At just 15 years of age, Calgary’s Phil DeGama-Blanchet has emerged as the latest name to watch for in Canadian motorcycle road racing after bursting onto the national scene in 2023. With multiple CSBK podium finishes including a win in the final Amateur Superbike race of the season, this young gun served notice that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. Inside Motorcycles sat down with Phil to talk about his career to date, moving up to the CSBK and his plans moving forward.
Inside Motorcycles: Let’s start out with your background with motorcycles and the beginning of this journey.
Phil DeGama-Blanchet: My background and passion for motorcycles really stems from my dad. He’s been riding motorcycles for over 40 years. In 2010 he started racing regional events with the CMRA at Race City Motorsports Park, I was only two years old at the time, so I only accompanied him to the track once. Unfortunately, the track closed in 2011, leaving my dad with nowhere close by to race.
All the way through my early childhood there were motor¬cycles around me. I had motorcycle hats, figurines, toys and my dad would frequently ride his Ducati on the street; however, I never rode a motorcycle myself until early 2017. There was a booth at the Calgary Motorcycle Show, with Yamaha PW50s for kids to ride, their power was severely limited, of course. They suited me up in some old motocross gear and I hopped on and got my first taste of the passion that defines me.
It was later in the year, around June, and my dad told me to get in the car. He didn’t tell me where we were going but assured me I was going to love it. He brought me to Strathmore Motorsports Park (called North Star Raceway at the time) in Strathmore, AB, where the Alberta Mini Roadracing Association (AMRA) ran their events. I started riding on a Suzuki DR-Z70. Me and a couple other kids were suited up and brought to an unpaved, dirt section of the parking lot to learn the controls. I was shown the throttle, and immediately gunned it. I panicked and froze up, crashing into a trash can. However, I was un¬deterred. Eventually, I figured out the basics and was allowed on track. I did some track days and improved but I fractured my wrist in a crash a couple short weeks after. However, I was obsessed, and I shifted my focus to returning for the 2018 season.
IM: You started mini road racing in 2017 at the age of nine? For many parents sending their child out on to a racetrack at that age may be frightening. What advice would you offer to them?
PDB: Yes, I did start mini road racing at the age of 9 in 2017. I still look back on that fracture as one of the unluckiest injuries of my career so far. I had never seen someone injure themselves like that on a 70 cc minibike, and I haven’t seen it since. It really isn’t that dangerous, it’s much safer than letting them come for a ride on the street with you. It’s a very controlled environment. If they crash, there is always someone there to help. Never hold your kids back from their passions due to your own concern for them.
IM: What are some of the highlights from your time in mini road racing?
PDB: Winning the JR MacRae fall endurance race with Torin Collins, racing against him on 65 cc two-stroke motards and racing with the people and community in BC with the Pacific Coast Mini Roadracing Club (PCMRC) were the big highlights.
IM: Looking back how did the experience of mini road racing in your first years of competing help prepare you for the level of racing you have entered in 2023?
PDB: Mini road racing definitely helped me build my fundamentals in a safe environment. I’m very grateful I got to start so early, and that I could build those foundations before a lot of my competitors did. The aspect of fine bike control and finesse is one of the most prevalent examples of how much minis have helped me. I haven’t crashed on the 600 at any point this year, and I’ve had a lot of saves which I don’t think would have been possible without the sheer volume of practice I had on bikes that required me to save the front end every couple of corners.
IM: 2022 saw you competing in the FIM Road to MotoGP North America Talent Cup. What was that experience like?
PDB: 2022 was a huge step for me. It was my first time stepping away from kart tracks and minibikes, and up to full size tracks and 250 cc bikes. The learning curve was monumental, and I was not used to the speed. It was a very challenging year at times, but the highlights were definitely going to race at Circuit of The Americas on the MotoGP weekend, that was a once in a lifetime experience, finishing 6th at The Ridge Motorsports Park and the museum at Barber Motorsports Park.
IM: With NATC and now CSBK, you experienced a lot of tracks for the first time. How do you prepare to race a new track and what advice can you offer when it comes to learning a new track?
