 750) beat me into turn one. I knew it was going to be hard to pass on the short track, and I knew I had to make my way past as quick as possible, so I drove it up on the cushion and just motored past them on the exit of turn two”. Taylor makes it sound easy, but the fact of the matter is, it was a daring move that illustrated his bravery, skill, and will to win.


Taylor’s thrilling manoeuvre had everyone in the packed grandstands on their feet roaring with approval. They could even be heard above the sounds of seven XR 750 motorcycles roaring down the back straight. “The fans were unreal,” confirmed the champ. “The place was packed and they stayed for the whole evening. Even the pits were clogged up with fans after the races. It was really cool. They gave us a standing ovation on the cool-down lap after the final.”

There was good reason for their enthusiasm. Many of those in attendance were regulars at the Welland County Motorcycle Club who promoted Saturday night races, and many had watched the hometown hero Taylor since he began racing at the club in the Youth 85cc class. They took partisan pride in their hero.

That same crowd cheered boisterously once more in the National Championship Expert final, but this time, Taylor needed no heroics. “I guess I just checked out on them,” he explained simply. “I got the holeshot, took the lead, and rode my own race. I don’t think I ever had so much fun on my XR. George did a great job for me again. It was so smooth and just pulled like crazy coming out of the turns. We usually don’t ride XR [bikes] on the short track, and I thought it was going to be a real handful, but like I said it was fun, and yeah, the crowd was unreal. A lot of them know me, so it was really cool to win my last race in Canada for this year for them.”

Donald Taylor will be back in action in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championships in Pomona, California, on October 24 in the final round of that series. His goal, of course, is to win and to move into the top ten in the 2009 AMA Pro standings. This year in Canada, he captured his record-breaking sixth CMA National Dirt Track Championship title.

* Image courtesy DonTaylorRacing

Munich. The twelfth round of this year’s Superbike World Championship takes place at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola, Italy, and will be the first time the series is at the track since 2006. Since then, modifications to the circuit have been made, especially on the approach to the chicane before the front straight. The top teams tested the new layout in mid-July and the revisions to the track drew mixed comments. Troy took a runner up spot in 2005, but Ruben has even better memories of the circuit as he took a superb double victory there in 2003.

Troy
Although we have tested at Imola this year - on the new layout - there is still lots to learn and do. For me the new approach to the front straight is not as good as before and the final chicane could cause problems. I am looking forward to riding my bike again as I believe that we have made really good progress recently and I want to see how this progress continues in Imola. Hopefully the weather will be better than the Nurburgring and we will get a good crowd and a good result.

Ruben
My physiotheraphy and rehabilitation has gone very well and I think I will be able to race in Imola. Just before Imola, I will get on a bike and see how my leg behaves and how it feels when I get off the bike. In the normal scheme of things, I should really not be on a bike at all before Portimao, but everything has gone well so far and I am very eager to get on my bike and race. I saw the progress at Brno before I crashed and I am itching to get on my bike and see how much progress the team have made since then. There is no absolutely final decision about Imola yet, but I am very, very hopeful.

Berti Hauser (Director - BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
Hopefully, our normal team will be back in action at Imola and it will be a pleasure to have Ruben back and interesting to hear what he says about the bike since Brno. Until he rides the bike, we do not know how strong he will be, but we know that his rehabilitation has gone very well and we know how keen he is to get on the bike again. These last three races are very important to all of us and we are aiming to end the last part of the season in very positive frame of mind and build on that for next season.
race

This past weekend Parry Sound, Ontario hosted the final two rounds of the 2009 Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championships. Matt McAnanama and his crew from dirtybikes.ca put together a challenging and fun course that recieved rave reviews from the riders. At the wrap up party on Sunday evening at the Stockey Center the riders voted the Parry Sound Cross Test as the best of the year. BC was voted best Extreme Test, Alberta best Transfer Trail and Quebec the best Enduro Test. For full results go HERE

Bill Petro, who takes photos for the Toronto Star, attended the event and there will be a write up and photos in this weekend's Saturday Star Wheels section. The Star is distributed across Canada with over a million readers - this is the type of exposure Enduro needs to take the sport to the next level. Be sure to get a copy this weekend - who knows your photo might be there.

Dan Paris from Directmotocross.com, who sent me the podium photos that are attached, sent me his thoughts on the inaugural year of the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championships. I thought Dan's words really summed up the mission of World Enduro Canada and what we are working towards.

As a moto-journalist I’d like to say a few things about the 2009 Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Series. For years, and I mean even as a little mid-70’s kid with a bowl cut, I’ve listened to people bemoaning the state of enduro and off-road racing in Canada. Hosting FIM World Enduro rounds in 2006 and 2007 gave the sport a shot in the arm in a big way. That shot of juice kicked in when the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Series was announced. I was stoked at the news! I mean, I’d guessed from hanging around the sidelines of off-road and motocross races for the better part of 40 years that Enduro was somehow marketable, and in some ways perhaps even more marketable than motocross. And like everyone else, I shrugged my shoulders and wished for something cool to happen.

I scratch out my meagre and unusual living by talking to racers. And the racers I talked to after the opening CEC rounds in Alberta and B.C were thrilled. At the same time as the ultra-cool website www.directmotocross.com (shameless plug there…) was really building steam the talent of Canadian Extreme riders like Shane Cuthbertson and Cory Graffunder was shocking the hell out of the European and U.S elite. After hanging out with the riders and promoters at the Quebec and Parry Sound CEC rounds I believe this series is the biggest thing to happen to dirt bike racing in Canada since the glory days of World Motocross GP racing at Copetown or St.Gabriel. Sure, everyone in the industry expected a baby step from the CEC. A little bump in the leg like a timid dog might do when it's deciding if you’re friendly or not. Instead the Royal Distributing series hit Canada like a pissed off Great White. BAM! Their full speed attack on the status quo could be just what the industry and the sport need so badly these days. But then again, what do I know?

“Motocross is like the pointy tip of a massive iceberg,” Gopher Dunes owner Frank Schuster explained to me back when I first started writing. “Those few guys drive the sport and give the kids heroes to emulate. More and more of their used bikes pile up every year and new riders pile onto them. The further you go down the bigger that iceberg becomes. All of those weekend warriors are out there bombing around on beater bikes, just trail riding and having fun. And spending money.” With Frank’s comment in mind, what could possibly entertain a wider audience than CEC style enduro?

Aside from the fact that sports these days are all about being ‘Extreme’, Enduro racing has mixed the traditional elements of motocross, woods racing and trials competition with a down to earth vibe. It’s sort of like a racing version of your average ‘On any Sunday’ trail ride with your buddies when you think about it. I overheard a disbeliever at Parry Sound saying, “Sure it’s cool and all, but I don’t think this series will really help sell bikes.” To that I say baloney. The Pros of the CEC Series are the new wave of two-wheeled rock stars, kicking out the jams and showing just what is possible on a dirt bike. Thanks to the team at World Enduro Canada, plus the racers, volunteers, media and sponsors that made the Royal Distributing CEC series such a success, Enduro racing is no longer something moto-marketing gurus can ignore. Three cheers to all of you guys who made it happen!

Dan Paris
www.directmotocross.com

Monday 21st September: just a few days prior to the Imola Superbike round, taking place from 25th to 27th September, Ducati confirms that both the Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio will stay with the team for the 2010 racing season. In the last week Ducati’s management have reached an agreement with both Noriyuki and Michel, meaning that the two talented riders, currently second and third in the World Superbike standings, will remain on board for the coming year. This important renewal will allow for a continuation of the great work that results from such close collaboration between the technical staff and the riders. For the 34-year old Japanese rider this will be his second consecutive season with the Ducati Xerox squad and is the third for 25-year old Italian Michel who debuted with the team, alongside Troy Bayliss, in 2008.

Noriyuki Haga
“I am very happy that this great team continues to believe in me! I thank Ducati, the team and everyone that was involved in making the decision. I have a great relationship with my team and with Michel, and so I am more than happy to stay here in 2010. We don’t yet know how this year will end, but what is certain is that I will continue to do my best, as I do every weekend. Knowing that I have a job for next year will surely spur me on; I will give 200% in Imola this weekend, and then if that’s not enough I’ll redouble my efforts at Magny and Portimao!”

Michel Fabrizio
“I’m very happy, I received confirmation of the renewal the day before my birthday and this news was a great end to the week. I’m currently third in the championship and I’ll continue to give my all in the final three rounds. At Imola I’m going to go on fighting my own battle, and then we’ll see how Nori and I are placed… I’ll perhaps change my strategy for the last two races, if need be, in order to assist Nori. Next year I won’t let anyone get ahead as quickly as Nori did this season and I’ll be doing all I can to be near the top of the standings right from the start of the championship.”

Filippo Preziosi – General Director Ducati Corse
“Nori and Michel are both racing, and bringing home extremely satisfying results, in what is a very close-fought championship and so Ducati is proud to be able to confirm them both for the 2010 season. The experience they have accumulated this year will surely contribute to even stronger performances in the future. My compliments to the entire team, for the professionalism and passion with which everyone works each weekend at the tracks.”

During the upcoming World Superbike weekend, to be held at the Italian circuit of Imola from 25th to 27th September, the Ducati Xerox Team, in collaboration with Ducati.com, will allow fans from around the world the chance to see right to the heart of the action, by providing live streaming direct from Noriyuki Haga’s garage on both Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September.

A brand new experience, with the live and uncut footage undoubtedly spiking the interest of the countless passionate fans who are following the Superbike racing as the season comes to a thrilling climax. This is a way for the loyal fans, sponsors and Ducatisti to participate, allowing them a “fly on the wall” view of the unique, adrenalin-fuelled world of the motorcycle racer and his team.

With only three races left, and with both of the Ducati Xerox riders, Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio, in the running for the rider’s title, the experiment is thus implemented for the very first time at Imola, which is of course hosting what is the “home round” for Ducati.

Never before has a motorcycle racing team initiated such a project and, if all goes to plan at Imola, the service will also be available during the final two rounds, at Magny-Cours and Portimao.

A web-cam, positioned this time in Haga’s pit garage, will be activated between 14.00 and 17.00 on Saturday and between 09.00 and 17.00 on Sunday, allowing users to log on to the official Ducati site - www.ducati.com – and watch live streaming of “Nitro-Nori” and his technical team in action during Superpole, Sunday warm-up and the all-important races.

For more information, log on to www.ducati.com from Monday 21st September. The Ducati Xerox Team awaits you at Imola!

The fifth and sixth rounds of the 8-race Royal Distributing 2009 Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC) were held in Labelle, QC. this past weekend. Labelle is situated 1.5 hours North of Montreal, the local topography consists of wet rock, black mud, and occasional sand pit of all of which challenged 119 rider field. The 3 different timed special tests decided the victor, ultimately BC’s Bobby Prochnau riding a KTM 450 dominated by fending off challenges from Lethbridge, Alberta’s Jason Schrage and local hero Guy Giroux who rode his BMW 450X to third place overall.

Alberta’s Shane Cuthbertson, BC’s Geoff Nelson, Ontario’s Brian Wojanarski, Tyler Linton and Quebec-based Patrick Beaule and Allan Lachapelle are some of the Pro riders who showed fine form over the weekend.

Two hard luck award candidates would have been Machine Yamaha Toyota team rider Jake Stapleton who was on track for a top finish but a mishap saw him pull out early on the first day and Alberta youngster Ben Riviere who broke his arm yet rode on to the finish to win the Amateur C class.

The CEC has become the true Canadian Championship with support from all 6 major motorcycle manufacturers and riders travelling from 7 of the 10 Canadian provinces to test their skills against Canada’s best off-road riders. The Quebec round saw riders from the Atlantic provinces attending for the first time.

The Inside Motorcycles Top Pro Junior award went to Simon Ferraton this past weekend while local rider, Jean Pellerin won the Rekluse Clutch Top Amateur in Extreme test award.

The final event of the CEC takes place in Parry Sound, Ontario this weekend with competition heading for the lakeside town for the two-day competition. Parry Sound has a long history in welcoming motorcyclists in its community.

At all CEC events spectators are welcome and there is no entry fee to see the best off-road riders in Canada shine. For more information on this weekend’s CEC event check out the website HERE.

*Image courtesy Sport Moteur

RMP Racing’s Pro Superbike racer and team owner Ross Millson wrapped up a challenging season at this past weekend’s finale of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

On Thursday Millson attended a trackday hosted by Hot Lap Events and utilized the extra track time to dial-in his #39 Inside Motorcycle / Tri City Cycle sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000 before the upcoming weekend’s race. Millson turned some of his quickest lap times ever on the Shannonville - Pro Track layout.

Friday’s practice times were respectable but Millson new he still had more in the reserves and felt confident a top ten qualifying effort was not out of the question.

Saturday’s weather was optimum for qualifying and Millson was hungry for a strong result as he took to the track. Millson used the first two laps to get the tires up to temperature and then began to pick up the pace to ensure a prime spot on the grid for Sunday’s feature race.

Shannonville’s 2.45KM (1.5 mile) Pro Track layout is known to present a variety challenges for racers and their teams. This weekend would be no different. Over the weekend numerous racers experienced the challenge of corner 2, tossing the riders and their bikes into the infield.

Beginning his fourth qualifying lap Millson would also find himself bitten by corner 2. Although the crash appeared horrific Millson was uninjured. However, Millson’s Suzuki GSX-R1000 was in no condition to compete in Sunday’s race.

Without a backup bike Millson and his crew began loading the bike and its remnants. His season was over.

As the remainder of Saturday’s qualifying sessions began to wind down. Millson and his crew was unable to accept that this is how their season would end. Fellow racers and teams stepped up and offered the use of whatever spare parts they had.

With what remained of the bike and the donated bits and pieces Millson and his crew began to resurrect his mangled motorcycle.

A late night and an early morning effort proved successful. The bike was rebuilt and was now sporting a flat-grey primer paint job beneath the sponsor decals. Millson took to the track for the Sunday morning practice session to give the bike a thorough pre-race shake down and achieved a surprisingly decent time of 1:07.843.

Millson started at the back of the grid in Sunday's feature race and would hang on to the ill-mannered bike for the entire 20 lap race. Millson crossed the finish line in fourteenth place.

“This was the kind of season that no one expects to happen to them at the beginning of the year.” said Millson. “I really need to thank Mark and Blaine for all their help this year and for helping me finish the season on the track. I also must thank, Sean Huffman and the GoLo Cew as well as Clint McBain and Erick Beausejour for helping with all the spare parts.”

Millson's fourteenth place finish allowed him to complete his season thirteenth overall in the points standings.

As RMP Racing's team owner there was certainly reason to celebrate. Team development rider Steven Nickerson put in a stellar performance at each and every round of the Honda CBR125R Challenge which resulted in winning the Championship.

“It’s been a really tough year for me but having Steven bring home the CBR125R Championship title for the team helps take a bit of the sting out of this season.” Millson commented.

The entire RMP Racing team would like to thank their friends and family members for their continued support and their dedicated sponsors; Inside Motorcycles, Zox Helmets, Motovan, 2010 Canadian Motorsports Expo, Infinet Designs, Turn 2 Sportbike School, Essential Image, MotoConcepts and CRC Racewear. Additionally Ross Millson would like to thank; Tri-City Cycle and Sport (Suzuki), Race Tech, Vortex, Hindle, G.M.D Computrack Ontario and Niagara Powersports.

Hot weather and sunny skies made for perfect conditions for the spectators at the final Parts Canada race of the season but presented the racers with the challenges of a slippery and bumpy track. The Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. – powered by Buell team made good use of the opportunity to battle away at the tires problems and a slippery track that would come to hinder their progress all weekend. Despite the precipitous odds, the team worked hard to make the Buell 1125R bike competitive and showed steady progress throughout the weekend.

Saturday’s Pirelli Superpole qualifying saw two Buell motorcycles make it into the top ten for the first time ever when Steve Crevier and Dave Estok both had brilliant qualifying runs to earn a shot at Superpole. Crevier finished a healthy sixth with a lap time of 1:05.700. Estok posted a 1:05.999 to finish in ninth, earning the New Smyrnian rider his first shot at the prestigious Superpole qualifying contest. Darren James rounded off the top 14 with a 1:07.032.

In the afternoon’s Pirelli Superpole session, Dave Estok took the bit in his teeth and made a run for it, qualifying in ninth for Sunday’s final superbike race, followed closely by Crevier, who continued to struggle with front-end push through his hot lap to finish in tenth. Crevier had a tough weekend with crashes on both Friday and Saturday morning, but with his dogged determination, he continued to move forward in preparation for Sunday’s finals.

“That was fun to do. It is totally cool to go out there and do a lap by yourself […] I think I tried a little bit too hard. I caught a few too many bumps. I should have smoothed out a little. I’m happy; it was nice to get into the top ten and into the superbike race. It’s the first superbike race I’ve competed in this year. I’m pleased for the team who works on my bike. They have worked so hard, both Glen and Jazzy. They wanted so bad for me to get up there,” said an ecstatic Estok after the Superpole qualifying.

Emotions were running high on Sunday morning as each team member faced their own anxieties, whether it was the pressure of the day ahead or the relief of ending a difficult season. “My job today is to keep the bike upright,” commented Steve Crevier. “We’ve been crashing way too much.” Despite the pressures of the day, Crevier kept himself busy greeting fans and signing autographs, showing why he continues to be one of the fan favourites in Canadian motorcycle racing.

Sunday morning’s practice revealed little as the Buell 1125R bikes for Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. continued to run mid-pack with both Crevier and Estok running at about 1:06.500, one-and-a-half seconds off the pace, as the Big Twins struggled to come to grips with the tires and a very bumpy Shannonville Pro track.

First up for the day was the Pro Sportbike race, and with two Buell bikes on the third row and one on row four, the Buell team was well represented. When the start light turned green, the Buell motorcycles thundered off, with Crevier through into seventh, Estok in a tenuous ninth, and Darren James in a solid eleventh. As the race unfolded, Crevier battled hard to catch HJC Rookie-of-the-Year Jodi Christie. Estok was embroiled in a three-way battle with youngsters Karl Daigle and Matt McBride for ninth place. At the three-quarter mark, Crevier made good on his bid, moved up to fifth, and had his eye on fourth place when the red flag was brought out, ending the race. Victim of the race-ending incident was Darren James, who crashed heavily in corner two. The corner had been problematic and claimed several riders throughout the weekend. A tired Steve Crevier commented after the race, “Overall, fifth is pretty good. I managed to catch Nelson and he wasn’t looking very comfortable. I mean, everyone is struggling on these tires, so I think had the race gone on, I might have got him. It’s too bad with the red flag. Unfortunately, my teammate Darren [James] crashed and brought out the flag. I was working my way forward and getting consistent laps.”

Next up was the 20-lap Pro Superbike event, the final race of the season for the Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. – powered by Buell team. In a repeat of the Sportbike race, the Buell bikes were solidly placed mid-pack, with Crevier dropping his lap times as close to 1:05.000 as he could to finish the race in sixth. Dave Estok also enjoyed a brilliant ride to finish tenth. A battered Darren James suited up for the final, but had to withdraw after five laps because of injuries incurred in the previous race. Crevier said after the race, “Hopefully, we’ll carry through with this program next year and have better results”.

We would like to thank all of the fans who have shown the team their support, as well as congratulate the riders Steve Crevier, Dave Estok, and Darren James for such a strong Buell presence: 23 top-ten finishes and six placements in the top five throughout the racing season. All of this obviously could not have happened without the reliable efforts, hard work, and positive spirit of the team behind the riders. Additional thanks goes to sponsors such as: Vortex; Regina; Pitbull; dragon; Flexi-Glass; OGIO; Cummins Western Canada; RMR Suspensions; Joe Rocket Leather; Loaded Gun Productions; Arai Helmets and Twist Conditioning. We look forward to next year’s racing season!

