Nesbitt claims CBR250R crown

By John Hopkins

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. — Stacey Nesbitt wrapped up the Honda CBR250R National Race Series title with a second place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Sunday.

The St-Lazare, Que. rider ended the year with 448 points to the 425 of Pickering, Ont.’s Ryan Roche, who took fourth in the season finale.

Peterborough, Ont.’s Tomas Casas claimed his fourth straight win for the Peterborough Cycle Salvage team, finishing 7.408 secs. ahead of Nesbitt, who won a battle with Oakville, Ont.’s Cameron Walker for the runner-up spot.

“I’m glad I was able to go for this title,” said Nesbitt, who was last season’s CBR125R Challenge national champion. “It was fun to come out and race with this group again.”

Nesbitt got the holeshot at the start of the 10-lap race on her Powesports Canada-backed CBR250R but Casas was in front by the end of the first lap and steadily pulled away for his sixth win in 10 events this year.

“I’ve been comfortable ever since we got to the track this weekend,” said Casas, who finished third in the final point standings. “I wanted to pull a gap in front and then at the end I just eased up a bit.”

Needing only to finish ahead of Roche to be assured of the title, Nesbitt was expected to play it cautious on Sunday. But she got locked into a good fight with Walker and admitted she would have had a go at Casas if not for an unusual setback.

“My hair got in my eyes at the beginning and it was all downhill from there,” she admitted. “My bangs were in my face and that distracted me just enough. I wanted to go for the win and I’m kind of disappointed Tomas got away. Maybe I should have played it safe, but the racer got a hold of me.”

Walker scored an impressive podium finish in his second ever national appearance. The 14-year-old was fifth in his series debut on Saturday.

Roche was forced to compete on a hastily prepared back-up bike after he was involved in a frightening three-rider incident that brought out the red flag on the opening lap of the race.

Sean Smith went down in front of a pack of riders in turn nine and one racer was launched over his bike, while another ran over the Calgary rider. Smith was transported to hospital in nearby Oshawa with undisclosed injuries, although he was conscious and communicating with rescue crews at the scene of the crash.

Media Challenge competitor Costa Mouzouris was caught up in the crash and suffered an arm injury, although he was able to walk to the medical centre. Roche was unhurt but his bike was wrecked.

Laval, Que.’s Pascal Bastien of Moto 123 repeated as winner of the Media Challenge division. Mouzouris, riding for CMG Online, clinched the Media title on Saturday.

Inside Motorcycles managing editor Graeme Jones improved on his sixth place finish from Saturday to take fourth on Sunday after a race-long scrap with Roche and David Booth.

Race Results

Point Standings

Media Challenge