The second event of the 2021 CSBK National Road racing championship took place on Sunday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, with a strong completion to three days at “old Mosport” that featured almost everything imaginable except a plague of locusts.
Due to severe schedule issues, all of Sunday’s Podiums took place at the end of the day, leading to Announcer Frank Wood having to remind competitors just what race they were chatting about for the crowds and TSN cameras. It was especially comical for the three Superbike Feature race podiums, as the riders at one point “self served” themselves into the correct order to start the celebrations for the previous race!
The third and final Superbike thriller ended with Jordan Szoke (Kawasaki) holding of an aggressive Ben Young (BMW) and points leader Alex Dumas (Suzuki). Slowing on the cool-off lap, Young and Dumas somehow tangled at low speed in turn two, and both went down, delaying their return for the Podium.
Fortunately, no one was injured by the low-speed incident, partly because Dumas landed atop a straw bale! Young triggered the air bag system in his Alpinestars suit and was annoyed that the pristine white leather was now less-than perfect.
Still, Young was thrilled when the 2019 Champ received the relaunched “King of Mosport” Award, complete with crown. This trophy goes to the Pro racer with the best overall result over the three Superbike races and was last awarded in the early 2000s.
In that era, Show and race promotor Bar Hodgson came up with the “King of Mosport” to recognize a strong effort over a variety of classes, in an era with Formula USA came to Canada for Match Races. Riders like Australian Craig Connell and Michael Taylor took home the award, and proudly wore their crown, back in the day.
Fully engaged wearing his 2021 crown before the podium crowd, and excited Young then co-opted an Australian sporting tradition, celebrating with an alcoholic toast – from his Astar boot. After following F1’s Daniel Ricciardo and MotoGP’s Jack Miller into poor hygiene history, Young then offered Trevor Daley the chance to “do a shoey.”
Daley, always up for entertainment and a recent “odd couple” CSBK video feature performer with Young, was happy to oblige. However, observers were surprised that Dumas also took part in this disturbing new Podium tradition.
Daley’s celebrity pit crew for the weekend, IM columnist Brett McCormick (2011 CSBK National Champ) and former “Cycle Canada” Editor and Vintage racer Neil Graham, attended the Trophy celebrations in style. Attired in matching shirts and shorts, it is hard to find the words for a look that many considered best described as “summer pyjamas.” IS there an observant fashionista who can explain this trend?
Quebec City’s Samuel Guerin was a star as a rookie Pro last season, but so far this year has been nothing but frustration for the likeable EFC Group BeeMm racer. So, the news that he had won a FAST Riding School Hard Charger award for the opener was a positive, but CSBK staff couldn’t find him in the Paddock to get him to the Podium.
However, as new FAST owner Martin Hamel was ready to take the Podium with the “big cheque,” Guerin was identified in street clothes, watching the festivities from the other side of the crowd fencing. So the presentation took place as planned, unlike many scheduling challenges over the three days at C.T.M.P.
During the top three presentations of the second AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike, race winner Anthony Bergeron gave a long, complicated and highly entertainment of his week at C.T.M.P. Like many competitors, he attended track days offered by Pro 6 or Rider’s Choice prior to the three days of CSBK racing. For class points leader Bergeron, these didn’t go well.
Its hard to remember all the details from a lengthy, spontaneous speech, but Bergeron explained that he had a crash, then an engine issue in another bike, before borrowing a third BMW – I think he said from his father? Then he crashed out of second early in the first race, and also had problems with his girlfriend’s leathers, since they were too tight in certain spots.
Runner-up Alex Cleary and third placed Pascal Bastien (winner of the other Amateur Superbike counter) were amused, as was almost all of the crowd, at least all who could keep up!
Super Sonic Road Race School Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike class activity produced a pair of typically close battles for victory, along with lap records and the expected photo finishes. The Podium featured the comedy stylings of former Australian, former journalist and now Canadian Kawasaki Motors Marketing guy Jacob Black.
Ltwt ace Mackenzie Weil scored both wins with the Motorcyclecourse.ca Kawasaki Ninja, Black .2 of a second behind for second overall in race one, and an incredible .016 behind in the second event, where Paul Etienne Courtois was also right there (.08 behind) with his Honda CBR500R.
Black explained his race from the Podium, as well as correcting anyone who thanked Canadian Kawasaki. From there, Black offered racing tips and dating advice to his fellow competitors. Maybe a “king of Mosport – Comedy Category” will be the next new CSBK award?
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