Nürburgring (Germany) Saturday 5th September: Noriyuki Haga and his Ducati Xerox squad this afternoon celebrated their first pole of the season at the Nurburgring circuit. Quick in every session so far, the Japanese rider exited for the Superpole with a steely determination, to register the fastest time in each of the three phases. The track temperature was significantly higher (26°C) than it had been in the morning and fortunately for the Superbike riders the all-important Superpole took place in dry conditions. Despite such a long career, this is only the seventh time that Haga has taken the pole and it came at just the right moment, with only four rounds of the championship left to run. After the physical problems he has suffered over the last two months, this result demonstrates that Nitro-Nori is back in shape and ready to fight for the world title. Team-mate Michel Fabrizio is also on the pace this weekend and, despite an error during his fast lap in the final Superpole session, he nevertheless secured a place on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s races, fourth behind the two Hondas of Rea and Haslam.

The Superbike riders also escaped rain in the morning’s second qualifying session and so lap times dropped considerably with respect to yesterday. Fourth and fifth at the end of play yesterday, the Ducati Xerox men Michel and Noriyuki today made the progress that both had envisaged, qualifying easily for the afternoon Superpole session. Noriyuki was the fastest rider on track while Michel was two tenths of a second behind in third, Yamaha’s Ben Spies closing in second.

Noriyuki Haga 1m55.4s
“You can see that I’m back in shape after the holidays and I’m very happy to have taken the pole today. It’s my first pole position with Ducati and it comes just at the right time, as the championship reaches the final stages. I’ve been feeling comfortable on the bike all weekend and this bodes well for tomorrow. I like the track a lot and, having gone well here last year, I’m looking forward to racing.”

Michel Fabrizio 1m55.9s
“I am fairly happy with the result; it’s just a shame I made a small mistake on the last corner because I think if I had nailed that I could have finished second or third. Anyway the important thing is that I’m starting from the front row and I am more than ready to fight for the win tomorrow. I predict a close battle between us on the Ducatis and the two Hondas.”

TIMES (Superpole): 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 2. Rea (Honda); 3. Haslam (Honda); 4. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); 5. Spies (Yamaha); 6. Corser (BMW); 7. Biaggi (Aprilia); 8. Checa (Honda)

TORONTO, Ont. - Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory rider Jordan Szoke will try to make a bit of racing history at Shannonville Motorsport Park this weekend.

The 30-year-old from Brantford, Ont. comes into the final round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship in an excellent position to wrap up his fourth straight crown and his sixth career Canadian Superbike title. No one has won four straight championships in the 30-year history of the national Superbike series and only one other rider has managed to claim six overall.

"I've tried to prepare the best I can and I'm ready to win," said Szoke, who has won three of the six Parts Canada Superbike races this year. "I don't think it's any different than any other year in terms of my stress level. I think this has been one of the most competitive years for me and I feel like I've elevated my game."

Szoke comes to Shannonville with a 14-point lead in the championship and only one rider has a mathematical shot at beating him. If he can qualify on the front row, a runner-up finish in the race will give him the title no matter what his rival does.

He sees some advantages for his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R on the 2.45km (1.53-mile) Shannonville ‘Pro Circuit'.

"I think the Kawasaki gets off the corners quite well," he said. "That's all thanks to Mike Crompton's engine work. So I think we have a bit of an advantage there."

Szoke will also try to secure a fourth straight Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike title at Shannonville on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. He is in a similar situation to his Superbike title battle, with a 16-point advantage heading to the final race.

"The 600 definitely suits the track," said Szoke, who has won three Sport Bike races so far this season. "It gets off the corners really well so it should be good coming out of the hairpin onto the backstraight and I think turns one, two and three will be good for the bike."

Szoke's Canadian Kawasaki Motors team-mate Alex Welsh will try to end his rookie year with the team on a positive note despite suffering a broken pelvis in a practice crash at the previous series round in Nova Scotia.

The 21-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont. comes into the final round sixth in the Superbike standings and fourth in Pro Sport Bike points.

"It's getting there but it's not fully healed," said Welsh, who won last year's HJC Pro Rookie of the Year title. "It's probably about two or three weeks away from being fully healed but I don't see it being a big problem. We'll find out Friday.

"Last year this is the track where we were closest to the top guys, so that bodes well for me. I think we'll be good."

Welsh claimed his first Parts Canada Superbike podium finish with a third at Mosport International Raceway in July, but he may forsake his ZX-10R Ninja Superbike and focus strictly on the ZX-6R Ninja Sport Bike if his injury proves too troublesome.

"The Superbike's a bit of an animal but I've been getting the hang of it," he admitted. "The big thing has been trying to get it working better later on in the race."

He has three podium finishes in the Sport Bike class this year, including a runner-up finish to Szoke at Mosport.

"I think we'll be pretty good on the Sport Bike," he said. "I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be like Mosport and we'll be in a real dogfight."

Practice at Shannonville Motorsport Park begins Friday, September 4 with qualifying scheduled for both the Parts Canada Superbike and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike classes on Saturday September 5.

The Pro Sport Bike race is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 pm. Sunday, September 6 and is slated for 18 laps. The 20-lap Superbike feature goes at 2:45 p.m.

The Nürburgring (Germany), Tuesday 1st September: The Ducati Xerox Team are back from their holidays and now pack their bags for round 11 of the World Superbike Championship, the action taking place this time at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring. Since the last round at Brno, the Superbike circus has taken its traditional summer break, six weeks in length this year, giving the riders a substantial period in which to rest and recuperate in preparation for the final push. Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio have enjoyed the time off, Noriyuki returning home to Japan to see family and friends and Michel passing the time at home in Rome.

Both riders, who between them have put the Ducati Xerox Team on the podium in nineteen of the twenty races held so far, are fighting fit and ready for the all important final four rounds of the World Superbike Championship.

Last time out, on the Czech track of Brno more than a month ago, Michel crashed out of Race 1 but climbed onto the podium in the second race, consolidating his third place position in the overall rider classification. Noriyuki, less than 100% fit and riding with fractures to his right ulna and left shoulder blade, knew that it would be hard to fight for podiums and finished the races in eighth and sixth position, taking valuable points that means he maintains his championship lead going into the eleventh round.

The infamous Ring returned to the Superbike calendar in 2008 after an eight year absence. The June appointment saw two wet races, the first restarted and the second cut short due to the adverse weather conditions. On board the factory Yamaha, Noriyuki powered his way to the double win at the Ring last season, also taking the lap record in the process, and the Ducati Xerox squad is hopeful he can do a similar job with his Ducati 1198 this year. Michel’s first experience of the track was last year’s race weekend, and although the Italian rider came away with good points, he will be looking for a big improvement this year, to maintain the performance level that has seen him finish ten of the last twelve races on the podium.

Noriyuki Haga (1st in championship, 326 points)

"I got a great result at Nürburgring last year and hope to be able to do the same again this time around. It’s a really nice track though last year was pretty wet for race day which made things interesting! Anyway I’m feeling much stronger than I was at Brno and, after a relaxing holiday back home in Japan, I’m totally ready to continue the fight for the world title.”

Haga’s Superbike form at the Nürburgring:
2008: Race 1 – winner, Race 2 – winner
1999: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 6th
1998: Race 1 – 5th, Race 2 – 7th


Michel Fabrizio (3rd in championship, 273 points)

"Brno didn’t go to plan and so in the last four races, starting at Nürburgring, I really need to make up points, with the aim to be on the podium every weekend. I’m in good shape and after the long break I’m more than ready to get back on the bike and try to maintain my recent run of podiums.”

Fabrizio’s Superbike form at the Nürburgring:
2008: Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 – 6th

CIRCUIT DATA:

Country: Germany
Name: The Nürburgring
Circuit length: 5.137 km
Pole position: left
Race distance: 20 laps = 102.74 km

LAP RECORDS: Best lap – Haga (Yamaha) 1’56.892 (2008). Superpole – Neukirchner (Suzuki) 1'55.471 (2008).

2008 RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Haga (Yamaha); 2. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); 3. Neukirchner (Suzuki) Race 2 – 1. Haga (Yamaha); 2. Corser (Yamaha); 3. Neukirchner (Suzuki)

Rounds 5 & 6 of the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championships are fast approaching (September 12-13/09). It's sure to be a popular event for both riders and spectators. It's limited to 150 riders so pre-registering is a good idea.

You can get registration info HERE.

Here's a couple copies of the event posters in both official languages:

Pictures and details of this hopped up Ducati 1098 S have emerged and even though this is US focused news the details are too good not to share with our Canadian audience.

Press Release follows:

Ducati North America has proudly unveiled a 170hp, 362lb two-wheeled tribute to the historic “Martini Racing” Porsches of years past.

The one of a kind Martini-Ducati was the idea of Ducati’s North American CEO and Public Relations Manager, both major fans of the Martini-Porsche competition cars of years past. The project began life as a 1098 S Superbike, and was outfitted with most of the Ducati Performance accessories catalogue. Upon completion, it was decided the bike needed a special paint scheme to accent the significant modifications performed to make it the ultimate street/track weapon. With the bike to be shown at the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Martini was a natural choice and the scheme was designed and painted right away. It has been embraced as the ultimate expression of a custom Ducati Superbike since its initial showing within the motorcycle industry.

Modifications to the Ducati 1098 S include: racing camshafts, race pistons and titanium connecting rods; all connected to a lightened crankshaft. Chassis modification includes magnesium wheels, a World Superbike racing-spec gearbox, 1/4 turn throttle for instant response, billet racing footpegs, Ohlins suspension, titanium exhaust with 70mm tubing and carbon mufflers, and numerous carbon fiber panels- all from Ducati’s own performance catalogue. As the project came together, several of Ducati’s friends and partners also took part in the celebration.

As a result of Shell’s dedication to motorsport throughout the decades in Formula One, the Le Mans Series and more recently in MotoGP and Superbike with Ducati Corse, Shell was proud to support the project.

The Martini Superbike was displayed alongside a Martini Racing Porsche 908/3 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this past weekend in the Canepa Design pit area.

*Click pictures for larger versions.

We had a fantastic time roaming around, chatting to the folks in the pits and people in attendance at the Parts Canada Superbike races at Atlantic Motorsports Park in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. Camera in hand I managed to get a few interesting pictures. You've got pretty amazing access to the bikes and racers at these events.

So here's a few random images from Sunday at Atlantic Motorsport Park. Hope you enjoy!

SHUBENACADIE, Nova Scotia – Atlantic Motorsport Park. In very clement weather conditions for both Saturday and Sunday, spectators scattered around the track claiming stakes to the many different viewpoints that the Atlantic Motorsport Park has to offer. To the viewers’ glee, Steve Crevier, a veteran of the Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. racing team, powered by BuellTM, delivered the entertainment he is renowned for, and throughout the sun-drenched weekend, amused the crowd with a myriad of wheelies, stoppies, and burnouts on his No. 14 1125R bike.

Crevier had pre-qualified for the Pirelli Superpole on Sunday morning with a time of 1.08:658 on his twelfth lap around the eleven-turn undulating track, to be ranked sixth in the limited ten-rider field. Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc., powered by Buell, teammates Dave Estok and Darren James missed the cut with Estok ranked thirteenth and James fifteenth.

In the actual Superpole, Crevier was slightly off his morning pace, recording an official run of 1.09:267, dropping him to seventh, landing him a start in the final from the inside of row two. He was right back on pace for the race, clocking in at 1.08.553, which was the fourth-fastest time of the superbikes. “Naturally, I’m disappointed,” Crevier explained post-race. “Not for myself, I got what I deserved, but for the team. My guys worked their butts off for me, as usual, and we made steady progress all weekend and they deserve to see this bike on the podium. Actually, truth be known, they deserve a win, but we’ll start off with a podium. We’ll get there!” he chirpily added after a moment of seriousness.

In the Yoshimura Pro Sportbike category, the BuellTM 1125R motorcycle was well-represented in the seventeen-rider field, with Darren James posting a qualifying time of 1.10:926, putting him in eleventh position, Dave Estok, stopping the clock at 1.10:283, placing him in ninth position, and the speedy Crevier in seventh position after recording a lap time of 1.08:997. In the eighteen-lap final, Estok maintained his starting position in ninth place while his teammates each moved up a spot, with Darren James a mere 0.221 seconds adrift of Estok in tenth position and Steve Crevier placing sixth. The very defining grumble of the collective group of BuellTM 1125R motorcycles made for an interesting show for the spectators, with all three motorcycles finishing within the top ten.

Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, looked to be on his way to a podium finish in the twenty-two lap Parts Canada Superbike feature race when a low-side crash derailed his run on the exit of turn eight. Uninjured, he jumped to his feet and ran to the fallen BuellTM 1125R bike, restarted it, and rejoined the race to place an eventual sixth. “I just got in there a little hot and tucked the front end,” he explained, smiling after the race. “The Buell [bike] was running so strong, it’s a shame. Actually, I was really lucky, I wasn’t hurt anymore than I already am. I’m always hurting it seems.” He laughs again, “No, but the bike wasn’t damaged at all and other than digging up some turf, it was all good. I don’t know if I could have caught Clint [McBain], but I was sure trying.” At the time of his mishap, Crevier was running a strong fourth position after running seventh on the first lap, and then benefitted from a Kevin Lacombe (Toyota Yamaha) crash before catching and passing Andrew Nelson (Algonquin College Yamaha R1) and then doing the same with local star and Atlantic Roadracing League Champion Brian Blaauwendraat.

While looking for another means of transport to wheelie around the pits, Crevier left with one comment, “I told you I’d save the best for the last, so watch the BuellTM space in Shannonville.”

We will.

Check out www.cdnsuperbike.com for details on the season finale in Shannonville, Ontario, which will take place September 5 and 6.

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. -- Jordan Szoke moved a step closer to a record fourth straight Parts Canada Superbike Championship with a runner-up finish in the penultimate round of the series at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Sunday.

The Brantford, Ont. racer led the opening lap of the 22-lap race before settling into a comfortable second place on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. He now has 296 points and takes a 14-point lead in the Parts Canada Superbike standings to the final race at Shannonville Motorsport Park in Shannonville, Ont. Sept. 4-6. A race win is worth 50 points.

Szoke, who is also trying to equal the all-time record of six Canadian Superbike titles, had qualified second for the Superbike race in the Pirelli SuperPole session on Saturday. His lap at 1:06.975 missed pole position by just 0.047 secs. And he was one of only three riders to improve on his pre-qualifying time in the SuperPole run-off.

He also managed to get under the four-year-old outright motorcycle track record at AMP.

"I saw through the session how everybody wasn't really improving and I knew I could put in a good lap to get ahead," he explained. "But I didn't want to risk everything for one more point. The bike was a lot better than what we did but I wanted to keep a little in reserve and limit the chances I was taking."

The 30-year-old Szoke got the lead off the start but didn't put up too much of a fight when he gave up the top spot in turn two on the second lap.

"I wish I could have gone a little harder for the win," he said. "But this championship means so much to me. It's all I've been thinking about. Maybe I could have gone a lot harder, but I didn't want to do anything silly."

Szoke is in an almost identical situation in the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class. A second place finish at AMP leaves him with 300 points and a 16-point edge heading to the Shannonville finale. He is trying for a fourth straight title in that division as well.

On Sunday he was third off the start on the factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R but grabbed second place on lap four of the 18-lap race and was able to ease clear for a safe runner-up finish.

"It was an awesome race for us and we were able to protect our points lead," he said. "After I got into second place I noticed my gap to third was getting bigger and I thought I should calm down. I have to think about the championship and I want to save some energy for the Superbike race later."

Szoke had also qualified second in the Pro Sport Bike class, just 0.387 secs. off the top spot. He was one of only two racers to top the previous class record in qualifying.

"The bike is really good," he said after the session. "Every time out it gets a little better and we're faster than we were going here last year."

While Szoke consolidated his position at the top of the table in both Pro classes, his young teammate Alex Welsh saw his Maritime weekend come to an early end when he suffered a big crash near the end of Saturday morning's Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike practice session.

The 21-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont. suffered a big highside exiting turn three on his final lap of the session. He was taken to hospital with hip and back pain, and although initial x-rays revealed no broken bones he was badly bruised and elected not to race on Sunday.

"It's frustrating because we were coming off a couple of good rounds," said last year's winner of the HJC Pro Rookie of the Year award. "Nothing appears to be broken so I'll go home, get some physio and be ready for the final round at Shannonville.

"I guess I got on the gas pretty hard coming out of the corner. The back end got loose and that was it."

Welsh had come into the AMP weekend third in the Pro Sport Bike standings and fourth in Superbike points. He lost a position in the Sport Bike class, where he has 178 points and dropped to sixth in Superbike with 145 points.

Brett McCormick kept his hopes of claiming his first Parts Canada Superbike Championship alive with a convincing win in round six of the series, sponsored by Pro Cycle and the Atlantic Suzuki Dealers, at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Sunday.

The Saskatoon rider led 21 of 22 laps around the 2.56km (1.6-mile), 11-turn track to take his third victory of the season aboard the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 and gain 10 points on series leader Jordan Szoke.

Szoke placed second riding the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R, 5.420 secs. behind McCormick and now has 296 points in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings to McCormick’s 282 heading into the final round at Shannonville Motorsport Park on the Labour Day weekend. A race win is worth 50 points.

“The first couple of laps were pretty exciting,” said McCormick, who took the lead from Szoke in turn two on the second lap. “I got a great start but Jordan’s was a little bit better. We used the softer compound tires and I wanted to check out early in the race and manage the gap from there.”

McCormick completed the race in 26 minutes, 13.8 seconds for an average speed of 134.818 km/h.

Clint McBain of Cochrane, Alta. finished third on the Suzuki Dealers /
Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Truro, N.S.’s Brian Blaauwendraat placed a career high fourth riding the Pro Cycle / Atlantic Honda Dealers Honda CBR600RR.

McCormick had qualified on pole and broken the track record on Saturday but was beaten off the line by Szoke, who started alongside him on the front row. Once in the lead the 17-year-old Suzuki rider was able to open a gap to Szoke and set the race’s fastest lap, a 1:07.539 on his fourth tour.

Szoke maintained a safe second place to maintain his bid for a record fourth Parts Canada Superbike title and a record-tying sixth career national championship.

“I really think that Kawasaki gave me a great motorcycle but I had to ride a little smart and conservative today,” said the 30-year-old points leader. “I wish I could have gone a little harder for the win but this championship means so much to me. It’s all I think about.”

McBain suffered a poor start and was sixth at the end of the opening lap. But by lap two he was up to fourth and he passed Blaauwendraat for third two laps later.

“I didn’t have it for Brett today but it seemed like I kept closing in on Jordan then making little mistakes,” said McBain, who maintained third place in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings. “It’s nice to be back on the podium, especially out here.”

The 24-year-old Blaauwendraat had delighted the partisan crowd by qualifying on the front row on Saturday.

He ran as high as third in the race before being passed by McBain and then Steve Crevier, but he regained fourth when Crevier crashed his Deeley Racing Powered By Buell / Buell 1125R in turn nine on lap 15.

“Everything was great but I was getting a little tired,” he admitted. “On this track you’re working the whole time. Clint was a little far off and I knew I couldn’t catch him.”

Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ont. took fifth on the Nelson Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 and Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Crevier recovered from his fall to take sixth.

Erick Beausejour (Beausejour Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000), Martin Grande (Suzuki Sport Collette Suzuki GSX-R600), Ross Millson (RMP Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000) and Franklyn Dominguez (Seamont Brokerage Kawasaki ZX-10R) completed the top 10 of an attrition filled race.

