From a press release issued by series organizers:

SERIES HITS HOME STRETCH

TORONTO, ON – The most dramatic points battle in Canadian Superbike history hits the home stretch this weekend with round 6 of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS.

With just three events left on the 2003 schedule, Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC comes to AMP holding a tenuous 11-point lead over St-Cecile de Milton, QC’s Pascal Picotte in the standings, 190-179. Six-time national champion Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC is another point back with 178.

A race win is worth 50 points at each Parts Canada Superbike round and points are also awarded to the top four qualifiers and the rider who leads the most laps.

Martin became the fourth different rider to lead the standings thanks to his win in the most recent round of the series at Mosport International Raceway three weeks ago. The Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki rider also won the Canadian Superbike title in 1999.

Canadian Superbike history could also be made at AMP Sunday as the Parts Canada series looks to crown its sixth different winner of 2003. Five riders have won the five races staged so far this season, equaling the record for most winners in one year set in 1987 and matched in 1988. Picotte (Picotte Racing Yamaha), Crevier (Diablo Suzuki), Jean-Francois Cyr (CyRacing/Michelin Yamaha) and Michael Taylor (Orion Motorsports Honda) have scored wins this season in addition to Martin.

There are plenty of racers capable of adding their names to the list of 2003 winners this weekend. Martin’s Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki teammate Clint McBain of Calgary sits fourth in points with 156, thanks in part to a pair of third-place finishes this year.

Brooklin Cycle Yamaha ace Frank Trombino, from Kleinburg, ON is currently seventh in the standings with 131 points but managed podium finishes at AMP in 2000 and 2001.

Riding for Diablo Suzuki, Harrowsmith, ON’s Jeff Williams just failed to capture the win at AMP in 1999 and is coming off a season-high fourth place finish at Mosport.

And one cannot dismiss the chances of Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki team leader Tom Kipp. The experienced Chardon, OH rider led at Mosport and has seen his results steadily improve.

This weekend’s action also sees the fifth rounds of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

Picotte holds a commanding 62-point lead over Trombino in Pro 600 points, 194-132, although Trombino has won the two most recent races.

In Amateur 600 Jeremy Leduc of Keremeos, BC continues to lead the standings for Yamaha with 158 points to the 121 of Ottawa Yamaha rider Dan Henri.

Qualifying for all three national classes will take place Saturday afternoon with feature races set to go on Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 11:30 a.m. Action from AMP will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

All Time Atlantic Motorsport Park Superbike Wins

Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 5
Don Munroe (Halifax, NS) 3
Rueben McMurter (London, ON) 2
Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 2
Gary Goodfellow (Vancouver, BC) 1
Miguel Duhamel (Repentigny, QC) 1
Michel Mercier (Thetford Mines, QC) 1
Mark Kowalski (Kitchener, ON) 1

Atlantic Motorsport Park Fast Facts

…History is on the side of Steve Crevier at Atlantic Motorsport Park this weekend. The Maple Ridge, BC Suzuki rider has won five of the 16 previous Superbike national at the track, including three in a row between 1991 and ’93.

…On 10 occasions the AMP Superbike winner has gone on to take the national title. That has also been the case in the past three years, with Crevier winning at the track in 2000 and ’01 and Jordan Szoke taking the win last year.

…The tight and challenging AMP circuit has consistently produced some of the best races through the years. In 1989 current AMA superstar Miguel Duhamel edged Rueben McMurter for victory. In 1996 Mark Kowalski scored his only national Superbike win as changing weather conditions played a role. In 2001 Crevier outdueled Michael Taylor and Frank Trombino for the win, while last year Szoke charged from the back to beat teammate Francis Martin.

2003 Point Standings

Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Francis Martin (Suzuki) 190; 2. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 179; 3. Steve Crevier (Suzuki) 178; 4. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 156; 5. Jean-Francois Cyr (Yamaha) 138

Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 194; 2. Frank Trombino (Yamaha) 132; 3. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 124

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Jeremy Leduc (Yamaha) 158; 2. Dan Henri (Yamaha) 121; 3. Derek Bowker (Yamaha) 114