Tour B.C. - Rides to the Races

Who are these racers? What are the racing Rules?

The Rules/ The Classes

There are 3 major road racing classes in the Cdn Superbike Series.

The first is the 600cc class. Here the bikes can weight a minumum of 380lbs and have a maximum of 105 hp. The 600 class often has the most exciting action as all the bikes are on a even level. Privateers have been known to do well. Don Munroe, who has won the 600 class for the past 5 years straight , has retired leaving the title open in 99.

The Open Class has a 140hp limit and a 380 pound weight requirement. The top finishers have their bikes tested post race on a Dynojet dyno and on a carefully calibrated scale. Some racers last year were having to detune(!) theirYamaha R1's to get under the then 135hp limit. At Calgary last year, Micheal Taylor's ZX-9 weighted in at 402lbs and pumped out a 133hp. He won going away.

Superbike is the premiere racing class. Here you'll see tricked out bikes with Ohlin's forks, Dunlop slicks, monster brakes and big horsepower. Unlike World Superbike and AMA Superbike Cdn Superbike racing has no displacement level: That's why you'll see R1's vs GSX750R, ZX-7's and CBR 900 RR. Many Superbikes are pumping out in excess of 150 hp.

THE RACERS

Honda

Ending months of speculation, reigning Canadian Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke announced Dec. 16 he will ride for Honda Canada in 1999. The '98 feature race victor in both Calgary and St. Felicien, Szoke surprised more experienced teammates Don Munroe and Michael Taylor to snatch the premier Canadian title in his first attempt.

The 20-year-old will compete on CBR900RR equipment in both the featured Superbike class and Open Sportbike Classes. He will also be competing on the new CBR 600 F4 in the 600 Sportbike Class.

Szoke's other teammates at Honda will include Owen Weichel. Weichel came very close to winning the 600 class last year on a privateer Suzuki. He should be considered a favorite for the 600 title.

Other riders on Hondas will include Jeff Sneyd. Sneyd who gained notoriety in several "ramming" incidents with Don Munroe was hurt for much of last year. He has show the speed to run at the front. Also expected to be on Honda's are Quebec based racers: Martin "Highside" Gaudreault, who had some good results, between spectacular crashes last year, and newcomer Kevin Lacombe.

Kawasaki

Team Green has always had a large presence in the Cdn Superbike Championship. They've won the Superbike title an incredible 8 years in a row starting with Steve Crevier way back in 1991. Having lost Szoke to Honda, the responsibility of winning the championship will now fall to Michael Taylor, a long time Kawasaki rider and two time Cdn Superbike Champion. Going into 1999 season, Michael Taylor must considered the favorite for the title. He'll be riding the fearsome ZX-9 Superbike which reportedly produces 170hp. Taylor won last's years Open Sportbike title on another ZX-9.

Kawasaki has also signed promising Francis Martin, a young French Canadian rider who had some good results on a Honda last year. Another ex- Honda rider, Jeff Williams, who struggled last year, has signed with Team Green and is considered to be one of the front runners for the 600 titile. Kawasaki's last recruit is Frank Trombino who showed well on a privateer Yamaha R1 last year.

Suzuki

Leading the charge for Suzuki will be GSX-750R mounted Niel Jenkins. Niel struggled last year getting the fuel injected Superbike dialed in but showed well in the 600 series winning the opening round at Shannonville.

Also riding for Suzuki will be Frank Wilson. Unlike Jenkins, Wilson will be riding the booming TL 1000 R. Hearing the mighty V-twin hustle down Calgary's ¾ mile front straight is well worth the price of admission.

 

 

 

Yamaha

Kevin Graham will run the Open and Sportbike classes on his R1 and a R6 in the 600 class. His teammate will be the likeable Benoit Pilon also R1 mounted.

The guy to watch on the R6, will be Mark Orchard. He's a former 250 pilot, who rode the YZF600 in soldierly-good-guy fashion last year, and is seriously looking forward to his new bike. Mark wrote a column for Inside Motorcycles, last year, chronicling his racing experiences.

Learn more about the racers and at the Canadian Superbike Website

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