Kevin Lacombe of Granby, Que. started third on the Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R1 but crashed in turn four on lap two. Four laps later the same spot claimed Jodi Christie on the Honda Powerhouse Dealers of Ontario / Roz-Gar Racing Honda CBR600RRwhile he was running a strong sixth. Neither rider was injured.

In other action at AMP, McCormick closed to within 16 points of Szoke in the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike standings with his third win of the year on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Szoke was second aboard his Kawasaki ZX-6R, 7.347 secs. behind McCormick and heads to Shannonville with 300 points to the 284 of McCormick.

Lacombe placed third on a Yamaha YZF-R6 and moved up to third in points ahead of Canadian Kawasaki Motors rider Alex Welsh of Uxbridge, Ont., who was unable to race after badly bruising his back and right hip in a Saturday practice fall.

Keene, Ont.’s Christie finished seventh aboard his Honda CBR600RR and took over the lead of the HJC Pro Rookie of the Year standings from Coaldale, Alta.’s Royce McLean, who crashed his Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R6. McLean was taken to IWK Health Centre in Halifax with an undetermined right leg injury.

Szoke is aiming for a fourth straight championship in the Pro Sport Bike class.

Cody Matechuk of Cochrane, Alta. took his fourth win in five races in Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike and all but clinched the title. Riding the Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 Matechuk finished 2.473 secs. ahead of his closest title rival, Sebastien Tremblay on the A. Perusse Kawasaki / Kawasaki ZX-6R. He leads the Longueuil, Que. racer by 44 points, 263-219.

St-Colomban, Que.’s Raphael Archambault scored his fourth straight Suzuki SV650 National Cup victory and heads to the season finale 42 points clear of his nearest rival in the championship, Brantford, Ont.’s Rob Busby. Archambault edged Busby by 0.197 secs. for the win at AMP on Sunday.

The Honda CBR125R Challenge race saw a spectacular three-way scrap between Bodhi Edie, Karl Robitaille and Steven Nickerson. Edie took the win with a bold double draft move on the back straight and held off Robitaille and Nickerson at the line. The three were covered by 0.168 secs.

Hamilton, Ont.’s Nickerson now leads Edie, from Warman, Sask. by 26 points in the class standings, 359-333 heading to the final round.

Action from Atlantic Motorsport Park can be seen on TSN HD and TSN in a one-hour program on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT). The show will be repeated on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 4:00 a.m. (EDT). The races can also be seen in Quebec on RDS. Please check local listings for dates and times.

TORONTO, Ont. - Fresh off a sweep of the doubleheader at Mosport International Raceway, Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory rider Jordan Szoke will try to extend his lead in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings at round six of the series at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, N.S. this weekend.

The Brantford, Ont. rider comes into the penultimate round of the 2009 season with a 25-point lead in the standings and in an excellent position to win an unprecedented fourth straight national Superbike title and record-tying sixth career crown.

Szoke has three Superbike victories on the 2.56km (1.6-mile) AMP circuit, including one last year on the venerable Ninja ZX-10R.

"It's going to be a tough race and the other guys are all flying right now," said the 30-year-old Szoke. "I have to stay as close to the front as possible and not take any unnecessary risks. The start will be the most important thing - getting a good launch and settling in early."

Szoke also feels his excellent physical conditioning could come into play in the race over the tight and technical track.

"It can get hot and humid at ‘Shubie'," he said. "The Carousel is about the only place you have time to pull off a tear-off. The rest of the track you're giving it everything you got. It's a tough place."

Szoke also heads to Nova Scotia with a 27-point lead in his bid for a fourth straight Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike Championship with the all new Ninja ZX-6R. He has three wins this year and has qualified fastest in every race but one on the bike.

"The Sport Bike times will be really impressive," he said. "It's a pretty awesome bike and I'm pretty sure our race pace will surprise a lot of people."

Szoke's Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory team-mate Alex Welsh is riding a wave of momentum coming to AMP. The 21-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont. earned his first career national Superbike podium with a third-place finish at Mosport on his Ninja ZX-10R and is now fourth in the Parts Canada Superbike standings.

"The Superbike is coming along pretty well and I was pleased with Mosport," said the second-year Pro rider, who is in his first season on a Superbike. "I was at the shop a couple of times over the past couple of weeks talking with my crew chief Jeremy Sharrard and we've got a couple of ideas for this weekend.

"It's one of those tough races and you want the bike to be compliant. The easier the bike is to ride the better. You need it to get you through the laps consistently."

Welsh is now third in the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike standings following two finishes on the box at Mosport, including a runner-up result behind Szoke to give the Canadian Kawasaki Motors team an impressive 1-2 with the Ninja ZX-6R.

"I can't say enough about the new bike and now we're at the point where I think I, the bike and the team deserve to be," Welsh said. "I'm looking forward to the last two rounds."

Practice at Atlantic Motorsport Park opens Friday, August 7 with qualifying scheduled for both the Parts Canada Superbike and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike classes on Saturday August 8.

The 18-lap Pro Sport Bike race is set to launch at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, August 9 with the 22-lap Superbike race to follow at 3:00 p.m.

We recently came across a video of Japanese rider, Ryuichi Kiyonari racing around a very wet track that we had to share. The announcers aren't talking English, so I can only imagine what they're saying. Probably some emphatic talk about how incredible it is that Kiyonari is keeping the bike upright punctuated with incredulous expletives. Or maybe that's just me!

He's seriously motoring, and sliding around the track on his 1000cc superbike like it was a dirt tracker. Impressive to say the least:

Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Ruben Xaus underwent a successful operation on his right femur at the Centro Medico Teknon hospital in Barcelona yesterday and is already looking forward to starting his physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The operation was carried out by surgeons Dr Miquel Llobet and Dr Miguel Sales and involved the insertion of three screws into the femur and went as smoothly as possible. Ruben was discharged from hospital today and will begin his physiotherapy this week at a sports clinic and rehabilitation centre not far from Playa de Aro, north of Barcelona.

Ruben
Everything has worked so efficiently. I arrived at the hospital yesterday morning and the doctors were already waiting for me. The operation went very well and I had three screws put into my femur and twenty-four hours later they told me I could leave! I want to thank Miquel Llobet and Miguel Sales for doing a great job and all the medical team for looking after me so well.

I am going to stay in an apartment in Playa de Aro, near the beach, but also because it is very close to where I will be doing my physiotherapy and rehabilitation. At the moment I am on crutches, because I am not allowed to put any weight on my right leg, but I can sit down normally and get about OK. I can start swimming almost straightway and physiotherapy very soon. I am in no pain and I am really looking forward to getting fit and back on my bike again.

At Brno, our bike was working so well and it was easy to ride, so it was a big shame I crashed. I think the reason I hurt myself was because the gravel had not been raked over and the recent rain had made some of the ridges as hard as concrete. Hitting one of those was what did the damage, otherwise I would’ve just walked away from the crash without a problem.

It’s good that we have a bit of a break before the next race, but I’m already looking forward to being back at the track. I want to say thank you to the whole team for all their good wishes and tell them to have a good holiday and then get my bikes ready for my return.

Troy
It’s good to hear that Ruben’s operation went well, and that he’s in such good spirits. Fortunately we’ve got a bit of a break before the next race so he’ll have time to start his physio without any pressure. I don’t know when he’ll come back, but I’m sure it will be as quickly as he can. In the meantime the garage will be a much quieter place, but I’m sure it will not be long before the team hear from him.

On an overcast day with the Leamington Fairgrounds half mile track in excellent condition, Deeley Harley-Davidson/ Clare's Harley-Davidson of Niagara sponsored Donald Taylor totally dominated the first long track event on the Canadian Motorcycle Association 2009 flat track schedule.

The packed grandstand erupted in a boisterous cheer as Taylor took the lead through turns three and four on lap one of the fifteen lap National Championship final. “I had a kind of rough start,” the five time National Champion explained. “Both Jon Cornwell and John Parker beat me off the line but I ran them down on the back straight and passed them both in three and four. I knew once I got by them I’d be gone. The Harley-Davidson XR750 was running so strong and we had the set up perfect. I honestly don’t remember being so comfortable and confident in a race, I didn’t even raise a sweat.”

By the time the half way flags were shown Taylor was already beginning to lap slower riders and his torrid race pace had him lapping over half of the eighteen rider field. Those same lapped riders also caused some problems for the speedy champ. “In the final four laps I was passing a lot of guys and they were all over the place using different lines that always seemed to conflict with mine. I had a really close call with a straw bale right on the track and I don’t know how I didn’t crash.”

Post race Taylor was jubilant stating, “That was a blast, this thing (his HD XR750) is an absolute rocket, it worked so well and just went where I wanted it to, it was perfect. This was a perfect tune up for Hagerstown, Maryland next weekend. I feel pretty confident I can do well down there and qualify for the show again.”

This performance in Leamington has put Don in a good stead towards what he hopes will be his sixth consecutive Canadian Dirt Track Championship and accompanying number one plate. His existing score of five plates in a row has already established a Canadian record firmly confirming his status of the best dirt track racer this country has ever produced.

For further info on Don Taylor, please refer to his website: www.dontaylorracing.com

Image courtesy Don Taylor Racing.

The work done away from the track, together with the recent successful Italian tests, all added up to Brno being the best weekend of the season to date. Troy finished a superb fifth in race one, after leading the first couple of laps, and followed that up with a tenth in race two, despite tyre problems.

Ruben had qualified alongside Troy on the second row of the grid and was looking forward to him and Troy challenging the leaders in both the 20-lap races. But, a crash on the opening lap of the first race put paid to any chance of glory and left Ruben in the medical centre. After X-rays, it was discovered that he had broken the neck of his right femur. His right leg and hip area were put in plaster, to keep everything in a stable condition and prevent any further damage. Ruben will fly to hospital in Barcelona, where a specialist will assess the situation and decide what course of action is required.

Max Biaggi (Aprilia) won the first race, after Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) took out Ben Spies (Yamaha) after just four laps, with Honda team mates Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea in second and third. Spies won the second race and closed the gap on series leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) to just seven points. Second was Biaggi, with Fabrizio third.

Troy - Race 1: 5th, Race 2: 10th
I’m generally pretty happy with how the weekend has gone and it’s been good to be consistently in the top seven or eight in every session and also qualify for final Superpole. I feel so much more comfortable on the bike now and don’t feel as worn out afterwards as I have been. The recent tests have helped us a lot and it’s good to know that we are going in the right direction and it’s also good to know that there’s more to come. It’s a shame that Ruben crashed because I’m sure that he would’ve been right up there in both races. He is as happy with the rideability of the bike as I am and both of us are really beginning to enjoy ourselves.

Ruben - Race 1: DNF, Race 2: DNS
That was a bit pity because I have been so happy about the bike this weekend because it has been so much easier to ride. Finally we were getting somewhere and then I crash! I guess that maybe the tyre was a bit too hard and a bit too cool. I didn’t highside, I just fell off. I was sliding along OK and than I hit some deep gravel and that spun my right leg round and that’s when the damage was done. I want to be positive and say that at least the injury has happened when we are about to have five weeks or so off and that will give me time to recover. I can’t wait to get back on my bike and carry on with the recent improvements.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
Firstly I would like to say that I hope it will not be too long before Ruben is able to join us again. I hope he is in not too much pain and I hope that he will heal quickly. The doctor told us that it is not a complicated break, so we will keep our fingers crossed for a speedy recovery. Ruben’s crash does not hide the fact that this weekend has been very positive for us and we are all happy about the recent improvements. We achieved our goal of a top five finish and, more importantly, we know which direction to take now. It’s good to see Troy and Ruben smiling this weekend and I’m really pleased that Troy is happy with the bike.

Results
Race 1: 1 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia), 2 C Checa (ESP-Honda), 3 Rea (GBR-Honda), 4 Byrne (GBR-Ducati), 5 Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), 6 Smrz (CZE-Ducati), Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) DNF,

Race 2: 1 Spies (USA-Yamaha), 2 Biaggi, 3 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), 4 Rea, 5 C Checa, 6 Haga (JPN-Ducati), 10 Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) DNS,

Points: 1 Haga 326, 2 Spies 319, 3 Fabrizio 273, 4 Rea 206, 5 Biaggi 200, 6 Haslam 180, 16 Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 53, 17 Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 50,

Although the threat of inclement weather is never far off when you are at Mosport, the Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. racing team, powered by Buell Motorcycle Company, remained optimistic throughout Friday’s busy, and sometimes damp, qualifying sessions. They chipped away with set-up and bike prep, making slow but steady progress as they readied the BuellTM 1125RTM bikes for rounds four and five of the Parts Canada Superbike double header weekend at Mosport’s fast and challenging 4-km road race facility. The superbike effort of Steve Crevier from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, who earned another shot at the Pirelli Superpole during the morning’s early qualifying sessions was noteworthy and created an air of expectation within the enthusiastic Crevier fans. With a single-lap qualifying run timed at 1:23.951 seconds and as one of only two riders who actually accomplished a faster run during the session, Crevier earned himself the eighth-fastest time out of the top ten riders, translating that into a third-row start for both of the weekend’s superbike races.

With dark clouds looming in the distance on Saturday, 35 superbike riders lined up on the full grid for the Parts Canada Superbike feature in round four of the Mosport double-header weekend. With his good run in Friday’s Pirelli Superpole qualifying round, BuellTM 1125RTM bike-mounted Steve Crevier started from the outside of row three for what was to be a 20-lap contest. When the starting light flashed green, Crevier was off the line quickly, and a six-rider freight train pulled ahead of the rest of the field. Riders at both ends of the pack exchanged positions throughout the race and Crevier found himself in a three-way battle with the GSX-R1000s of Scott Rupert and Matt McBride. The riders shuffled positions several times with Crevier roaring onto the front straight in fifth position when the predictable rain started to fall, bringing out the red flag and an early conclusion of the race. “That was a tough one,” commented Crevier after the race. “They get in behind me and they draft me up the straight, but then when they pull out in front, they go slower and I can get them back again.”

Saturday’s round four of the Pro Sportbike class had all three BuellTM 1125RTM bike riders in action, and the team had their first opportunity to showcase the results of all of their hard work in qualifying. The BuellTM bikes were well-represented, starting in rows two, three, and five for the first real test of the weekend. The 14-lap race unfolded as expected, with several dramatic battles within the race itself. Crevier had his hands full with a pair of youngsters, while behind him, Dave Estok was embroiled in a seven-rider battle with the still-injured Darren James drafting a short distance back. Cheered on by a passionate crowd, Crevier exchanged positions with Honda-mounted Jodi Christie several times and finally put him in his place with a strong push at the end to gain fourth, just seconds shy of a podium finish. Estok managed to stay at the front of the next pack of riders and earned a very commendable 11th with James hanging on for 13th. “I tried running with someone in front of me,” commented an exhausted Dave Estok after the race. “But I started to get arm pump and I was having trouble using the brake so I only used it when I really had to.”

The good qualifying position earned on Friday did little to help at Sunday’s Superbike final for the Parts Canada Superbike round five action. Due to technical problems with the “A” bike, Crevier soldiered on and got the most out of his second BuellTM 1125RTM bike. Battling weekend-long front-end push and tire problems, Crevier still managed exhibit a solid effort, placing the BuellTM bike into a creditable ninth place finish after a race-long battle with Scott Rupert and ProStar rider Michael Taylor. “It’s interesting because we’ve certainly got the power down the straight but when I get the bike straightened out, the other bikes are a little lighter and they can get on the gas a little earlier,” commented Crevier post-race. “But it’s work in progress and we are learning more and more about the bike at each round.”

Sunday’s Sportbike final was a barn burner and gave Steve Crevier a really good idea of just what could be accomplished on the BuellTM 1125RTM bike when things go right. A good start off the line put Crevier in a solid position to take command of the race early on and it was not very long until he rounded out the last corner to pull out into the lead and bring an ecstatic crowd to its feet. Cheers erupted along the front straight as Crevier crested turn ten and shot into the lead. The dramatic battle continued for several laps and Crevier held on to first and second position until the later stages of the contest when he dropped back and finished the race in fourth. It was another great effort for the BuellTM ace. Behind him, teammates Dave Estok and Darren James had their own battles waging but Estok finished the race in ninth and James was closely behind him in twelfth. Crevier said after the race, “We popped up into the lead early on when the tires were sticky, but those guys are all on Pirelli SC2 rears, and I know that so I was trying to get as much grip in the beginning because I know it’s going to fade towards the end. I drafted past and I think I did lead on the last lap going up the back straight but I did have a problem turning in at eight. They were drafting behind me and as soon as I sat up they were past.” Exuding the typical Crevier sassiness, he added “But don’t anyone worry, I will stick to my promise and bring my BuellTM 1125RTM [bike] into the box. I just like to create a little drama around it for my beloved fans.”

And once again, because we can, we will take his word for it.

For further details and directions to Round 6 at the Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, on August 6, 2009, please refer to: www.cdnsuperbike.com.

Brno (Czech Republic) Sunday 26th July: a day of highs and lows for the Ducati Xerox squad but the day finishes positively, Noriyuki Haga maintains the championship lead while Michel Fabrizio consolidates his third position.

Michel Fabrizio, fast all weekend, was expected to finish on the podium twice at Brno today and, if it hadn’t been for a costly mistake in Race 1, that’s probably how it would have turned out. He made up for the DNF of the first race somewhat with a third place finish in Race 2. Noriyuki was a hero today, riding two great races, in spite of his injuries. He had suffered in every session due to the fractured scapula sustained at Donington Park, and even he himself said it would be hard to finish in the points zone today but he did just that, in both Race 1, finishing eighth, and Race 2, taking sixth position.

In Race 1 Michel was immediately up in the leading group, and gained one position in each of the first four laps to find himself second, behind Spies, by the end of the fourth lap. In trying to get past Ben on the subsequent lap, Michel took the inside line on the final corner, losing unfortunately the front and the bike, and causing the blameless Yamaha rider to fall too. An unfortunate result for the two championship contenders who walked away unhurt. In the second race Michel was again one of the protagonists, up front once more with Spies and Biaggi. A fight for second position ensued between the two Roman riders, allowing Spies to gain an advantage. At a certain point Michel realised it would be difficult to catch the two leaders and he accepted third place.

Noriyuki rode two of the bravest races of his career today, getting straight to work in Race 1, and making up three positions during the opening lap alone. With several riders crashing out, team-mate Fabrizio included, Nitro-Nori progressed up to eighth place by the seventh lap, and spent the remainder of the race battling it out against Smrz, Tamada and Haslam. Making it past fellow Japanese rider Tamada on lap sixteen, Noriyuki crossed the finish line in a worthy eighth position, taking eight points and thus extending his championship lead to 22 points over Spies. Doctor Corbascio of the Clinica Mobile continued to administer painkillers and injections to the sore shoulder during the day, doing everything possible to enable Nori to complete the race distance. In Race 2 Haga made up six positions by making a strong start and, by passing both Byrne and Corser, he then remained in sixth position for the remainder of the race, a few seconds off the pace of the leaders, and far enough ahead of the chasing pack to be safe.

The 10 points earned in race 2 mean that Haga maintains his advantage in the overall classification, with 326 points to Spies’ 319. Fabrizio holds third position with 273 points. Ducati leads the constructors championship with a fifty point advantage over Yamaha.

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 2nd)
“I am very sorry for what happened in Race 1. It was my fault, I need to stay calmer, what more can I say? Before the crash I saw that Ben was breaking early at htat point of the track, so I thought I could get past him there. We’re fighting for a world title so I am angry with myself but at least neither of us were badly hurt. We made up for it to some extent in race 2, Ben more than me. I did all I could to stay with Ben and Max but they were too fast today; in fact the pace of the Aprilia, still in the development phase, is a bit scary with a view to next season. Anyway, I hold the third position overall and after the summer break I’ll continue with the fight for the title.”

