Redemption for Robinson

By John Hopkins

MONT-TREMBLANT, Que. – Tim Robinson ended a season of disappointment by taking his first win of the Bazzaz Amateur Superbike season at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant on Sunday.

Riding the Robinson Racing / Gym-Max BMW S1000RR, the Gatineau, Que. rider grabbed the holeshot from second on the grid and was never challenged over the 10-lap race, finishing 4.163 secs. ahead of the OneSpeed / Riders Choice Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Trevor Daley.

Robinson was a favourite for the Amateur Superbike title coming into the season but had been unable to fulfill his potential before Sunday. He qualified on pole for the season opener at Shannonville Motorsport Park but ran off the track in the wet race and finished 11^th, he was sixth at Autodrome St-Eustache after qualifying second, and crashed out of the Atlantic Motorsport Park round, again after starting second.

“It’s about time I smartened up at the nationals,” said a beaming Robinson. “I’ve had a rough time at these races, and it’s all been on me.

“I wanted to get off to a fast start and break away. My second lap was my quickest and I settled into a rhythm.”

Indeed, Robinson had the race’s fastest lap, a 1:43.913 on lap two.

The win boosted Robinson into second in the class point standings heading to the season-ending doubleheader at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in two weeks, although he’s 74 points behind class leader Daley, who has 183 points to Robinson’s 109.

Daley continued his steady season by claiming his fourth podium finish after starting from pole position. While Robinson took off at the front the Mississauga, Ont. rider found himself in a battle with series newcomer Stephane Brisbois of Mirabel, Que. on a Honda CBR1000RR. Daley led the pair most of the race and managed to open up a gap of a little over a second at the finish, turning his fastest lap on the penultimate tour.

Gatineau, Que.’s Stephane Houle recovered from a post-qualifying penalty that left him ninth on the grid (his bike ran out of gas on the dyno) to finish fourth on the 613 Motorsports / Jim Keay Ford-Lincoln Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Philippe Masse was fifth aboard the racingphil.com / Pete’s Superbike Kawasaki ZX-6R and Will Hornblower took sixth with the Hornblower Racing / Blue Streak / ProPulsion Yamaha YZF-R6. Hornblower is third in Amateur Superbike points with 105, just four behind Robinson, while Masse sits fourth with 99. However, both will be at a clear disadvantage at the high speed CTMP circuit on their 600cc machinery.

Robinson, meanwhile, is feeling confident heading into the finale. He scored a win in Amateur Superbike there last year and holds the class lap record.

Race Results

Point Standings