Just like Mom ordered for Mother’s day, bright sunny weather was a welcome addition to the 2018 R.A.C.E. SuperSeries opening round. After the previous two seasons saw horrible weather and a cancellation of last years opening round, this year got off to a great start with sunny skies, a full paddock and incredible racing.
The first race of the season took place on Saturday, with the CSBK Lightweight Sportbike class having their first outing. This support class will be featured at all Mopar sponsored Canadian Superbike National rounds, featuring the smaller bikes at around 300cc. Shannonville Motorsport Park will also kick off the National season in two weeks on May 25th. to 27th. The new support class will be heavily contested and promises to be one of the most exciting race classes for CSBK.
When the dust settled on the Lightweight group it was Accelerated Technologies John Sharrard that captured the first checkered flag to be aired out for the 18-rider field. In second place was young Ben LeClair with Conner Campbell a close third. Fastest lap of the race went to Alex Berthiaume at 114.202 kph and 1:17.862, but he had to settle for a fourth place finish.
In Sunday’s Pro Superbike finals action, it was Newcastle’s Eli Daccache, series number one plate holder, who jumped into an early lead on his new Yamaha R1. Hot on his heels was Royal Distributing backed Michael Leon riding a BMW S1000RR. Mitch Card and Steven Nickerson had a race long battle for the final step of the podium. Leon pushed Daccache for several laps before making the pass into the lead and then romped into first for the win. Daccache had to settle for second and Card bested Nickerson at the finish line for third. Louie Raffa had a great race to finish fourth while Kingston rider “Jammin” Jeff Williams took a borrowed bike to fifth.
In Pro 600 competition, National number one racer Tomas Casas gave himself a ninetieth birthday present with a run away win. Behind him a war ensued with several other riders for the runner up status and when the checkered flag fell to complete the race it was, Louie Raffa in second with Elliot Vieira the Guianese rider in third. Belleville’s “Take Mike for Granite” sponsored Mike Raniowski took fourth while Cameron Walker took fifth. The race was supposed to see the return of fan favourite Frank “The Warlord” Trombino but he crashed heavily, destroying his bike and putting an end to his weekend.
Andrew Haick won the 12-lap Amateur Superbike race, just ahead of Dave Natale and Jared Walker. In fourth was Nik Koleros with Ed Zahra in fifth.
Max Kathron had a great outing, taking the Amateur 600 Sportbike win, just ahead of Danny Caya. The final step of the podium went to Mike Grass. Craig Archer finished just shy of a podium position with Jared Walker rounding out the top five.
In Sunday’s second CSBK Lightweight Sportbike racing, the LeClair family hogged most of the trophies with young sensation Jake LeClair well ahead of the rest of the field for the win. Younger brother Ben LeClair took second with Matthew Simpson hot on his heels in third. John Taverner had a good outing for fourth just ahead of Auto Trader backed Jacob Black close behind in fifth.
Many of the same riders again took the field in the Mopar Expresslane Lightweight Production racing. Once again Jake LeClair proved to be unbeatable with a run away win. John Taverner was a distant second aboard his Yamaha R3 with veteran racer Allan Burns taking third. Matthew Simpson finished just shy of a podium in fourth just ahead of Jacob Black.
Michael Leon took another victory in the 12 lap Sprint Cup final. Eli Daccache once again had to settle for runner up status. Steven Nickerson had a great race and captured the final podium step with Mitch Card wrestling his Yamaha R1 into fourth. Pedro Sousa finished close behind in fifth.
Racing resumes again in 2 weeks, May 26th. to 27th. as Shannonville Motorsport Park hosts Round 1 of the Mopar CSBK National Superbike races.
<
Discussion about this post