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 8th, Race 2 – 1st)
“I am not very happy but we have worked well this weekend despite the difficulties. The fractured scapula prevented me from performing as I hoped to. Having said that, I gained valuable points and find myself still in the lead, seven points ahead of Ben. I want to thank Doctor Corbascio and the Clinica Mobile doctors and also Rok, my trainer, for their help and support in these weeks. I also thank my team and Ducati for doing all they could to make me more comfortable on the bike and make the bike easier to ride. In the circumstances it’s a good result. Now I can go home to Japan with a smile on my face and there I will get down to some serious training to be in top form in time for Nurburgring, a track that I like a lot and where I hope I can rebuild my advantage.”

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Checa (Honda) 3. Rea (Honda) …. Race 2 - 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 326; 2. Spies (Yamaha) 319; 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 273; 4. Rea (Honda) 206; 5. Biaggi (Aprilia) 200; 6. Haslam (Honda) 180. Manufacturers – Ducati 412; Yamaha 362; Honda 306; Aprilia 207; Suzuki 133; BMW 87; Kawasaki 53

Brno (Czech Republic) Saturday 25th July: it was a hard-fought Superpole for the World Superbike riders this afternoon on the Brno racetrack and, having been fast in all of the sessions so far, Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio continued to be a protagonist in today’s spectacle, pushing hard with his Ducati 1198 throughout the three mini-Superpole sessions to secure himself a front row position, second, on tomorrow’s grid.

In this morning’s second qualifying session, and on a cooler track (25°C), the Ducati Xerox riders continued to fight, Michel Fabrizio in close competition against the other front-runners and Noriyuki in a personal battle with the pain in his left scapula. Nine of the riders who qualified for Superpole managed to improve on the times they set yesterday, but Michel and Nori were not among them; Michel’s fastest lap yesterday was enough for him to conclude qualifying very near the top of the timesheets, in fourth position, less than a tenth of a second from the three fastest riders Biaggi (Aprilia), Spies (Yamaha) and local man Smrz on the Ducati 1198 of privateers Team Guandalini. Noriyuki continued to experience the same problems as yesterday, suffering pain especially during braking, meaning that he was unable to improve on yesterday’s performance and just qualified for the afternoon’s Superpole in eighteenth position.

Both before and during the free practice Noriyuki was seen by Doctor Corbascio of the Clinica Mobile who administered a local anesthetic to the muscles around the scapula. The treatment had some effect and in the first phase of the Superpole Noriyuki went straight out on a qualifying tyre and was able to register a very fast time, passing easily into the second Superpole session. Unfortunately stage two was tougher for the Japanese rider and at the end of the twelve minute session, despite having lapped on the second available qualifier, Haga was unable to climb higher than fourteenth on the leader board, thus concluding his Superpole. Michel meanwhile, very much at ease on the Brno track, passed without difficulty from the first to the second and third mini-Superpoles, exiting in the final phase on the second qualifying tyre and lapping fast enough to conclude in second position overall, just 0.082 of a second behind pole-sitter Ben. Ben and Michel will share the front row tomorrow with Max Biaggi (Aprilia) in third and Jonathan Rea (Honda) in fourth.

Michel Fabrizio 1m58.9s

“The weekend is going very well and I’ve been one of the fastest in every session; I just hope this is also the case tomorrow! Today’s Superpole was great, a very close fight with me once again very close to Ben, missing out on the pole by so little to him. I’m feeling confident about the races because we completed a good long-run this afternoon and I’m very happy with the set-up of my bike. It’ll be a three-way duel tomorrow I guess and I hope to make a strong start because Ben and Max will surely be up there. I’m just sorry that Nori is missing from this group this weekend.”

Noriyuki Haga 2m00.2s

“It’s not been easy, the pain is worse than yesterday. We made some changes overnight to the bike but to be honest they didn’t make much difference and the pain is constant, worse when braking. Before the free practice Doctor Corbascio gave me an injection to kill some of the pain in my shoulder but it was still hurting me during the Superpole. I pushed as hard as I could in the first two sessions but it wasn’t hard enough and I finished 14th. I’ll go back to the Clinica tomorrow morning to see what we can do before the races but I know that tomorrow will be tough.”

TIMES (Superpole): 1. Spies (Yamaha) 1m58.8s; 2. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m58.9s; 3. Biaggi (Ducati) 1m59.0s; 4. Rea (Honda) 1m59.7s; 5. Byrne (Ducati) 1m59.7s; 6. Corser (BMW) 2m00.0s; ….. 14. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 2m00.2s

Munich. The tenth round of this year’s Superbike World Championship takes place at the Autodromo Brno circuit on 26th July and both Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Ruben Xaus and Troy Corser are eager to find out if the results of the recent Imola tests are going to bear fruit. As expected, the season has not been an easy for the new team but the whole crew are looking forward to Brno and hopeful of a return to their early season form. The sweeping nature of the 5.403 kilometre track should be better suited to the S 1000 RR and Ruben and Troy would like to finish the last race before the summer break with good results.

Ruben
Our recent tests have gone well and the bike is definitely working better now. It is more rideable and I am much more happy about the prospect of racing it in Brno. The track is a good track and I think that all riders enjoy it a lot. Although there are some slow corners, it is a flowing track and I think that our bike will go well there. It has been a long, hard season so far, but I feel positive that Troy and I can do well in Brno. Afterwards we have five weeks or so before the next race, so it would be great to leave Brno with some good results.

Troy
After the Imola tests, I feel that the bike is more easy to ride and the things we tried are definitely in the right direction. So I am looking forward to Brno because the track should suit us and we should be able to get something positive out of the races. It’s not been an easy season so far and my injuries have not helped, but my hand is no problem now and my right shoulder is nearly fully OK. I like Brno and am hoping that we can leave there with two good results and then enjoy our summer break.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
We saw some positive signs in our recent tests and are very hopeful that Brno will be a good event for us. Certainly, Ruben and Troy have given us very positive and encouraging feedback about what we tried in the recent tests and now we have to see what will happen in Brno. The track should be good for us and we are all looking forward to a positive weekend before the summer break. The team have worked hard and long all year and I think we all need a bit of break, some time to rest and consider all the things that have happened since we began this great adventure. This is the hardest year in WSBK history and the challenge is very tough, but all of us are happy to be in this big fight and be sure we will do the very best we can.

2008 results

Race 1: 1 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 2 Troy Corser (AUS-Yamaha), 3 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), Ruben Xaus (ESP-Ducati) DNF

Race 2: 1 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 2 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), 3 Biaggi (ITA-Ducati), 4 Troy Corser (AUS-Yamaha), Ruben Xaus (ESP-Ducati) DNF

Hamilton, ON’s Steven Nickerson regained the points lead of the Honda CBR125R Challenge with a win on Sunday and a second place finish on Saturday at this past weekend's Parts Canada Superbike doubleheader round at Mosport International Raceway. Pro Superbike racer Ross Millson rebounded after a blown engine during qualifying with a solid effort in both feature races.

RMP Racing’s Nickerson got his first taste of Mosport’s high-speed 3.9km road course during a mid-week trackday. In addition to getting up to speed at Mosport, Nickerson was also on hand for Wednesday’s Parts Canada Superbike Doubleheader Weekend media conference at the Hard Rock Café in Toronto.

Nickerson’s ability to adapt to unfamiliar tracks was once again evident during Thursday afternoon’s practice session where he posted the fastest lap time of the day with a 2:03.796. He would better this time with a 2:03.047 in Friday morning’s prequalifying practice session and would eventually earn pole position during Friday afternoon’s qualifier.

Round 6 of the Honda CBR125R Challenge was an entertaining battle from start to finish. Bodhi Edie of Warman, SK got an excellent start off the line. By the first corner Nickerson was in hot pursuit and challenged Edie for the lead.

The top two riders in the class would take turns passing each other for the lead for the remainder of the race and would eventually come down to a thrilling photo finish at the line. Edie would take the win by 0.020 seconds over Nickerson. Ryan Appenrodt of Quesnel, BC came out on top of a battle for third.

"Bodhi and I had no idea who won," said Nickerson. “We found out that Bodhi had won once we got back on the front straight.”

Edie would now lead Nickerson by 11 points going into Sunday’s second half of the doubleheader weekend.

Sunday was originally forecasted to be sunny however rain would present an additional challenge for the 7th Round of the Honda CBR125R Challenge series.

Sunday's start and opening laps were almost a carbon copy of Edie's and Nickerson's spectacular duel on Saturday. The top two riders in the title chase once again battled at the front in Sunday's race however just past the half way point Edie went down when he lost the front end in turn 9 in the partially wet conditions.

“I had passed Bodhi in corner eight” Nickerson commented. “I couldn't hear him anymore and when I looked back he wasn't there. I was really glad to see that he was okay.”

Aboard his #661 Canadian Motorsports Expo / Inside Motorcycles / Motovan supported Honda CBR 125 R Nickerson crossed the finish line 5.854 seconds ahead of Quesnel, BC’s Ryan Appenrodt while Karl Robitaille of Ste-Julie, QC placed third. With the win on Sunday Nickerson now leads Edie by 39 points.

Weather and variable track conditions were not the only challenge the RMP Racing team faced this weekend.

RMP Racing's Millson put in some outstanding lap times during Friday's Pro Superbike qualifying session when the engine in his #39 Canadian Motorsports Expo / Inside Motorcycles / Tri-City Cycle Suzuki GSX-R1000 decided to let go.

Before the engine went south Millson was charging hard to secure a top ten spot for the Pirelli SuperPole.

“I just can't seem to catch a break this season” said Millson. “One of the series officials put it best saying '...some years you're the windshield and other years you are the bug.' ”

Millson and his crew immediately began calling around for an engine and was able to secure a last minute replacement. Hours on the road and a late night were ahead of the dedicated RMP Racing crew to be ready for the Saturday morning prerace practice session.

Exhausted, yet relieved that he could still race, Millson ventured out onto the legendary Mosport road course for Saturday’s morning practice session. Millson opted to bring the bike back in after only a few laps to address a minor issue with the clutch.

As race time approached for the 4th Round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship so did the clouds. From 12th on the grid, Millson launched off the line and immediately jumped into the eleventh spot.

Millson made the most of the power available from his replacement engine. However the lack of time to test and tune became apparent as he began to fall back. The skies opened up just after halfway through the race triggering a red flag. Due to concerns over the safety of the competitors the race was called complete with Millson having to settle for a hard fought 15th place finish.

On Sunday, the second half of Mosport's Doubleheader weekend, Millson once again launched his red, white and black #39 Suzuki GSX-R1000 off the line from the twelfth spot on the grid. Millson challenged Jodi Christie and Royce McLean for 15th spot for a number of laps and would eventually cross the finish line in 17th.

“We were able to compete in both rounds this weekend and I put in the fastest lap time I have ever run on this track” said Millson. “I have to congratulate Steven on his two podiums and I can't thank Mark, Blaine, Sabrina and Evan enough for going way above and beyond the call of duty this weekend!”

The RMP Racing paddock was very busy throughout the weekend. Many sponsors dropped by to wish the team well including; Jesse Lauder from Motovan, Derek Rockel from Inside Motorcycles, Adrian Baird from GMD Computrack plus representatives from Infinet Designs and the Turn 2 Sportbike School.

Team posters and temporary Inside Motorcycles tattoos were a big hit with spectators who also picked up the Parts Canada Superbike Championship Official Series Program and the latest issue of Inside Motorcycles magazine.

The entire RMP Racing team would like to thank their friends, family members and sponsors for their continued support. A big 'thank you' must also go to the dedicated staff at Mosport International Raceway, PMP organizers, corner workers and safety crew for making the annual Mosport Doubleheader Weekend a phenomenal celebration of motorcycles and racing each and every year.

Up next for the RMP Racing team is Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS Aug. 7-9.

RMP Racing is grateful for the support from team sponsors; Inside Motorcycles, Zox Helmets, Motovan, 2010 Canadian Motorsports Expo, Infinet Designs, Turn 2 Sportbike School, Essential Image, MotoConcepts and CRC Racewear. Additionally Ross Millson would like to thank; Tri-City Cycle and Sport (Suzuki), Race Tech, Vortex, Hindle, G.M.D Computrack Ontario and Niagara Powersports.

Salminen ups his pace in Mexico.

Munich. Juha Salminen, BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s former seven-time World Enduro Champion, has secured his best performances so far this season with a double Enduro 2 class result at the WEC GP of Mexico, held in Valle de Bravo. Competing as the team’s one and only rider at the series’ only non-European event, Juha, who had also placed as runner-up on both days at the GP of Finland, was notably more competitive than at any other WEC event so far this year and placed just 32 seconds behind eventual class winner Johnny Aubert on day one.

Recording the fastest time in the Enduro 2 class around the Friday night Super Test Juha headed into the first full day of competition confident of challenging for the E2 class win. Going on to win the opening extreme test Juha held the E2 class lead at the end of the first lap but frustratingly crashed on the second motocross test, losing around 20 seconds. Riding well throughout the rest of the day Juha finished just over half-a-minute behind Johnny Aubert and in a well-deserved second position.

Although not quite able to win any of the second day’s special tests Juha again enjoyed good form finishing just a few seconds behind Aubert on each of the enduro and extreme special tests. Placing comfortably ahead of third placed rider Cristobal Guerrero from Spain Juha ended the day extremely pleased with his increased competitiveness.

Juha Salminen – Enduro 2 class:

“Although second isn’t where I or anyone in the team wants to be finishing I can’t be disappointed with the fact that I’ve been more competitive than at any other world championship race so far this year. It’s been a really good weekend. We’ve made some big improvements to my bike before the race and they worked really well during the race. We still have some work to do but things are coming together well. I crashed on the motocross test on the first day, which cost me some time, but generally I didn’t have any problems at all on either day. It’s been a very positive weekend and with more time to test ahead of the next WEC race I hope we can be even more competitive.”

Wolfgang Fischer – Team Manager:

“It’s been a very positive weekend for Juha and the team. Throughout both days Juha was more competitive than at previous WEC races, and for the first time he lead the E2 class for a complete lap – the first lap on day one. There is still some more work to do before Juha can battle for the class win throughout the day but things have taken a very positive forward step. Disappointingly Juha crashed on the first day, which didn’t help his performance. Without the crash he would have been really close to Johnny Aubert at the end of the day. On average Juha was losing half of one second per minute on the motocross test to Aubert. With more testing and training time we are hopeful that Juha can find the few extra seconds that he needs to fight for victory.”

2009 World Enduro Championship Grand Prix of Mexico

Day 1 - Enduro 2

1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.17:25.96; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.17:58.68; 3. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.18:29.14; 4. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 1.18:59.46; 5. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 1.19:42.20; 6. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 1.20:12.93; 7. Homero Diaz (KTM) 1.20:24.94; 8. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.21:01.49: 9. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 1.21:34.29; 10. Chris Birch (KTM) 1.22:08.77; 11. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 1.25:33.43; 12. Anuar Ruiz (Kawasaki) 1.27:01.25; 13. Patrick Garrahan (KTM) 1.27:11.60; 14. Jaime Garcia (KTM) 1.28:30.58; 15. Alejandro Sanchez (BMW) 1.29:05.49; 16. Jose Vanzzini (KTM) 1.30:22.46; 17. Javier Araya (BMW) 1.31:05.29; 18. Klaus Caballeros (KTM) 1.31:32.70; 19. Jeff O’Leary (KTM) 1.33:16.82; 20. Patrick Reyes (KTM) 1.36:33.19

Day 2 - Enduro 2

1.Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.21:29.11; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.22:12.33; 3. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 1.22:58.05; 4. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.23:16.51; 5. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.23:28.48; 6. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 1.24:01.26; 7. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 1.24:03.83; 8. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 1.25:18.84; 9. Homero Diaz (KTM) 1.25:37.59; 10. Chris Birch (KTM) 1.28:40.71; 11. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 1.28:57.29; 12. Mike Hartman (Husaberg) 1.29:33.87; 13. Patrick Garrahan (KTM) 1.31:17.57; 14. Jaime Garcia (KTM) 1.32:48.20; 15. Juan Reyes (KTM) 1.33:34.41; 16. Anuar Ruiz (Kawasaki) 1.34:22.58; 17. Jose Vanzzini (KTM) 1.35:15.89; 18. Javier Araya (BMW) 1.36:34.43; 19. Cusi Sanchez (BMW) 1.36:58.61; 20. Patrick Reyes (KTM) 1.38:23.88

Standings Enduro 2 (12 of 16 rds.).

1. Jonny Aubert (FRA), 300 pts
2. Juha Salminen (FIN), BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 225
3. Bartosz Oblucki (POL), 219
4. Joakim Ljunggren (SWE), 205
5. Rodrig Thain (FRA), 180
6. Cristobal Guerrero (ESP), 171
7. Alessandro Belometti (ITA), 150
8. Simo Kirssi (FIN), 131
9. Valtteri Salonen (FIN), 122
10. Fabrizio Dini (ITA), 91

Brno (Czech Republic), Tuesday 21st July: The Ducati Xerox Team has had nearly a month to recover since the last round at Donington Park last month, and Noriyuki Haga in particular was in need of the break, after suffering a dramatic crash during the second race of the UK’s only Superbike round in which he fractured the ulna bone in his right forearm and cracked his left scapula in three places. In the last three weeks, since leaving Derby City Hospital, Noriyuki has concentrated on intense physiotherapy sessions in order to be ready to return to the fray this coming weekend. Michel Fabrizio scored a podium finish in the UK but knows he can do better at upcoming Brno.

Former Ducati Xerox rider Troy Bayliss did the double at Brno last year on board the Ducati 1098 while Michel Fabrizio scored his best result of the 2008 season with a second and third place finish. Michel lists the track among his favourites, undoubtedly due to the fact that over the last six races he has finished on the podium five times, although he has still to score a win. The Italian rider also holds the record for the fastest lap, recorded with his Ducati 1098 at the Czech track in last year’s second race. Noriyuki has fared fairly well at Brno over the years and won a race there in 2005.

Last week the Ducati Xerox squad participated in an official two-day test session at Imola circuit, arranged by championship organisers Infront Sports. Noriyuki was of course not riding at the tests, but Michel took part and proved that Imola suits his style by being one of the fastest and easily the most consistent rider over the two days. The team were extremely satisfied and collated valuable data in preparation for September’s Imola race weekend.

Noriyuki Haga (1st in championship, 308 points)
Noriyuki is confident and knows that the Ducati performs at the Czech track, having witnessed Bayliss do the double on the 1098 in 2008.

“After the crash at Donington I've been doing a lot of physiotherapy in order to get back into shape as quickly as possible and in time for Brno. It’s a pity I couldn’t take part in the Imola testing as that would have been very useful but it was just too soon and it’s more important to be fit to race. I'm not sure that my arm and shoulder will be 100% by the weekend but I'm confident I'll be ready for the races and will fight to take as many points as possible.”

Haga’s Superbike form at Brno:
2008: Race 1 – 6th, Race 2 – 7th
2007: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 4th
2006: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 3rd
2005: Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 – winner


Michel Fabrizio (3rd in championship, 257 points)
Taking the results of the last three years into consideration, Michel has performed better and been more consistent at the Automotodrom Brno than any other Superbike rider.

“Brno is probably my favourite track on the calendar, mainly because it's the circuit where I've had most success! Since 2005 I’ve only failed to reach the podium once so that’s not a bad record but I know that this year I have some stiff competition. I will be looking for two more podium finishes, preferably a race win, this weekend as I need to do everything possible to close the gap between me, and Nori and Ben.”

Fabrizio’s Superbike form at Brno:
2008: Race 1 – 3rd, Race 2 – 2nd
2007: Race 1 – 6th, Race 2 – 3rd
2006: Race 1 – 3rd, Race 2 – 2nd


CIRCUIT DATA:

Country: Czech Republic
Name: Automotodrom Brno
Circuit length: 5.403 km
Pole position: left
Corners left: 6
Corners right: 8
Race distance: 20 laps = 108.060 km

LAP RECORDS: Fastest lap – Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1’59.979 (2008). Superpole – Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1'58.345 (2008).