PDB: I used to really struggle with learning new tracks, and I’ve learned that nothing external can truly prepare you for actually riding a track. However, I do have a routine I go through when¬ever I’m going to a track that’s new to me. For one to two weeks before I arrive I will religiously study on-board footage and track maps of the track. If I can find a virtual version of the racetrack in Assetto Corsa, I’ll drive it in the game to attempt to learn my sur-roundings. Once I am at the track, after every session I will draw the track in a notebook, and write my markers and references down, as well as things I need to improve on. I will review these notes for a couple minutes before I go out for every session.
IM: The cancellation of the 2023 NATC saw a new door open for you with CSBK, where you competed in both Amateur Sport Bike and Amateur Superbike. How did you prepare for what has to be a major jump, not only in the size of bike but also the speed of the races?
PDB: I did two track days at Area 27 Motorsports Park, and then we hopped on a flight to Shannonville! Jumping from 250s to 600s was a tremendous challenge. It took me until the Friday of my first national race weekend with CSBK to get totally used to the speed and acceleration. For my first couple sessions at Area 27 the sheer velocity had me yelling in my helmet. Beyond the pure speed of the bike, I was used to hustling super lightweight machines weighing about 250 pounds; the 600s weight almost 400 pounds. My fitness was not where it needed to be and I was completely exhausted after the race weekend at Shannonville.
IM: What are some of the highlights of your first year in CSBK?
PDB: The big ones were the first podium at Grand Bend Motorplex early in the season, and then the entire final weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park. The previous weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park was extremely challenging. Bouncing back to four podiums (3rd, 3rd, 2nd and 1st.) was euphoric. Not only that but winning a national race on my last chance was an amazing feeling. Doing a victory lap with the checkered flag is a feeling that I have yet to experience from anything else.
IM: Do you think competing at the CSBK level at the age of just 15 is an advantage or a disadvantage?
PDB: I think It’s a huge advantage. Being able to start so early and gather experience and track knowledge at such a young age gives me a boatload of opportunities and potential for the future. I’m really glad I moved to this series at such a young age.
IM: Tell us about your plans for the 2024 season and beyond.
PDB: We’re moving to the Pro classes in CSBK for next year, my aim is for a top five overall finish, maybe to win a race or two. The end goal for right now would be a move to race in MotoAmerica, but that is still quite far off. Those American guys are fast! When I think I can compete with them, and it’s worth the investment, we will try to make it happen.
IM: Who are some the racers who you look up to?
PDB: I really look up to Torin Collins and Brett McCormick. Torin has been my mentor since almost day 1 and is an amazing friend even outside of racing. He has taught me a good portion of what I know about racing, I really wouldn’t be where I am now without him. He works incredibly hard to compete with the best Juniors in the world in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship. Its seriously inspiring.
I admire Brett for the way he put Canada on the map in his season in Europe in 2012, even though it was cut short, he proved that there is a route to international competition from CSBK. He is the only rider to have ever beaten Jordan Szoke in his prime, with Szoke still riding the full season.
IM: Racing is an expensive proposition that requires support and sponsorship. Who are the individuals and companies that you would like to thank?
PDB: There are so many amazing people that have helped me on this insane journey, I’ll try to thank everyone here but I might miss a few: Willie and Nadine Vass, Area 27 Motorsports Park, Rocky Mountain Motorsports Park, Pixel Imaging, Michele from Eurorace Canada, Lock’s Pharmacy, Steve Reed, Torin and Rupert Collins, Hardnox Track Dayz, KYT Helmet, Jack Carter Powersports South, Mackenzie and Mike Weil, John from Bragg Creek Powersports, LRX Performance, Ryan Taylor, Justin Knapik from OnTrackPerformance, Sam, Kaylan, Noah, Cooper, my dad for everything he’s done over the years, and my mom for always supporting me.
This feature article originally appeared in the pages of the December 2023 issue of Inside Motorcycles magazine.
<
Discussion about this post