Michael Taylor Wins In Canadian Superbike At Race City, Baird Takes Sportbike Victory

Michael Taylor Wins In Canadian Superbike At Race City, Baird Takes Sportbike Victory

© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Parts Canada Superbike Championship series organizers:

TAYLOR BACK ON TOP

CALGARY, AB – Michael Taylor ended over three years of frustration by winning a dramatic second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park Sunday.

The Toronto rider took his Orion Motorsport Honda CBR954RR to a 2.497-sec. victory over the Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier. Taylor’s teammate Robbie Baird of Australia claimed third on his Honda CBR600RR.

After leading twice in the early going, Taylor took the lead from the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-7RR of Tom Kipp for good on lap 10 of the 16-lap race to score his first victory on the national tour since 1999 and the 10th of his career.

“The conditions were screwy but I have a history of doing well in these conditions,” said Taylor, a two-time national Superbike champ. “I had a lot of challenges along the way. It was a good way to win.”

The race started on a wet track that dried progressively throughout. Taylor led the first lap but was passed by the Honda CBR600RR of Calgary’s Chris Peris on lap 2. Peris led two laps before giving way to Taylor, and then Kipp got in front on lap 5. The Chardon, OH rider stayed in the lead until lap 10, when Taylor snuck inside him in the Keyhole section of the track.

After running as far back as fifth at half distance Crevier worked his way up to second by lap 13 but was unable to challenge Taylor.

“It’s a long front straight and I just ran out of top end,” said Crevier, who still leads the Parts Canada Superbike point standings after two of eight rounds.

Crevier was under intense pressure over the closing laps from Baird, who produced a brave ride despite losing his helmet visor early in the race.

“It was my toughest race ever,” Baird said. “I couldn’t see anything by lap 2 so I just tore my visor off.”

Kipp slipped back to fourth at the finish and Peris was fifth.

Calgary’s Clint McBain started from pole on his Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 but struggled in the race and finished 10th.

In other action at Race City Baird claimed his first victory on Canadian soil by winning a wet Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike feature. Riding an Orion Motorsport Honda CBR600RR, Baird held off the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 of St-Cecile de Milton, QC’s Pascal Picotte by 2.123 secs. for the win. Crevier placed third on his Diablo Suzuki GSX-R600.

Jeremy Leduc of Keremeos, BC dominated the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike race on his Yamaha YZF-R6. In his first ever race in the rain Leduc finished 25.444 secs. ahead of the Honda CBR600RR of Wellsley, ON’s Bill Card. Erin, ON rider Jeremy French finished third on another Honda CBR600RR.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship continues at Autodrome St-Eustache in St-Eustache, QC July 4-6.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, July 6 at 12:30 p.m. EDT and later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com

Results Sunday from the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown and type of motorcycle:

1.Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Honda; 2. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki; 3. Robbie Baird, Queensland, Australia, Honda; 4. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki; 5. Chris Peris, Calgary, AB, Honda; 6. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha; 7. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha; 8. Brian Nielsen, Edmonton, AB, Suzuki; 9. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha; 10. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki; 11. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda; 12. Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile de Milton, QC, Yamaha; 13. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki; 14. Michael Leon, Montreal, QC, Suzuki; 15. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki; 16. Dale Yamada, Calgary, AB, Kawasaki; 17. Guy Tomlinson, Calgary, AB, Kawasaki; 18. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha; 19. Alan Schmidt, Clearwater, BC, Suzuki; 20. Brad Gavey, Calgary, AB, Honda; 21. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda; DNF. John Brundl, Toronto, ON, Honda; DNF. Steve Dick, Coquitlam, BC, Yamaha; DNF. Peter Holzinger, Canmore, AB, Suzuki

Margin of Victory: 2.497 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:22.502 by Robbie Baird on lap 11

Point standings for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship following Sunday’s second round at Race City Motorsport Park, showing position, rider name and point total:

1.Steve Crevier, 101; 2. Michael Taylor, 69; 3. Robbie Baird, 62; 4. Clint McBain, 61; 4. Tom Kipp, 61; 6. Francis Martin, 56; 7. Jean-Francois Cyr, 54; 8. Pascal Picotte, 52; 9. Benoit Pilon, 46; 10. Frank Trombino, 44; 11. Jeff Williams, 31; 12. Chris Peris, 29; 13. Brian Nielsen, 23; 14. Michael Leon, 22; 15. Darryn Wilbur, 17; 15. Andrew Nelson, 17; 17. Bruce McDonald, 15; 18. Kevin Lacombe, 12; 19. Matthew McBride, 8; 19. Dale Yamada, 8; 21. Brent Strong, 6; 21. Guy Tomlinson, 6; 23. Joel McDonald, 4; 24. Jim
Proulx, 2; 24. Alan Schmidt, 2; 26. Shane LeGros, 1; 26. Brad Gavey, 1



More, from a press release issued by Diablo Racing:

Crevier Streches His Lead In Canadian Superbike

Steve Crevier, on his Diablo Suzuki, ran a strong race in the rain to finish second and extended his lead in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship by 32 points

“With the rain came a very strong tail wind which made my Diablo Suzuki GSXR 1000 gain alot of speed, but because of that wind our gearing was all of a sudden too short and I was hitting the rev limiter halfway down the straightaway” unabling him to catch the leader who was ahead 2.5 seconds.

Michael Leon and Jeff Williams opted to race on their GSXR 600, hoping for more rain, but the track kept on drying giving the bigger displacement machine an obvious edge. They finished respectively 14th and 15th.

In the Hindle Pro 600 Sport Bike, Steve Crevier took a few laps to get used to the new (to him) Dunlop rear rain tire and soon realised the incredible grip it provided.

Then in 6th place, he had to battle his way up to get on the last podium spot. “That was probably one of my best rain race” commented Crevier in the post race interview.

The next round will be held in St-Eustache, Quebec, on July 4th, 5th and 6th.




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