2008 RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); 2. Corser (Yamaha); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); Race 2 – 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); 2. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); 3. Biaggi (Ducati)

Imola (Italy), Wednesday 15 July: Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), having made steady progress and some very fast laps throughout the day, waited until the final minutes of today’s official test session at the international circuit of Imola to exit for the final time, recording in the process the fastest lap time of the day, 1m49.1s.

The Ducati Xerox Team are taking part in the two-day official test session, organized by Infront Motor Sports, that opened today at the squad’s home track, the Autodromo Internazionale of Imola. Having not raced here since 2006, the Superbike circus will return to the circuit for the twelfth round of the 2009 championship on September 27th.

Noriyuki Haga, still recuperating from the recent incident at Donington Park, is not riding at Imola this week and continues with intense physiotherapy treatment in order to be ready to get back in the hot seat at next week’s tenth Superbike round in Brno.

Michel Fabrizio, who won the Superstock 1000 race at this track in 2003, got off to a great start today and he and his team were able to get a great deal of work done . The extreme heat, with track temperatures of around 60°C during the afternoon session, took its toll but the Ducati Xerox Team made consistent progress, trying different set-ups and working with the traction controls system. During the 265 minutes of Superbike track time, Michel clocked up 52 laps, but it was only in the final minutes of the late afternoon session that times really began to drop, as the temperature began to do the same. Five riders ducked under the 1m50s barrier, but it was Michel who was fastest today, with a best time of 1m49.1s, recorded for the very last lap that he made on track, seconds before the session’s end.

Also present at the track, as a guest of Ducati, was Tyson Beckford, the American top model who, having taken part in the Ducati DRE riding course at Misano this morning, wanted to pop in at Imola to say hello to Michel and the Ducati Xerox Team.

Michel Fabrizio – “I am happy but also pretty tired! Imola’s a track I really like, even though it still needs to be resurfaced. It’s in the same state as it was in 2006, but now has this new chicane which is causing some controversy. If they move the wall back as they say they will in time for the race it will at least lessen the danger. Anyway, back to today. We’ve been able to get a lot of useful work done, trying things that we haven’t had time to look out so far during the season. We’ve worked on set-ups and sorting out the traction control system. We didn’t try Pirelli’s new tyres until the end of the afternoon, and I only had time to try one, but it was the right one evidently as, with the drop in temperature later in the day, I was able to record the fastest time. There are only five races left now so we have to get serious and push harder than ever. The Imola race will be interesting, as we’ve seen a much stronger Honda outfit here today.”

Davide Tardozzi – “We’re extremely satisfied with Michel’s performance today, he’s worked very hard despite the difficult conditions. We’re sorry Nori could not participate too but right now it’s more important that he gets back in the best possible shape in time for next week’s Brno round. Noriyuki’s race engineer Ernesto Marinelli is here anyway to acquire important data prior to the September race.”

TIMES (Day 1): 1. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m49.1s; 2. Spies (Yamaha) 1m49.2s; 3. Rea (Honda) 1m49.6s; 4. Xaus (BMW) 1m49.8s; 5. Checa (Honda) 1m49.8s; 6. Byrne (Ducati) 1m50.3s; 7. Sykes (Yamaha) 1m50.4s; 8. Haslam (Honda) 1m50.5s

RMP Racing’s Ross Millson and Steven Nickerson are primed for a great weekend at Mosport International Raceway’s Doubleheader round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

After a challenging race out west at Calgary’s Race City Motorsports Park, Millson is looking forward to returning to Mosport to compete in Canada’s premier road racing series aboard his Inside Motorcycles / Tri-City Cycle & Sports / Motovan sponsored #39 Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“The doubleheader round at Mosport is always a highlight of the season for me” said Millson. “Not only do I get to enjoy twice the amount of track time on such a renowned and technical track, I’m also able to spend time with family who live in the area.”

Millson and Nickerson's pre-race weekend activities began last week when they sat down to talk with The Hamilton Spectator's Motorsports columnist, Tim Miller, to discuss Nickerson’s racing background and his season so far.

This past weekend Nickerson enjoyed taking his #661 RMP Racing / Canadian Motorsports Expo / Infinet Designs sponsored Honda CBR125R for a few laps around the streets of the Exhibition Place as part of a series of demonstration races at the Honda Indy Toronto.

Nickerson, who has already achieved four consecutive podium finishes in the Honda CB125R Challenge series this season, is not only eager to race at Mosport but to also take in as many of Mosport’s doubleheader festivities as possible.

This will be Nickerson’s first race on Mosport’s legendary 3.9km 10-turn road circuit.

“I’ll be looking to Ross for lots of advice on line choice and setup” said Nickerson. “Horsepower in my class is limited so I really have to make the most of the draft, corner speed and line choice to gain an advantage.

Courtesy of CRC Racwear, the RMP Racing crew will be sporting new pit crew shirts that now feature the 2010 Canadian Motorports Expo logo. The Canadian Motorsports Expo (CME) is where the RMP Racing’s season began last January and is proud to promote the 2010 CME which will be held January 22-24, 2010 at the International Centre in Toronto.

Motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to drop by the RMP Racing paddock to pick up the Official Series Program, a copy of the latest issue of Inside Motorcycles and to fill out a ballot to enter a draw for a Zox Helmet. Millson and Nickerson will be on hand throughout the weekend to chat with spectators and sign posters digitally printed by the Essential Image.

Canada’s biggest motorcycle road racing event of the year is not only renowned for some of the best racing of the year it boasts numerous off track activities for all to enjoy.

Throughout the weekend Suzuki Canada will be offering demo rides on their latest models and on Saturday afternoon, July 18th, the first annual Motorcycle Road Racers Reunion will take place. Canadian recording artists Sloan and Crash Parallel will perform Saturday evening.

A three-day SuperTicket is just $60 at the Gate and each ticket includes parking, paddock admission, and entrance to Saturday Night Stock Car racing at Mosport Speedway. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult admission. Single day tickets are also available.

For more information call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET) or visit Mosport online at www.mosport.com.

TORONTO, Ont. - Brantford, Ont.'s Jordan Szoke is perfectly poised to regain command of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship as the series visits Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont. for its key midseason doubleheader.

Although the five-time Canadian Superbike champion comes into the fourth and fifth rounds of the seven-race 2009 season 11 points out of the series lead he should enjoy a distinct advantage on the 3.9km (2.459-mile) circuit. Szoke has five career victories at Mosport, more than any other active racer in the series, and he swept the doubleheader at the track in 2006.

"It's definitely a special weekend," says the 30-year-old. "Between the track and the fans it's definitely a favorite of mine. It's a great place to go racing."

Szoke expects the high speed nature of the fast and flowing 10-turn track to suit the Ninja ZX-10R Superbike.

"I believe we'll have the best overall package this weekend and with the power of our bike being so strong it'll be very tough for the others to stay with us up backstraight."

Szoke also thinks he is well-positioned to add to his nine-point lead in the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike division on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, on which he has won two of the first three races of the season.

"I think that bike is just so much better than anything else in the class," says Szoke, who is trying for a fourth straight title in the Sport Bike category. "It just gives me confidence in every situation and I'm totally comfortable on it."

Szoke's Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory team-mate Alex Welsh is also looking forward to Mosport, which is a home race for the Uxbridge, Ont. racer.

"I think Mosport suits my style," says the 21-year-old, who was last year's HJC Pro Rookie of the Year Award winner on the national tour. "It's not bumpy, there are a lot of elevation changes and a lot of speed. I think I'll have some family and friends come out, and that will be nice."

Welsh comes to the halfway point of the Superbike season sixth in points but feels he has learned a lot about his Ninja ZX-10R through the first three races of the year.

"The Superbike is living up to what I expected," he says. "It's got a lot of power and it can be a real beast but I'm learning to tame it."

Welsh is fourth in Pro Sport Bike points after scoring a career high third place finish at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary on his Ninja ZX-6R.

"The first two races of the season I expected to be closer but in Calgary things really came together for me," he says.

As an added bonus this weekend Szoke and Welsh will debut special bodywork on their Ninja ZX-10R Superbikes to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Ninja brand by Kawasaki. The two bikes will feature special 25th anniversary graphics along with each rider's own personal touches - in Szoke's case a dragon and a "Las Vegas Lucky 7" theme for Welsh.

The bodywork is being airbrushed by BK Designs of Ottawa and after the season it will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the "Get Well Trev" Fund for injured Canadian moto journalist Andrew Trevitt and the Canadian Rider Safety Fund.

Practice for this weekend's doubleheader at Mosport opens on Thursday, July 16 and qualifying for both the Parts Canada Superbike and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike categories will be held Friday, July 17.

The first 14-lap Pro Sport Bike race goes green at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18 with the second race scheduled for 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 19. The 20-lap Superbike races are on tap for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and 3:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Rounds 3 & 4 are now in the books and it was another specatacular weekend of racing. KTM's Bobby Prochnau was once again the overall Top pro for the weekend and Suzuki Rider Ryan Durkee took home the Top Pro Junior Award. For full race results please visit our site www.worldendurocanada.com

The Inside MotoX and Off Road Magazine Western Amateur Championships were also awarded on Sunday. The Champions were awarded thier number 1 plates and recieved thier prize packages courtesy of Inside MotoX and Off Road Magazine.

A - Dillion Bucknell

B - Cedric Peters

C - Ben Riviere

Vet - Dave Sheridan

Super Vet - Ron Schlosser

Women - Victoria Hett

Overall Pro Standings after 4 rounds

1. Bobby Prochnau - KTM - 100 points

2. Jake Stapleton - Yamaha 84

3. Jason Schrage - KTM - 82

4. Geoff Nelson - KTM - 65

5. Ryan Durkee - Suzuki - 64

6. Shane Cuthbertson - Husaberg - 55

7. Nick Schrage - Yamaha - 54

8. Guy Giroux - BMW - 43

9. Ryan Graffunder - Suzuki - 38

9. Trent Burgiss - 35

10. Kevin Pelletier - 18

11. Jason Paradis - 11

Two great Canadian Bands will be entertaining the masses at Mosport this July 17-19 weekend at the 2009 BMW Motorrad Summerfest. Halifax based Sloan and Toronto based Crash Parallel will be taking the stage on Saturday.

There's going to be a lot more than music at Summerfest too though. Racing, BMW Marketplace, on and off-road test rides, an off-road skills course, and demo rides.

Plan to be there! Full press release follows -

Courtesy of Canadian Superbike:

Canadian recording artists Sloan and Crash Parallel will headline the BMW Motorrad Summerfest as part of the Parts Canada Superbike Doubleheader at Mosport, July 17-19, Canada’s biggest motorcycle road racing event of the year.

The bands will take to the BMW Motorrad Concert Stage on the Saturday of the manufacturer’s three-day motorcycle lifestyle experience, making its return to Mosport for the third year. Designed to cater to the motorcycle enthusiast, Summerfest features the BMW Marketplace, on and off-road test rides and an off-road skills course. New for 2009 is the addition of BMW Motorrad Enduro rider Guy Giroux, who will act as an instructor for the off- road skills course.

Formed in 1991 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, four-member Sloan released its first record in 1992. Since then, the band has recorded and released 10 records to critical acclaim across North America. Sloan’s contemporary, yet instantly recognizable rock and roll sound has endeared them to a large and devoted fan following across the continent, particularly in Canada. Nominated numerous times during their career, Sloan has won four East Coast Music Awards and a Juno Award. Now based in Toronto, Sloan’s latest record, Parallel Play, was released in 2008.

Relative newcomers to the Canadian rock music scene, Toronto’s Crash Parallel was formed in 2005 and released their successful debut album, World We Know, in May 2008. The record has produced five singles to date, including the smash hit, World We Know. The band hit number one on the Billboard Emerging Canadian Artist Chart in the spring of 2008 and won the 2009 Canadian Radio Music Award for Best New Group of the Year.

In addition to Summerfest, the Yamaha Riding Academy will once again be offering it’s free riding clinic for children ages 6 to 12. The Academy provides professional instruction to youngsters on how to ride off-road motorcycles in a safe and fun manner.

Adults will also have any opportunity to do some riding when top manufacturers such as Suzuki offer demo rides on their latest models on neighbouring roads near Mosport. With the exception of the Yamaha Riding Academy (which supplies all required equipment), participants for all riding activities must have a valid motorcycle license, riding gear and helmet.

The Parts Canada Superbike Doubleheader, the only Toronto-area stop for the national Parts Canada Superbike Championship, features Canada’s top riders.

Three-time defending Superbike champion Jordan Szoke of Brantford, Ontario, and current points leader, 17 year-old phenom Brett McCormick of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan will battle it out in two points races against a deep field of perennial contenders and up-and-coming stars.

The weekend schedule also includes races in the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class, the Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship, the Suzuki SV650 Cup, the Pro Honda Oils Women's Cup Challenge and the Honda CBR125R Challenge.

A three-day SuperTicket is just $50 until July 15 ($60 at the Gate) and each ticket includes parking, paddock admission, and entrance to Saturday Night Stock Car racing at Mosport Speedway. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult admission. Single day tickets are also available.

General and family camping areas are available complete with full-service washrooms, showers and children's playgrounds. An advanced three-day weekend general camping pass is just $30 (for tents or pop-up trailers). RVs are $50 for the weekend.

For more information about Mosport ticket packages and camping, call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET) or visit online at www.mosport.com. Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster.

Hamilton ON, CANADA – Mississauga-based G.M.D Computrack Ontario and Pro Superbike racer Ross Millson are proud to announce their new partnership for the balance of the 2009 season.

G.M.D Computrack Ontario will provide precision chassis measurements of Millson’s Suzuki GSX-R1000 to detect and rectify potential frame misalignment issues and to unlock the hidden potential of his motorcycle’s chassis.

“Our aim is to help Ross and the RMP Racing team to be as successful as possible at the upcoming Parts Canada Superbike Championships doubleheader at Mosport and beyond” said G.M.D Computrack Ontario’s owner Adrian Baird.

“We'll look at all of the various geometric parameters that are critical to the handling of Ross’ bike and discuss the findings with Computrack's inventor Greg McDonald. This will allow us to determine how the bike should be set up to maximize the mechanical grip and help Ross achieve his best lap times” commented Baird.

The G.M.D. Computrack system was invented by Australian Greg McDonald. His development started back in 1982 and was perfected over the next 11 years. Since then, the company has grown by leaps and bounds. There are now eleven licensed workshops in the United States and another dozen in other parts of the world including Canada.

The system and related services benefit all riders from Pros to amateurs as well as trackday and street riders. The G.M.D. Computrack system has been used successfully by top-ranked professional racers around the world.

“I’m very interested to see what the results are for my bike” said Millson. “It will be reassuring to know that my chassis’ alignment is optimal for the second half of our season.”

G.M.D. Computrack's findings on Millson's chassis measurements and subsequent recommendations will be reported on in a future issue of Inside Motorcycles.

We received word from the folks at the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship that they have a revised list of the overall Pro points after the first two rounds in Blairmore Alberta.

Information that may have been published previously was the overall for both days instead of combined total for both days:

2009 Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship Overall Pro Points after rounds 1 & 2

1. Bobby Prochnau KTM - 50
2. Jason Schrage KTM - 42
3. Jake Stapleton Yamaha - 40
4. Nick Schrage Suzuki - 38
5. Geoff Nelson KTM - 31
6. Ryan Durkee Suzuki - 30
7. Shane Cuthbertson Husaberg - 27
8. Ryan Graffunder Honda - 26
9. Guy Giroux BMW - 13
9. Trent Burgiss - 13
10. Jason Paradis - 11
10. Kevin Pelletier - 11

Hot off the presses from the World Enduro of Canada. The season opener and round 2; both in Alberta were very successful.

Lawrence Hacking, one of the organizers of the event was quoted on DirectMotorcross when talking about round 1: “This was a great, great weekend!” Perfect weather, a great track and a great turnout! No timing glitches or anything, just perfect. And all the top guys were here. More than 50 Pros and A riders!”



July 5 - Round 2 Blairmore, AB

Day two of the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship was another beautiful day in Canada`s glorious Rocky Mountains. Riders enjoyed another great day of riding in the high altitude. The time controls were tightened up for the Pro and A riders today, giving them 2.5 hrs to complete the loop as opposed to the 3 hours on Day 1. In addition all riders were given another opportunity to improve their score by running through the cross test an additional time at the end of their day. The Pro`s and A riders did two loops and all the other classes ran one. The results were a bit different today as some of the riders who finished down in the results stepped up their game for day 2. For full results from both days go to our results page.

July 4 - Round 1 Blairmore, AB

Day one of the Royal Distributing Canadian Enduro Championship was a stellar success. The Full Gas crew put together a 50 km loop of technical trail that thrilled the Pros and challenged the amateurs. Some of the eastern riders who traveled out for the event said it was easily the most thrilling riding they have ever done. The trail took the riders from the 4500 ft base camp up to 6500 ft elevation where they rode beside snow drifts and took in spectacular views. The results showed the western riders certainly had a home court advantage but many of the eastern riders indicated they are pumped to up their level for Day 2. You can view a partial results list on our events page.

There's some new video shot onboard from a point of view camera aboard the Brammo Enertia TTR race electric bike. It was shot during the 2009 running of the Isle of Man TTXGP.

The bike hit a top speed of 102 mph.

This is what the future sounds like:

CALGARY, Alberta – Race City Motorsport Park

On what was to be the last official Parts Canada Superbike Championship held at the Race City Motorsport Park, an enthusiastic audience was granted endless rays of sun. As if to remind the crowd of the will of the weather gods, the Buell® bikes of the Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. team emanated a constant growl and grumble throughout the weekend.

The Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. team had four top-ten finishes within two national events, consequently validating Buell® 1125RTM bikes as high-performance sport bikes. The qualifying rounds of the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike on Saturday came to an abrupt end when a red flag appeared just 2.5 minutes before the planned end of the race due to Rupert Collins’ Ducati clipping Darren James’ 1125RTM motorcycle and crashing into the wall. James’ expert reflexes allowed him to counteract and maintain control of his bike in order to bring it to an 11th place finish. Dave Estok, although still mildly concussed from his crash in Mirabel, finished in a solid eighth spot, while veteran Steve Crevier displayed brilliant tactics and qualified in fourth, just a split-second behind the top three racers.

With a grid of 25 contending riders in the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike final race on Sunday, the spectators witnessed some electrifying moments and some very close action.

Dave bravely defended his qualifying position until the very end, commenting afterwards, “I am happy with the results today. I know I can do better, but it is comforting that I was running only seconds off the guys ahead. One of my main goals was to keep the BMWs at bay, which I managed to do. They were struggling with the front end and the Buell® 1125RTM [bike] just ate them up on the straightaways.

A beaming Darren James hopped off the bike after finishing in tenth position and with unconcealed pleasure confided, “I am obviously ecstatic about placing in [the] top ten, and I owe everything to Dave, Rod, and Thomas Morin, who gave it their all to have the bike prepped so well for me. I am also grateful for not having wrecked a bike this weekend for a change!”

Steve Crevier relentlessly weaved his way through the race, looking to take advantage of opportunities with his Buell® 1125RTM bike and finally settled for fifth place, the highest position of the three 1125RTM bikes on the track, just a split-second away from the riders in the lead. In a rare moment of seriousness, he conceded that, “Three races into the season, I am quite excited about the performance of the bikes. I am having quite a lot of fun because my bike favours larger tracks such as this one.”

The Superbike event delivered the promised entertainment to all racing fans. With a seventh position, Crevier secured a second row start in the Pirelli Superpole, and commented, “I’m a little disappointed and could have done better. I dragged the fairing and slid the bike in the second-to-last turn, so my drive onto the front straightaway was affected. But still, I managed to shave three-quarters of a second off my personal best Superpole time.”

Finally, in a showdown that visibly engaged the crowd, there was some serious dicing action between lead contenders Jordan Szoke, on a Kawasaki, and Brett McCormick on his Suzuki. Meanwhile, a judicious Crevier carved his path on the track, using corners three and four to attempt passes. Highlights included Crevier block-passing Kawasaki rider Alex Welsh, and making an aggressive pass on Mike Zottmann, decisively cutting off the Suzuki rider on the carousel.

As eager spectators cheered on Brett McCormick in his final pass as he stole supremacy from Szoke, Crevier narrowly missed out on the fifth position he was aiming for, and concluded his race with a sixth-place finish behind Suzuki rider Clint McBain.

In attendance of Don James, Chairman & CEO of Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada, an impish smile crossed Crevier’s face as he tried his luck in stating, “I know, I know… I could have done better! I was under too much pressure knowing that the big boss was here. But I promise, I will do my homework and put the 1125RTM [bike] onto the podium before the end of the season. It’s a great bike and [it] deserves to be there. I will be humbled to be the one to ride it there.”

And Crevier being Crevier, we cannot but take his word for it.

The Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. team – powered by Buell will be racing in the double-header of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at the Mosport International Speedway in Bowmannville, Ontario. For information on how to get there, please refer to www.partscanada.com.

CALGARY, Alta. - Despite controlling the race for 21 laps, five-time Canadian champion Jordan Szoke had to settle for a second pace finish in the third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary on Sunday.

The 30-year-old from Brantford, Ont. qualified on pole on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and led the every lap around the 3.2km (2.0-mile) track, but in the final section of turns on the last lap he slipped just a little bit wide and was passed for the top spot. The tight nature of the final section of turns left few opportunities to regain the lead; Szoke used every ounce of power from his Ninja ZX-10R to run down McCormick to the checkered flag but finished second by just 0.080 secs.

"Kawasaki always gives me a great motorcycle and I had the bike to win today," said Szoke, who was trying to win for the ninth time at Race City in the Superbike class. "The bike was perfect. I'm mad at myself for leaving the door open. I felt super-comfortable all race."

Despite ending the morning pre-qualifying session in second on Saturday Szoke claimed pole for Sunday's Superbike race with a lap at 1:15.126 in the Pirelli SuperPole session. The time was under the previous lap record and put him almost half a second clear of his nearest rival.

"You hate to complain when you've put it on pole but I had some trouble with my downshifts into turn one and lost a bit of time there," Szoke said. "After that the lap was going great but in the Bus Stop Chicane I got into a wheelie and that screwed my drive up for the run into corner eight. In the end I was pleased to get that good a lap."

Although he didn't get the holeshot off the line at the start of the race Szoke powered into the lead by the time the field reached turn one and he controlled the race from there. He set the fastest lap, a 1:16.120 on the sixth tour and in the middle portion he had eked out a margin of just under two seconds.

Despite his runner-up finish Szoke remains a strong contender in his bid to claim a fourth straight Parts Canada Superbike title. He is just 11 points out of the lead with 146 and four races still on the schedule.

Szoke's factory Kawasaki team-mate Alex Welsh finished seventh on his Ninja ZX-10R after running as high as third early in the race. The 21-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont. qualified sixth in Pirelli SuperPole but a good start saw him running third at the end of the opening lap.

Welsh's limited Superbike experience saw him dropping back as the race progressed, however, as he struggled to maintain the pace as to tire wear started to set in on his Kawasaki.

"I'm still learning," said last year's HJC Pro Rookie of the Year. "I got a good start and the bike was good for a bit. But I have to learn how to slide the bike more later in the race. I'm still trying to keep it the same as it is on lap six and that's not the way to do it. But I think we'll be up there the rest of the season. I've got a great team behind me and the guys are working hard."

Welsh is now sixth in the Superbike point standings with 79 but just seven points out of third.
Szoke regained the lead of the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike Championship with his second win of the season at Race City on Sunday. Despite a mid-race red flag stoppage that erased a four-second lead Szoke was able to control the eight-lap second part to win by 0.085 secs.

"You never like to see anybody get hurt and I know we have to protect out racers, but I have to admit I was kind of upset about having to restart a second time," admitted the three-time defending class champion. "I had such a good lead and I was in a groove. The bike was phenomenal."

On the restart Szoke again got the lead before the end of the first lap but this time had company all the way. He stayed cool under pressure, however, and overcame a last minute challenge for the top spot to take the win.

"I thought I might be able to do the same in the second race and break away but it's tough here," admitted Szoke, who also qualified on pole. "It's nice if you can break the draft but I couldn't manage it again after the restart."

His win gives Szoke a nine-point lead in the Pro Sport Bike standings with 155 points.
Welsh took third place at Race City on his Ninja ZX-6R, his best career national finish and his first ever podium appearance. He was fourth after the opening lap of the restart but took third on lap three and pulled away from his pursuers.

"I was stuck in fourth when the red flag came out and I thought I had waited too long to make a move," he explained. "I didn't want to do that in the second race so I got up there as early as I could and after that just put my head down.

"This is an awesome feeling. I wouldn't be here without my family; it's been a long road to get here. And I can't thank the Kawasaki team enough. They gave me a once in a lifetime chance."
Welsh is now fourth in Pro Sport Bike points with 98, just one point out of third.


The Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory team resumes its 2009 Parts Canada Superbike season at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont. July 17-19 for the traditional mid-season doubleheader.

Derby (UK), Monday 29th June: Noriyuki Haga, Ducati Xerox Team rider and current leader of the World Superbike Championship, was transported to the Emergency department of Derby City Hospital by helicopter at about 5pm yesterday afternoon, after having been victim of a massive high-side during race 2 at Donington Park.

The Japanese rider, accompanied by doctors fram the Clinica Mobile, was seen by Doctor Rajan and once extensive test and un urgent CAT scan were carried out, Dr. Rajan declared that the fracture to one of the vertebrae that had shown up on the X-ray taken at the circuit's Medical Centre was actually a very old fracture and must have been caused during another much earlier incident, years previously. This fracture has, over time, sealed without medical intervention and doesn't present a problem.

After a stable night in the Pre-Op assessment ward of Derby City Hospital, Noriyuki Haga will undergo surgery this afternoon to insert a plate and screws in his right forearm, to set a fracture to the right ulna. His is continuing to experience pain in the left shoulder blade, and so although no serious damage has yet been detected, doctors will investigate further to undertand teh cause of the pain.

The only injury needing immediate treatment at this time is the broken ulna. If the surgery is deemed a success, and there are no complications regarding his shoulder blade, Noriyuki should be able to return home to Italy in the next two days and the Ducati Xerox Team does not currently exclude the possibility of Noriyuki's return to the track in time for the next round in the Czech Republic, on the 26th July at Brno.

Donington Park (UK), Saturday 28th June: today was once again conditioned by the British weather and unfortunately the Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio had to complete the final phase of today’s Superpole under a light rain. For tomorrow races the two Ducati men, on board their Ducati 1198s, will line up on the grid next to each other in fifth (Fabrizio) and sixth (Haga) position. Although the Superbike riders woke up to another grey and cloudy day, the weather fortunately did not impede them in the morning’s first qualifying session and all of the strongest players were able to improve on yesterday’s lap times. Michel Fabrizio, the only rider to duck under 1m31 yesterday, continued to progress today and closed the session at the top of the timesheets, three tenths of a second faster than the best time he recorded in first qualifying. Today’s forty-five minute session also proved to be more positive for Haga who, after the problems experienced yesterday, got back on the right road this morning and, mid-session, put in a few very fast laps to record in the process the second fastest time, just two tenths off team-mate Fabrizio’s pace.

In the afternoon the first two mini-Superpole sessions took place in the dry and both Noriyuki and Michel passed from the first to the second and then to the final phase without difficulty. Michel recorded a new lap record in the second phase, lapping in 1m29.6s. Of the eight riders remaining in the third and final session, those who exited the pits immediately gained a small advantage as the rain then began, preventing the Ducati Xerox riders from pushing without taking risks. The technicians declared themselves satisfied with the performance of Haga and Fabrizio today; the riders will line up in fifth (Michel) and sixth (Noriyuki) place on the grid tomorrow, alongside Byrne on Team Sterilgarda’s 1198 in third place, and Czech rider Smrz on the Ducati of Team Guandalini eighth.

Michel Fabrizio 1m30.7s “It was a pity it started to rain right at that moment, in the last part of the Superpole, but I did my best and starting from the second row shouldn’t be too much of a problem. For tomorrow I’d say that we’re sorted with regard to the race tyre and as far as the qualifiers we used today are concerned it didn’t go badly. I wanted to get under 1m30 and in the second Superpole I managed that, breaking the lap record in the process. Tomorrow we have to see what the weather will do, and then based on the track temperature, we’ll decide which rear tyre we’ll use to try and get back on the podium again.”

Noriyuki Haga 1m31.0s “We found a good solution today for the setting of my 1198 and I considerably improved my lap times. We just need to decide on the race tyre. The choice comes down to which rear, because there are two quite similar solutions, but we need to wait and see and decide tomorrow based on the track temperature. I just hope that track conditions tomorrow are not damp but either totally dry or totally wet. In the final Superpole this afternoon I could have pushed harder but to tell the truth I didn’t want to risk a crash; some of the guys made some fast laps but I preferred not to take risks and so will start tomorrow in sixth.”

TIMES (Superpole): 1. Spies (Yamaha) 1m29.8s; 2. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1m30.0s; 3. Byrne (Ducati) 1m30.5s; 4. Nakano (Aprilia) 1m30.6s; 5. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m30.7s; 6. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1m31.0s; 7. Checa (Honda) 1m31.3s; 8. Smrz (Ducati) 1m34.7s

TORONTO, Ontario (June 24, 2009) – The team riders are ready for this coming weekend’s Parts Canada Superbike races at Race City in Calgary, Alberta, round three of the National Road Race Championships. After two rounds, the Deeley racers are well placed for a run at two separate championships.

In the premiere Parts Canada Superbike class, Steve Crevier currently sits in fifth place after his fifth place finish at round one in Calabogie, Ontario, and after his inspiring ride to fourth place at the round two race in Montréal. Last year in Calgary, Steve was forced to retire from the race early after a minor mechanical glitch.

“Yeah, that was unfortunate,” he commented. “But that’s racing and that was last year. This year, I’m pretty confident things are going to be different. We’ve been working through some issues, I’m trying to do my part on track, and the crew, Pete Snell, and the rest, have been outstanding. We’ll just put our heads down and do our absolute best. You can’t ask for more than that.”

All three Buell® 1125RTM bike riders will compete in the Yoshimura Sportbike class and are placed as follows after two events. Steve Crevier holds sixth position, Darren James is in 11th, and Dave Estok is holding 13th. Had it not been for an unfortunate crash at the Mirabel race, Dave would be much higher in the standings.

“I’m still disappointed in myself for crashing at Mirabel,” the Florida-based rider explained. “I’ve got kind of a reputation for not crashing, and we were doing pretty good when I went down. But, that’s behind me now. As for Calgary, to be honest, Race City is not my favourite track and yet, ironically, I’ve done well there. Last year I put the Buell® [bike] on the podium, and I’d like to do that or better this weekend. The long straight at Calgary should work to our advantage; it will really show the Buell® 1125TM [bike’s] power. Each race I’m getting closer to Steve, and one of my goals for this year is to have a good heads up race with him. He’s absolutely one of the best, so if I can run with him, I’ll be happy.”

Placing right behind Estok last year in fourth place at Calgary was team boss Darren James. James rode most of the season with aggravating injuries, and Calgary was no different. “I am really looking forward to Calgary,” he commented. “This is the only Parts Canada race we have out west, and it’s very important to us. Our crew has been working extremely hard to get us this far, and we are improving with each outing, so we intend to continue that climb. We have a strong fan following in Calgary, and the Deeley team has no intention [of] letting them down.”

Practise starts Friday for round three of the 2009 series, with qualifying and Pirelli Superpole on Saturday, and a full card of National Championship races on Sunday.

For further information on the track, please refer to www.cdnsuperbike.com.

BMW has become the latest manufacturer to offer up their off-road machines to rent at the ISDE race. KTM had announced their program in early June.

Full details:

This year the 84th International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) will take place in Figueira Da Foz, Portugal, from 12-17 October. For all ambitious enduro riders who would like to participate in this historic event open to all levels of rider, the great news is that BMW Motorrad is offering a rental service.

This is fantastic news for riders from all over the world who believed that competing at an ISDE would be too expensive for them because of the logistics involved in transporting motorcycles, spares and technicians from their home country to the event. Now, with the availability of a limited number of BMW G 450 X motorcycles to rent, as well as spare parts and service package options, competitors can simply fly to Portugal with their riding kit, take part in the race and then fly home again.

This service is being offered in conjunction with Finnish off-road legend Kari Tiainen, a former ISDE champion who is based in Spain and works closely with the development of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport Enduro World Championship team. From his base in southern Spain, Kari also runs BMW adventure riding tours and would love to see more BMW riders represented at the historic enduro event.

“The ISDE is a special event and because everybody is allowed to participate, there are no specific qualifications needed. Naturally, there is a pro class, but there is also a clubman class so if you fancy giving it a go, we can help you not only with the provision of a BMW G 450 X machine, but also technical and spares support too, because at the end of a hard day’s ride, the last thing you’ll want to do is start working on your machine! We’re also hoping to attract local as well as overseas riders with this offer, which we think is great value for money.”

With a limited number of motorcycles available, this offer is open until 15 August. In brief, there is a choice of two types of BMW sport enduro available for rent – a G 450 X ‘six days edition’ at €2,200 euro plus tax, or a G 450 X ‘Kari Tiainen six days racing replica’ at €4,000 euro plus tax. The rental price includes transportation from Spain to Portugal, internal transport to the race paddock, preparation, registration and road insurance. The service package costs an additional €500 euro (plus tax), while the price of the ‘Kari Tiainen six days racing replica’ also includes two training and suspension set-up days (29-30 September) at Kari’s base in Andalucia.

The Service Package offers the supply of spare parts and fuel from the paddock area, as well as special access to reserved areas at various checkpoints where riders will find personnel for technical assistance, supply of emergency spare parts, fuel, lubricants and light refreshments. Please note that fuel, lubricants and spare parts will be charged according to use, and are not included in the Service Package cost. Riders will also have the possibility of storing spare clothing, personal belongings etc., inside special containers in the assistance vans.

The International Six Days Enduro is one of the best known off-road motorcycle events in the world and has been thrilling fans for almost 100 years. Last year, along with more than 450 riders from 33 countries, BMW Motorrad Motorsport team riders Kari Tiainen Anders Eriksson and Spaniard Xacob Agra successfully put BMW’s G 450 X through its toughest ever competitive challenge. All three riders completed the gruelling event, staged in Serres, Greece, without any problems to claim gold medal finishes. For 2009, expect another factory-backed effort – and a host of amateur riders on BMW G 450 X sport enduros – to contest the Portuguese event and fly the flag for BMW Motorrad.

For more information and the full terms and conditions of this offer, please contact Kari Tiainen directly either by visiting www.exdreames.com, emailing info@exdreames.com or calling +34 951 165 199 or +34 606 590 841.

Munich. With immediate effect, David Knight and the off-road team of BMW Motorrad Motorsport will be parting company.

The two-times World Enduro Championship winner and winner of the US Grand National Cross Country only joined the BMW Motorrad Team Offroad at the beginning of the 2009 season. The move during the current enduro racing season is by mutual agreement.

Before the start of the racing season David Knight completed several tests on the G 450 X racing machine. However, during the season it has become apparent that rider and racing bike do not harmonise well enough to be able to achieve top placements within this highly competitive environment. For this reason, David Knight and BMW Motorrad Motorsport have decided to end their collaboration in good and fair manner.

Donington Park (UK), Tuesday 22nd June: the Ducati Xerox Team will cross the Channel tomorrow, just three days after completing Round 7 at Misano, to race this coming weekend at historic Donington Park, the scene of the first ever Superbike race held back in 1988 and won by now Ducati Xerox Team Manager Davide Tardozzi.

In an effort to strike a compromise between 2007’s April appointment and last year’s September date at Donington, the organisers this year settled on June for the annual World Superbike event, perhaps in the hope of more favourable weather conditions. Last year heavy rain overshadowed Sunday’s proceedings, causing many riders to crash out.

Noriyuki was one of those who did not enjoy 2008’s appointment, when he suffered a technical problem in Race 1 and was penalised in Race 2, resulting in two DNFs and zero points. Michel also took a fall in Race 1 on a slippery track but made up for this somewhat by finishing race 2 in fifth position.

One of the shortest circuits on the World Superbike calendar (4.023 km), Ducati has had great success at Donington, having celebrated race wins in the past with various riders including Corser, Hodgson, Fogarty (still today the rider who has won more races at Donington than any other rider, with a total of six wins) and, most recently, with Troy Bayliss and his 1098 F08 last year. The circuit featured on the calendar each year from 1988 to 2001 before an five year absence and a reappearance on the 2007 schedule.

Just two days ago Noriyuki and Michel had some atypical weather to do deal with at the Misano World Circuit but were not deterred, Michel finishing the two races in third and second place, Noriyuki in fifth and third.

Noriyuki has finished on the podium in 12 of the 16 races held so far and Michel in 10 which means that Ducati Xerox Team have been on the podium in 100% of the races, represented either by Haga or Fabrizio or by both.

Noriyuki Haga (1st in championship, 292 points)
Noriyuki has not yet been able to replicate his double win of 1998 at this British track.

“Last year I didn't have much luck at Donington at all, but if I put that aside, over the years I've done ok there and have had some race wins. I'm still in the lead but I'll be doing all I can to extend the advantage I have. I realise that some of the Brits will be up there fighting for the podium places at their home track but I'll be giving them a run for their money."

Haga’s Superbike form at Donington:
2008: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – DNF
2007: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – winner
2000: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 4th
1999: Race 1 – 10th, Race 2 – 6th
1998: Race 1 - winner, Race 2 – winner

Michel Fabrizio (3rd in championship, 237 points)
Roman rider Michel has finished on the podium in the last eight consecutive races and is hopeful for a continuation of that success.

“Well, after the results in Misano, two more podiums, I can't help thinking about the title but I realise that to be in the running I need to secure more race wins, so that's my aim, starting from this weekend at Donington. The best I've done there until now is 5th but I'd always done badly at Misano too, and then that changed this year, so we'll see if I can make a similar improvement in the UK."

Fabrizio’s Superbike form at Donington:
2008: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 5th
2007: Race 1 – 13th, Race 2 – 12th

CIRCUIT DATA:
Country: UK
Name: Donington Park
Circuit length: 4.023 km
Pole position: left
Corners left: 5
Corners right: 10
Race distance: 23 laps = 92.529 km

LAP RECORDS: Fastest lap – Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1’31.575 (2007). Superpole – Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1'30.370 (2007).
2008 RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); 2. Sykes (Suzuki); 3. Biaggi (Ducati). Race 2 – 1. Kiyonari (Honda); 2. Crutchlow (Honda); 3. Corser (Yamaha).

Misano (Italy) Sunday 21st June: Ducati Xerox riders Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga rode a stressful 24–lap first race at the Misano World Circuit today, in which “flag-to-flag” rules were implemented due to the wet track conditions at the race start. An impressive race from Fabrizio and his Ducati 1198, finishing in third, on the podium for the first time in Misano, while teammate Haga also made up many positions to cross the line in fifth. In Race 2 Fabrizio narrowly missed out on the win, to conclude in second just 0.06 of a second behind Rea (Honda) and less than half a second in front of team-mate Haga.

Despite no win today, with the podiums celebrated by Michel, Noriyuki and privateer Shane Byrne, Ducati reaches a milestone: the two podiums scored in Race 2 signify the 700th and 701st visit by a Ducati rider to the Superbike podium since the championship began. At the same time, Noriyuki today celebrated his 99th Superbike podium.

A frenetic Race 1 ensued when the race was declared wet but the track quickly began to dry, meaning that the Superbike teams put into practice the “flag-to-flag” procedure, with riders able to change bikes, from a wet to a dry set-up, at any point they chose during the race. The majority of the riders on track rode on rain tyres for the first half of the race before making the swap, including Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki, who came in during lap 10, and Michel in lap 13. Noriyuki lost a few seconds in making the changeover and then both Ducati men admitted that it took a few laps to find feeling with their 1198 machines on the drying surface but they were soon comfortable enough to begin their progression through the field, making up many positions in the latter stages of the race.

Race 2 was dry from start to finish and turned out to be a spectacular three-way battle for the win. Haga made a flying start to take the lead in the opening laps before soon losing the advantage to Jonathan Rea (Honda). In the subsequent laps it was the Ducati Xerox team-mates Noriyuki and Michel who battled it out between themselves for second place with Rea just ahead of them. In the sixteenth lap Michel made a move from second position, got past Jonathan and continued to command the race until the very last lap when Rea manoeuvred his way back past the Italian rider, leaving Fabrizio and Haga to come home in second and third
The championship leader remains Noriyuki Haga who, after the first eight rounds of the championship, has accumulated 292 points, to the 244 points held by current second-placed rider Ben Spies. Michel Fabrizio chases, just behind Ben with 237 points. Ducati continues to lead the manufacturers championship with 351 points ahead of Yamaha (287 points).

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 3rd, Race 2 – 2nd)
“I did my best to stick with Ben in Race 1 but I think the fact that he changed from wet to dry set-up one or two laps before me made the difference, because I took a few laps to get feeling in the dry and then it was too late to catch him or Shane. In the last lap Smrz was right there on my tail and I went wide at one point but luckily he didn’t get past me and I finished third. In the second race I struggled a little with the front tyre and it seemed that today Rea’s Honda had a little something over us in its acceleration. It’s a shame it couldn’t be another win but, with two podiums today, I’m very happy, it’s my best ever result at this track and I know I did all I could so you can’t ask for more than that. I’ve just a few points behind Ben again now so, yes, I can’t help thinking about the title but in order to be a serious contender I know I need to remain consistent and clock up some race wins from here on in.”

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 5th, Race 2 – 3rd)

“I am a bit disappointed with how Race 1 turned out. While on the wet set-up I was having all kinds of problems with the rear tyre that was sliding all over the place compared to other riders out there so I lost some positions before I came in to change bikes. Then I went back out on an intermediate/slick tyre combination that was perhaps not so suitable because in the final laps I was finding it difficult to maintain my pace and couldn’t push as I wanted to. Race 2 went much better, I got a great start but once Johnny, and then Michel, came past me it was hard to keep pace; maybe because they are so much younger than I am! Joking aside, I made good points all things considered, especially seeing as this has never been my favourite track, and now I’m looking forward to the next round at Donington where I’ve done well over the years.”

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Byrne (Ducati); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); Race 2 - 1. Rea (Honda); 2. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox); 3. Haga (Ducati Xerox)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 292; 2. Spies (Yamaha) 244; 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 237; 4. Rea (Honda) 167; 5. Biaggi (Aprilia) 135; 6. Haslam (Honda) 134. Manufacturers – Ducati 351; Yamaha 287; Honda 240; Aprilia 142; Suzuki 128; BMW 62; Kawasaki 41

Misano Adriatico (Italy), Friday 19th June: despite extremely high track temperatures that hovered around 50° all day, the Ducati Xerox riders Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga made a great start to their “home” race weekend at the Misano World Circuit and it was Michel on board his Ducati 1198 who closed today as the fastest rider out there.

In the first free practice session earlier in the day both Michel and Noriyuki got off the starting blocks at a very quick pace and their immediate competitiveness saw them conclude the opening session near the top of the time sheets, with Fabrizio in second and Haga in sixth.

In the initial stage of the subsequent first qualifying session, Noriyuki was the first rider to duck under the 1m38 barrier, more than a second faster than his best time in the free practice. Having made that time, he came back into the garage before going back out to complete a long-run, thirteen laps, all at a very consistent pace. Many riders then started to improve their lap times until, right in the final minutes of the session, Michel completed two flying laps, closing today’s proceedings as the fastest rider.

Michel Fabrizio 1m37.0s
“I am really happy because I must say that I didn’t expert to be the fastest out there today. The only annoying thing was the traffic; every time I was pushing on a fast lap, I would find someone in front of me, the only rider I didn’t find was Nori! They say it may rain tomorrow and I can’t say how we’ll go if the track is wet but I’m feeling confident and am satisfied with today’s work because if and when it’s hot again on Sunday I’ll know that we are well prepared.”

Noriyuki Haga 1m37.4s
“For now all is under control. I have a good feeling with the bike and I’m pretty happy with the setting we tried today. Despite the heat I didn’t have too many problems with the tyres, and if it hadn’t been for traffic that I came across, I would have finished today in third or fourth – we know that we have the race pace. The forecast predicts rain for tomorrow and maybe Sunday too but I am confident that whatever the weather we’ll be ready for battle come race day.”

TIMES: 1. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1’37.0; 2. Spies (Yamaha) 1’37.1; 3. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1’37.2; 4. Rea (Honda) 1’37.2; 5. Parkes (Kawasaki) 1’37.2; 6. Kiyonari (Honda) 1’37.3; 7. Checa (Honda) 1’37.4; 8. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1’37.4

The Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. team -powered by Buell had another constructive and rewarding outing at the Moto Journal ICAR Parts Canada Superbike races this past weekend. Racing for the first time on the converted site, the event was blessed with excellent weather, which attracted a big crowd to the track.

The 90th running of the Isle of Man TT finished up over the weekend and here are the results of the some of the main classes.

In the historic TTXGP (zero emissions vehicle race) BEST BUY PRO Class Team AGNI took home top honors with their GSXR based electric machine. They recorded an average speed of 87.434 miles per hour. In second was XXL racing team, third place went to Brammo and fourth to Mission Motors.

The Senior TT went to Steve Plater on a 1000cc Honda. Second place was Conor Cummins on a 1000cc Kawasaki, and third went to Gary Johnson on a 1000cc Suzuki.

Sadly John Crellin, a 55-year-old resident of the Isle of Man, was killed during the running of the Senior TT when he crashed on the course on his fifth lap. He placed third in the Open class of the TTXGP.

* Image courtesy MCN

Montréal, June 16, 2009 - Tickets go on sale Wednesday June 17 at 10 a.m. for the 32nd edition of the Montréal Supermotocross, presented by Coors Lights and Parts Canada. For the 2009 competition, which will be held Saturday October 3 at the Olympic Stadium, organizers will offer fans interesting additions to the program; EnduroCross, a new class that is quickly catching on with the crowd, and an even more exciting high flying Freestyle competition.

"The Montreal Supermotocross will become more than ever the annual fall event of choice as we will be offering motorsports and extreme sports fans what they really want," according to Pierre Corbeil, organizer of the event. "Over the past few months, we only had one goal in mind: to improve on last year's presentation. As always, we want to offer a show where the best of our previous events is brilliantly blended with new spectacular classes. As of now, we can assure fans that come to the Olympic Stadium on October 3, they will enjoy an evening filled with extreme entertainment."

The difficulty of gathering such an eclectic group of riders in one place for one night, and set up the right layout for each class, has forced the organizers to withdraw Autocross from this year's event. This development will enable track designers to map out a world-class stage for Freestyle riders, a collective who don't know the concept of gravity. It will also enable the EnduroCross riders, which run on a specially designed extreme off-road style layout that includes every types of man-made obstacles, the chance to show the Montreal public the intense action of this cutting edge form of racing. A detailed report of all classes and riders involved in this spectacular program will be unveiled over the next few months.

"One of the most interesting improvements made last year for the fans was the new track layout, especially the location of the starting line for the motocross and quad races. With modifications to our lineup for the upcoming October event, we will have more freedom again to improve on the design of the track and offer fans a better overall view of the show, whatever the location of their seats in the stadium," added Pierre Corbeil.

The Montreal Supermotocross is one of the most popular events of the year presented at the Olympic Stadium, drawing more than 50,000 fans from Quebec, Eastern Ontario, and the bordering states of the USA. More than 150 riders from Canada, the United States, and Europe will participate in this year's competition.

The best seats in the house, as well as all reserved seating, will go on sale Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Tickets can be ordered online at Admission or by calling (514) 790-1245 or 1 800 361-4597). Ticket prices range from $10.00, $19.00, and $28.00 to $37.50 for the best seats in the house. Tickets will also be available at participating motorcycle dealers from all regions of Quebec. The list will be published shortly. Go online at www.montrealmotocross.com to learn more about the Montreal Supermotocross.

Mirabel, Québec CANADA – June 16, 2009 – RMP Racing’s Pro Superbike racer Ross Millson put in an impressive effort at the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship earning a finish just outside of the top ten.

After a crash at the first round of Canada’s premier road racing series Millson was determined to bring home at least a top ten finish for his crew and sponsors at the 2.8 km Circuit ICAR track built on the grounds of the Mirabel Airport.

Throughout the weekend Millson, chief mechanic Mark Millson and Accelerated Technologies owner John Sharrard worked with a new Race Tech rear shock which lead to promising results.

“We were using scrubs for many of the early practice sessions and we seemed to be getting less tire wear than other teams going out on fresh rubber” said Millson. “This track presents many challenges when it comes to suspension set up and tire choice.”

Looking to maximize the new found set up, Millson chose to go with a softer tire compound for Saturday morning’s pre-SuperPole qualifying session.

“The choice to go out on the softer tire was worth a shot, but it ultimately back fired” said Millson. “Starting from seventeenth was obviously going to present some challenges on a one line track like ICAR, but we knew that if we went back to our original setup we would be there at the end.”

Confident in which tire compound would work best with the suspension settings, the Millson brothers made a last minute gearing change to maximize what the bike can do on the straights.

Millson made up for a less then stellar qualifying effort with a great start aboard his Inside Motorcycles sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000 and acquired six positions within the first lap. After mixing it up with J.F. Cyr and Erick Beausejour in the opening few laps Millson settled into the eleventh spot.

With time running out Millson pushed towards a top ten finish, however in the remaining number of laps he was unable to advance his position. A minor off track excursion on the last lap dropped Millson one spot. Quickly remounting he reentered the track to finish 12th overall.

“We were able to set our fastest laps of the weekend midway through the race so that's very encouraging …we’re looking forward to Calgary and the rest of the season” said Millson.

RMP Racing is grateful for the support from team sponsors; Inside Motorcycles, Zox Helmets, Motovan, Infinet Designs, Turn 2 Sportbike School, Essential Image, MotoConcepts and CRC Racewear. Additionally Ross Millson would like to thank; Tri-City Cycle and Sport (Suzuki), Race Tech, Vortex, Hindle, Niagara Powersports and Shaun Fletcher for his assistance this weekend.

Up next for the RMP Racing team is Round 3 of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park, Calgary, AB - June 25-28.

After three days of pooling their resources and giving a commendable effort in practice, Team Suzuki Blackfoot Picotte Racing reaped the rewards by taking their first two wins in both Pro classes of the 2009 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

In Saturday’s qualifying, Brett McCormick, the team’s 17-year-old rider from Saskatoon, SK, secured Pole Position for Sunday’s main event. McCormick began the race third off the start, close behind Kevin Lacombe and Jordan Szoke. Lacombe went down in lap 2 and McCormick was able to sneak past his two competitors by taking the inside line. Once in the lead, McCormick was able to put his head down and ride. “Because it was still early on in the race, my focus was to relax and get some laps in. Szoke was pretty close behind so I had to be steady and consistent.”

In the Pro Sport Bike class, McCormick snagged another win with his fastest lap time of 1:25.336 in lap 4. “In this race I got a way better start,” states McCormick. “I got the lead right away. After that, I just had to keep the same mentality as in the Superbike race – focus and put in some good laps. Everything worked out and I finished seconds ahead of Szoke.”

Picotte explains that, “in the shop and at home we work so hard to improve the bikes and develop our team. It is so nice to be out here and see the accomplishments we have made. I am very pleased with the team results – the mechanics, everyone worked flawlessly. Also, it was great to have Mike Fitzgerald from Ohlins here to help us. He has an incredible amount of expertise from working with teams in the States and it was fantastic to have some of his knowledge trickle down into our racing.”

Pat Chambers, Team Owner from Blackfoot Racing expresses his feelings about the weekend: “I’m very proud of what we’ve done. I’m so proud of the kid and how the team worked together. It was an incredible weekend – this is what racing is about. We were all there, including Brett’s family, to share in his success. After eight years of racing, this was our first dominant weekend taking first in both classes. Brett has certainly proved that he is capable of winning races.”

“We couldn’t ask for anything better,” states Mark Jeffery, Suzuki Canada’s Racing Coordinator. “To be leading the championship in both classes after only the 2nd Round is outstanding – mission accomplished. At this point, we are glad that Brett has found his edge at a fast, smooth pace and he is still in his comfort zone. As a one-rider team, our priority is to ensure that Brett arrives safely back to the pits.”

In conjunction with his success, McCormick fully appreciates the support of the team: “when I come off the track, I explain to Pascal and Mike Fitzgerald what is happening with the bike and they take the information and use it to improve the bike. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am.”

McCormick now leads the Superbike series with 104 points, just ahead of Szoke at 98 points.

The team is looking forward to Round 3 in Calgary, AB. To prepare himself, McCormick is heading home to get some rest and train for the next round. “This week I have a bunch of exams to finish up Grade 12 so I will be busy with that,” he explains, “but I will definitely spend some quality time cross-training on my motocross bike and hitting the gym. I like the Calgary track a lot and I’m sure we will be able to do well.”

Round 3 will be held at Race City in Calgary, AB June 26-28. Be sure to check out Round 2 at Circuit ICAR on TSN and TSN HD on Tuesday, July 7 from 1:00pm – 2:00pm and Friday July 10 from 4:00am to 5:00am.

Misano (Republic of San Marino), Tuesday 16th June: having spent the last weeks making long-haul trips to Africa and America, the Ducati Xerox squad can now enjoy a local trip, from Bologna as far as the Italian Adriatic Coast, for the eighth round of the World Superbike championship, taking place this weekend at the Misano World Circuit.

The “home” track for Ducati in recent years, with the absence of Imola from the Superbike calendar, the Misano circuit generally also proves to be the hottest appointment of the season. Five different riders finished on the World Circuit podium in 2008, with then Ducati riders Bayliss, Xaus and Biaggi among them. This year’s Ducati Xerox factory riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio will be looking to reaffirm the strength of the Ducati Superbikes on home turf, with Noriyuki planning to return to form and strengthen his lead and Michel hopeful that two positive results can see him regain second position in the championship standings.

At the last round held in America two weeks ago, of the two Ducati Xerox riders it was Michel to come away with the most points, doing exactly what he set out to do and improving on his results of last year at the Miller Motorsports track by taking a second and a third place finish. Noriyuki meanwhile struggled and suffered his least successful weekend of 2009 to date with an eighth and a ninth place finish.

With half of the 2009 Superbike races now completed, Noriyuki holds 38 more points than last year’s leader, former Ducati Xerox rider Bayliss, held at the mid-way point and also has a greater points advantage over the second placed rider at this stage. If he makes the podium of both of Misano’s races, he will reach obtain the 100th podium finish of his Superbike career. Michel has already collected 201 championship points this year, compared to the 106 he held at this point in 2008. There is however still a long way to go, as Noriyuki and Michel both realise, and the key to success is clearly consistency.

Last year’s Misano podium finisher, former Ducati Xerox rider and current World Champion Troy Bayliss will also be visiting Misano over the weekend in his role as Ducati ambassador, participating in signing sessions and assisting with prize-giving duties.

Noriyuki Haga (1st in championship, 265 points)

This weekend will be Noriyuki’s tenth World Superbike event at Misano and the 34-year old Japanese rider is determined to bounce back after the somewhat disappointing results of Salt Lake.

“The Misano track is very small and tricky with high-speed corners that require aggressive braking. I prefer the new layout but it remains nonetheless a difficult track for me, I don’t really know why. It's always so hot there too, so the tyre choice really comes into play. Anyway, it will be good to be back in front of the Italian crowds, Misano has been the "home" race for Ducati in the last years so I'm sure it'll be crowded with Ducatisti! After a crash and the less than perfect results at the last round of Salt Lake, I plan to be back on form and fighting to win at Misano.”

Haga’s Superbike form at Misano:

2008: Race 1 – 10th, Race 2 – 4th
2007: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 2nd
2006: Race 1 – 5th, Race 2 – 3rd
2005: Race 1 – 6th, Race 2 – 6th
2004: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 4th
2002: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 3rd
2000: Race 1 – 7th, Race 2 – DNF
1999: Race 1 – 8th, Race 2 – DNF
1998: Race 1 - DNF, Race 2 – DNF

Michel Fabrizio (3rd in championship, 201 points)
Michel has not had an easy time of it at this Italian track in the last three years; this needs to change in 2009.

“Misano is not one of my favourite tracks as I’ve had a lot of bad luck there over the years and have never been able to get strong results. Having said that, the support of the fans there is always huge so I hope that this season they will spur me on to achieve my best ever Misano results! I'm back in third place in the championship but, after Salt Lake, me and Ben are extremely close now so I'll be looking to bring home as many points as possible from the track this weekend.”

Fabrizio’s Superbike form at Misano:
2008: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 11th
2007: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – DNF
2006: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 6th

CIRCUIT DATA:
Country: Republic of San Marino
Name: Misano World Circuit
Circuit length: 4.226 km
Pole position: left
Corners left: 6
Corners right: 10
Race distance: 24 laps = 101.424 km

LAP RECORDS: Fastest lap – Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1'36.022 (2007); Superpole – Corser (Yamaha) 1'34.948 (2007).

2008 RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Neukirchner (Suzuki); 2. Corser (Yamaha); 3. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox). Race 2 – 1. Xaus (Ducati); 2. Biaggi (Ducati); 3. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox)

Piloting the potent YZF-R6, Royce Mclean stepped up to the plate at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, QC this past weekend claiming a noteworthy seventh place in both Pro Superbike and Pro Sport Bike racing action. His results saw him chalk up top finishing rookie honours in both championship series.

TORONTO, Ontario (June 10, 2009) – ICAR Montreal, Quebec

After a very promising and successful weekend at the opening round of the Parts Canada Superbike championship at Calabogie, Ontario, the Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. powered by Buell team is looking forward to the challenges of a new track in Montréal this weekend.

At Calabogie, the Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. team had a remarkable record of continued improvement. Note that all three riders, Dave Estok, Steve Crevier, and Darren James, lowered their individual lap times on their Buell® 1125RTM bikes every time they went onto the track. Few teams or riders could make such a claim and the best illustration of this accomplishment was team director and founder Darren James’ performance. James was riding injured after a crash during a practice early in the weekend but still recorded his fastest lap of the Yoshimura Sportbike final on his last lap. The Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. team placed Crevier sixth, Estok eighth, and James thirteenth in the twenty-eight rider field, with each rider advancing from their starting grid position. In the Parts Canada Superbike final, Crevier placed a competitive seventh at race end.

Darren James offered some opinions on this upcoming weekend in Montréal. “I’m excited about it. I am really looking forward to getting back to Quebec and to the passionate fans there. We are pretty happy after Calabogie and we know we are on the right path. We’re getting better on the track and the team is really starting to get to know one another. The track is new and unknown to us, so we’ll just have to ride it and see what we can do.”

Dave Estok also commented on the coming weekend. “I’m looking forward to getting some of that Montréal smoked meat,” he said laughing. “I love going to new tracks and learning them. This one is brand new to us and everyone else so it should be a level playing field. I’ve got a new Buell® 1125RTM sportbike for this weekend and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Unfortunately, as we went to press, Steve Crevier could not be reached, but rest assured that this icon of Canadian Superbike will be on his Buell® 1125RTM Superbike and Sportbike giving his all for the Deeley Racing/Ruthless Racing Inc. team.
On this action-packed weekend at the ICAR Circuit in Mirabel, Quebec, please stop by at the Buell® pit!

For information on how to get to the ICAR Circuit, please refer to www.cdnsuperbike.com.

As part of the 2009 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Television Broadcast Schedule, you will be able to follow the races on Tuesday, July 7 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm and on Friday, July 10 at 4:00am - 5:00am on TSN and TSN HD, Eastern Time.

A little racing history courtesy of BMW.

Munich. “Asking me about the most impressive experience in my racing career, you will make my mind wander back to the year 1939 on that classic island in the Irish Sea, where the world-famous Tourist Trophy has been held for almost a century against the toughest competition you can imagine in international motorsport.”

These were the words in 1948 of Georg “Schorsch” Meier in thinking back of his “most wonderful victory” which now lies 70 years in the past and has long become a legend – for Georg Meier was the first non-English rider to win the Senior Tourist Trophy on his BMW compressor machine. This outstanding victory marked the climax of a long development. BMW had started to test compressor technology in motorcycle racing back in the late ’20s and Ernst Henne’s world records in 1929 had clearly proven that BMW’s supercharged engines were able to offer the very best in power and performance.

Even though this new technology was not yet absolutely reliable at the time, with BMW deciding to still use naturally aspirated engines in some races, the Company’s compressor engines already scored their first success on the road back in 1929: Hans Soenius in the 500-cc and Josef Stelzer in the 750-cc class brought home the first championships with supercharged engines in 1929. The second generation of BMW’s supercharged works motorcycles then made its appearance in 1935, now featuring a modern, welded tubular frame destined to enter series production just a year later in the BMW R 5 and R 6. Now equipped with two overhead camshafts driven in each case by a side shaft, the engine was a brand-new development, just like the foot-shift four-speed transmission.

1937/1938: success on the race track.

With Karl Gall and Ludwig “Wiggerl” Kraus standing out as the most successful riders in the early years, Otto Ley joined the BMW works team in the following season. It was also in the 1937 season that BMW’s machines were upgraded by fitting the rear wheel suspension already tested and proven in six-day races, thus setting off the last disadvantages versus the international competition. As a result, Gall and Ley soon became the most successful riders in the 500-cc class, and Jock West became the first English rider on the BMW Works Team, surprising everybody through his outstanding win in the Ulster Grand Prix in Northern Ireland. And had Karl Gall not been forced to retire while leading the European Grand Prix in Berne, Switzerland, BMW would also have won the European Championship decided for the last time this year in a single race.

BMW’s compressor machines scored their greatest success on the track in 1938, when offroad rider Georg Meier entered his first season on the tarmac, winning the German, Belgian and Italian Grand Prix as well as the Dutch Tourist Trophy and bringing home victory in Hockenheim, Nuremberg and in the Eilenriede Race. This, clearly, meant both the European and the German Championships.

But there were also bad days in 1938 – for example on the Isle of Man. BMW had sent three motorcycles to the Senior TT on the Isle of Man, with Georg Meier, English rider Jock West and Austrian Karl Gall on the starter grid. Gall suffered a severe accident in practice and Georg Meier was forced to retire on the very first lap due to a defective spark plug. The only good news was Jock West bringing home fifth place for BMW, improving his position over the previous year by one place in the final list of results.

Going for it: careful preparation for racing in 1939.

To quote Georg Meier, “this did not discourage us in any way in our plans to enter this challenging race with the same works team also in the years to come. So together with BMW’s small Racing Department we arrived in Douglas in good time, since the official practice sessions started fourteen days before the race. Early in the morning, at the break of dawn, we were already out there on the roughly 60-kilometre-long island track where people claimed that” only an English rider was able to win the race”. And believe me, the circuit with all its substantial challenges really demanded the utmost of the rider. The big advantage was that early in the morning the roads were absolutely empty, apart from the riders themselves, a few officials and the mechanics working untiringly on their jobs – the big crowd and all the spectators were not there yet.”

Still, BMW’s compressor machines from Germany were the subject of close scrutiny and observation – which is no surprise, considering that the Type 255 BMW RS 500 was not be underestimated: Displacing 492 cc, these outstanding machines developed 60 horsepower at 7,000 rpm thanks to their mechanical supercharger.

To keep the rider in control, properly handling all this power at such high speeds, the engines featured side shafts leading into the two cylinder heads where two overhead camshafts in each cylinder head controlled the gas cycle. Benefiting from low weight of just 138 kg or 304 lb, the compressor BMW had a top speed of more than 220 km/h or 136 mph, provided the rider was consistently crouching down over the machine. So within just a few hours after practice, the TT Magazine presented exact studies of the three riders and the speed recorded in each case.

Terrible news: Karl Gall killed in an accident.

The 1939 TT was a tragic event for Karl Gall, before the race had even started: On 2 June 1939 Gall once again suffered a severe fall in practice on the jump over Ballaugh Bridge. And this time he was so badly injured that he died eleven days later. Once again, therefore, the Tourist Trophy had proven its reputation of being the toughest road race in the world.

Despite this tragedy, BMW decided to remain in the race. “But I was really under great mental stress at the start, with each rider setting out in thirty-second intervals,” states Georg Meier in retrospect, looking back at 16 June 1939. Meier nevertheless rode a fantastic race, setting up a new lap record in the very first lap and leading the race ahead of his 42 competitors right from the start.

In lap two he improved his own record once again, becoming faster and faster as the race continued: “I was able to complete the seven laps without any significant incidents and I received good news from the pits every time, so that I knew exactly what was going on. Filling up the tank twice in about 17 seconds, which allowed me to change my glasses and have a refreshing drink, went very well. And then, after 2 hours and 57 minutes, I at last saw the man with the blackand-white chequered flag waving me in as the winner. What I really wanted to do most at that point was literally kiss and hug my wonderful machine with its white-and-blue colours on the tank which, apart from all those flies on the wind deflector, still looked brand new, without the slightest trace of oil or any signs of the incredible race we had just been through.”

Meier’s average speed was exactly 143.723 km/h or 89.108 mph, again a sensation. As the next rider to cross the finish line, Jock West came in two minutes later on his compressor BMW, giving the Company a perfect one-two victory, especially as he was more than half a minute ahead of rider number three F.L. Frith on a Norton.

Beaten only by the rules.

Now, at the very latest, the BMW compressor machine was regarded as unbeatable. So when after World War II German riders were initially banned from international racing, they simply continued racing their compressor motorcycles in national events. And in most cases BMW finished right at the top, with Georg Meier on his compressor machine (which he had hidden in a barn during the War) bringing home all German championships from 1948–1950. During these four years the works racing machines saw a number of modifications before the last national race with compressor motorcycles took place on the Grenzlandring Circuit in September 1950. From now on German manufacturers and riders were once again able to enter international sports events, but here supercharged engines had been banned since 1945. So in response BMW converted some of the compressor machines to natural aspiration technology.

As a result of this ongoing development and modifications in the post-war years, hardly any of the works racing machines still in existence today are now in their pre-war condition. Even the works machine on display in the BMW Museum features the modifications made for the last few races. And while BMW knew the whereabouts of a racing machine in pre-war trim, the famous owner of this motorcycle enjoyed the machine himself regularly at racing events and for years would not even consider selling it: John Surtees, the only racing driver to win both the Formula 1 and the Motorcycle World Championship. He had bought the BMW in disassembled form in the early ’80s, restoring this unique machine in a painstaking process and with a clear focus on the original. But in the meantime this unique machine has returned to its first “home” and is regularly entered in historical events.

Two Wheel Motorsports of Guelph and Kawasaki presents Round 3 of 6 in the 2009 Royal Distributing and Motovan.com CMRC Ontario Provincial Motocross Championships Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14 at Walton Raceway.

In addition this event is the fourth and final Amateur National Qualifier (ANQ) for the southwestern Ontario region of CMRC (Canadian Motorsport Racing Club). Success at the ANQs is critical for riders wanting to participate in the August 12-16 Walton TransCan GNC.

The Grand National Championship is a limited entry event which only accepts riders from across the country who have demonstrated their ability by placing in the top ranks of their respective regional qualifiers. In southwestern Ontario only the top 11 riders in each class qualifier are guaranteed a starting gate position at the TransCan!

The support of Two Wheel Motorsports of Guelph and Kawasaki has enabled us to offer the two day format which results in longer motos and better track maintenance so visit Graeme and Ron to give them some props. For the past 5 years the Walton Double Header in June has seen the biggest rider entry of any event in the country. Not only that, but with so much at stake, it attracts competitors from neighbouring states and provinces for some of the most intense battles and spectacular displays of skill you will see short of the August TransCan.

So grab some sunscreen and a comfy lawn chair and come celebrate the start of summer!

Event Details:

Start Time: Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 8:00am
End Time: Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 6:00pm
Location: 42852 Walton Rd, Walton, ON, Canada
Street: 42852 Walton Road
City/Town: Seaforth, ON

FRIDAY

GATES OPEN: from 4pm to 10pm
EARLY SIGN-IN : Fri. from 7pm to 9pm

GATE FEES :

$10 per day per adult for admission
$7 per day per child (age 5 - 11)for admission
Preschoolers are FREE (to age 4)
Motor home/trailer/vehicle pays $10 per night camping for overnight stay.
** visitors arriving Friday or up to 3:00pm Saturday will be required to purchase a full weekend pass and will be issued a wrist band but if leaving before 6:00pm Saturday can request a refund for the the Sunday gate.

SATURDAY

GATES OPEN: 6:00am.
SIGN-IN : 6:30am to 8:30am
MANDATORY Riders Meeting at 8:00am
PRACTICE Begins at 8:15am
RACING follows practice starting approx. 9:30am
EARLY SIGN-IN FOR SUNDAY: Saturday evening from 8pm to 9pm

GATES CLOSE: 10:00pm

SUNDAY

GATES OPEN: 6:00am

GATE FEES :
$10 per adult per day
$7 per child (5 - 11) per day
Preschoolers FREE (to age 4)

SIGN-IN : 6:30am to 8:30am

The International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) is the oldest 'off road' motorcycle event on the FIM Calendar and for 2009 it's being held October 12-17, 2009. Canada has sent a contingent of riders in the past. In 2008 the event was held in Serres, Greece.

First held in 1913 at Carlisle, England, the ISDE has occurred annually, except from a couple of interruptions due to World War I and World War II.

Well, if you've been thinking you'd like to go but don't want to have to worry about getting your bike to Portugal, KTM has the answer - rent a bike from them!

From KTM:

KTM Motorsports is proud to announce the continuation of its rental program for the 84th running of the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) to be held in Portugal October 12-17, 2009.

All ISDE participants will be given the opportunity to rent a 2010 KTM EXC model series motorcycle with special Six Days features. The following models are available for rent:

2-stroke: 125 EXC, 250 EXC and the 300 EXC
4-stroke: 250 EXC-F, 450 EXC and the 530 EXC

All rental bikes are homologated EXC motorcycles based on the 2010 models equipped with:

· KTM EXC Six-Days graphics “2009 ISDE Portugal”
· Six Days seat with pocket
· PowerParts Chain and Sprocket
· Plastic engine guard with quick release fastener on all 4-strokes
· Aluminum engine guard for all 2-strokes
· Milled triple clamps without variable setting
· Race Parts Kit (MX handguards, fork venting system, frame guard, front axle puller, handlebar pad and brake pad retainer).

KTM will offer this rental program in cooperation with KTM Spain. The price for motorcycle rental is $2,400 USD for 2-stroke models and $2,800 USD for 4-stroke models. This price includes the rental of the bike through the duration of the event, transport costs to Portugal and registration and insurance of the motorcycle for the event.

To rent a KTM motorcycle for the ISDE, please download the appropriate order form by clicking on the following link

All order forms must be returned to Antti Kallonen at akallonen@ktmnorthamerica.com or fax: (951) 677-2307. The deadline to order bikes is June 26, 2009. All orders will be handled on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. No delivery guarantee can be given for orders received after the order deadline.

Whitby. Two races into the 2009 FMSQ Enduro Championship series, BMW Motorrad Canada Motorsports factory rider Guy Giroux leads both the extreme-cross and enduro-cross championships.

After a hard-fought race in miserable rain-soaked conditions, Guy rode the BMW Motorrad Canada Motorsports G450X to 1st place with a dramatic half-lap lead in the highly technical extreme-cross race in the FMSQ season-opener in Granby, Quebec on May 9. He followed this performance in similarly challenging conditions on the Sunday, May 10 enduro-cross race, pounding through endless mud-holes and generally gruesome terrain to finish 2nd – some 6 minutes ahead of the 3rd place finisher.

At round 2 of the FMSQ in Beauce, Quebec, on May 31, on a fast, yet slippery track, Guy again encountered miserable weather, including hail, but nevertheless, in his inimitable “banzai” style, rode the BMW G450X to a 1st place finish in the enduro-cross event.

“The bike was just awesome both on the trails and the grass, with excellent power!” enthused Guy, adding, “Not bad for a dual-sport bike!”, also commenting: “The first two races were a great test for both the BMW and me! I am really looking forward to the next race which is a really fast course where the BMW will feel right at home!”.

As the FMSQ series ramps up for round 3 in Ferme-Neuve, Quebec, on June 27-28, Guy holds a 7 point lead over 2nd place Michael Metcalf (KTM). The next three weeks will be spent in training and further testing and tuning of the BMW Motorrad Canada Motorsports G450X.

Guy will have a formidable schedule for the balance of the season as he will be riding the BMW Motorrad Canada Motorsports G450X in seven out of the remaining eight races in the FMSQ schedule, while simultaneously competing in the brand-new 8-race Canadian Enduro Championship starting on July 4th and 5th in Blairmore, Alberta. Incredibly, he’ll also find time to compete in some Motocross events on “spare” weekends, and the Montreal Supercross. Not only riding, Guy is also his own “ team manager, truck driver and mechanic.“

The BMW G450X Enduro, fully street-legal, yet designed for “hard-core” off-road competition, went on sale in Canada in the fall of 2008.

Well, after yesterdays shocking news of KTM's withdrawal from the Dakar we went looking for a bit of information on the rule changes. We found some, but it reads a little like a bad google translation - all the information is there but it just isn't quite clear enough to be exactly sure what it means.

We thought we'd post the direct quote from the ASO here regarding the rule changes, as they apply to motorcycles:


Bikes: on equal terms
For several years, more and more of the top bikers have won specials or finished in the leading ten overall positions using under 450cc bikes. At the same time, the smaller capacity machines have been more and more present, representing 40% of the registered riders at the start of the 2009 Dakar. Financially more accessible and more reliable than the older bikes of the previous generations and now more adapted to the demands of off-road rallies, the 450cc still have a deficit in performance that prevent them from reaching even higher ambitions. This difference will be totally erased for the 2011 Dakar during which only bikes with engines under 450cc will be accepted.

A bridle in 2010 for the amateurs over 450cc
In order to reach this objective of levelness between competitors that will open the number of potential victory contenders, a transition measure has been taken for the 2010 Dakar. Aware of the important number of competitors already having bikes of over 450cc, the organisers have decided to accept them for this edition with the obligation to set up a bridle reducing the power of the engine. This bridle, conceived to limit the performance to the level of the 450cc, will be provided by the rally organisation.

The champions on 450cc in 2010
This modification aiming to support the amateur riders that want to line up at the start of the rally will not be applicable to a certain number of professionals and semi-professionals for which a list will be established later. The possible winners will therefore be forced to use as soon as 2010 a bike of under 450cc. On equal terms, they will battle it out using the qualities that define champions in the discipline: physical endurance, piloting, navigation.

The MotoCzysz E1pc is the American-made creation of Michael Czysz and he refers to the bike as a "D1g1tal Superbike" So, digital superbike... you get the idea.

What you should know about this machine is that it's all electric and includes upgradable powertrain components, 10 battery packs, and 3 motors. Yes that's impressive and all, but what's really, really impressive is that all that stored electricity can make this bike go from zero to 120 mph in about 7-8 seconds; or about as quick as many 09, 1000cc bikes from the major manufacturers. OK now that's IMPRESSIVE!

The MotoCzysz E1pc is set to compete in the Isle of Mann TTXGP race, which starts June 12th. This will be a historical motorcycle racing event and one to watch, only it's not airing in Canada to my knowledge. If you want to tune in you can reportedly register at the Isle of Mann website to watch it streaming. Not sure how much that would cost. We'll have to check into that.

Czysz is even talking about producing the bike for the public in the near future too. Keep your fingers crossed.

Image courtesy AutoBlogGreen.

Some shocking news from KTM in response to rule changes by the ASO on the displacement size of motorcycles allowed in the Dakar.

Full release...

"Rally Dakar” – KTM withdraws!

The limiting of motorcycles with a displacement of 450 cc forces the long term dominator of the Dakar Rally to withdraw.

Following the announcement at a press conference on June 4, 2009 of the French “ASO” - the organisers of the “South American Dakar“ that from 2010, only motorcycles with a maximum displacement of 450 cc will be permitted to compete, KTM, after eight consecutive victories, has decided to immediately accept the consequences and announces its withdrawal from the “Dakar”.

The company will no longer be represented at the rally in South America either with an official factory team or a KTM-supported team. At the same time, KTM underlines that the company remains committed to rally sport and will now concentrate its efforts on the world championship and other important rallies.

The organiser’s short term change to the rules, designed to end the dominance of KTM, and which comes without any advance warning, hits the KTM factory hard. Today, just six months before the start – and at a time when not only the factory team but also dozens of private teams are deep in preparations for this extremely complex rally, the immediate withdrawal of the worldwide market leader of offroad sports motorcycle is the only possible consequence.

“Every sport regulation needs changes and adjustments to new developments to retain an interest in it, but this also require the appropriate lead times. We have the entire material for the 690 Rally motorcycles for our factory team as well as that for 50 customers’ motorcycles in our storage facility ready to be constructed in June. Riders’ contracts have been finalised and all the team members have been engaged. The financial consequences that results from this decision are enormous. Quite apart from this, we are shocked by the organiser’s lack of loyalty, above all because of the huge efforts we made following the cancellation of the Dakar in 2008 by contributing to the new edition - even during a period of extreme economic crisis,” said KTM Motor Sport Advisor and “Rally Legend” Heinz Kinigadner in a first statement.

Following the decision for the deployment of 450cc motorcycles, which are unthinkably unsuitable for use in long distance rallies, KTM can no longer economically justify a commitment to be engaged in the Dakar in the future. KTM Motor Sport Director Winfried Kerschhaggl: “Rally sport serves to prove the efficiency and stability of our large volume series single cylinder. There is no question that we will remain active in rally sport! Having said that, for KTM, the rally in South America is now history. We will now fully concentrate on the Rally World Championship and we will seek out alternatives. Maybe we will soon again see full KTM Rally engagement on African soil – back to the roots!”

With its commitment to rally sports, KTM naturally takes the obligations to its long term worldwide customers seriously because it is they who have decided to put their trust in the products and in the unique service of the Austrian company for rally sport by choosing KTM motorcycles.