From a late press release issued by series organizers:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

TORONTO, ON – Stuart Nodell did everything he could but it wasn’t enough to keep Corbyville, ON’s Corey Sherman from claiming the Diablo Energy Drink Can-Am 125 Grand Prix Challenge title at Shannonville Motorsport Park Aug. 31.

While Nodell claimed the race win on his Nodell Motorsports/Canada Post-backed Honda RS125 Sherman placed second riding his Carrera Leathers Honda to take the title over the Ajax, ON racer by just nine points, 251-242.

Eddy Brunet of Montreal finished third in the race on his Diablo Honda RS125.

“It feels good,” Sherman said in the winner’s circle. “I was eerily calm before the race today. The pressure was off. I knew all I needed was a third.

“I’d like to thank Diablo for sponsoring the series. It’s really grown in the past couple of years and that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”

Sherman qualified third for the Diablo Energy Drink Can-Am 125GP event and led the opening lap of the eight-lap race. But on lap 2 Nodell passed Sherman in the Hairpin and opened up a slight lead.

Sherman also fell behind Brunet on lap 3 but the veteran road racer was unable to pull away and Sherman took the runner-up spot back on lap 6. He finished 1.970 secs. behind Nodell, who also set the race’s fastest lap of 1:53.529 on lap 2.

“Corey was in a position to win the championship and he rode a smart race,” said Nodell, the outgoing series champion. “Good on him.”

Brunet said he might have been able to challenge Nodell for the race win had he not experienced fatigue in the closing stages of the race.

“My right arm started pumping up. I’m not in shape,” said Brunet, who took a break from his role as team manager for Diablo’s Parts Canada Superbike squad to compete in the 125 race. “But it’s nice riding with these guys. It’s only my second time on a 125 and I was surprised how well it went.”

Behind the podium finishers, Matthew Dennie of Rochester, NY finished a career-high fourth on his Honda RS125.

Angela Hiba held off fellow Brampton, ON rider John Dempsey for fifth after the two had enjoyed a racelong fight for the spot. Hiba, riding a Honda, passed the Zipit Racing Honda of Dempsey on lap 5 and stayed in front the rest of the way.

Dempsey grabbed third in the final championship standings with 150 points while Hiba improved to sixth with 112.

Jim Struke finished the year fourth in the standings with 145 points and Yvan Desy was fifth with 122.

The race had to be restarted after a red flag for a crash by Andrew Rektor on the opening lap. The Waterloo, ON Yamaha rider was not seriously hurt in the fall.


Results of the final round of the Diablo Energy Drink Can-Am 125 Grand Prix Challenge at Shannonville Motorsport Park Aug. 31, showing finishing position, riding name, hometown, type of motorcycle and laps completed:

1.Stuart Nodell, Ajax, ON, Honda, 8; 2. Corey Sherman, Corbyville, ON, Honda, 8; 3. Eddy Brunet, Montreal, QC, Honda, 8; 4. Matthew Dennie, Rochester, NY, Honda, 8; 5. Angela Hiba, Brampton, ON, Honda, 8; 6. John Dempsey, Brampton, ON, Honda, 8; 7. Mark White, Caledon East, ON, Honda, 8; 8. Dean Hoelscher, Kirkland, ON, Aprilia, 8; 9. Rick Bulman, Oakville, ON, Yamaha, 8; 10. Jesse Herrera, Rochester, NY, Honda, 8; 11. Don Murfin, Mississauga, ON, Honda, 8; 12. Julian Molyneux, Toronto, ON, Honda, 8
NS. Neal Bach, Toronto, ON, Honda; NS. Christian Rose, Terrebonne, QC, Honda; NS. Andrew Rektor, Waterloo, ON, Yamaha

Final Diablo Energy Drink Can-Am 125 Grand Prix Challenge point standings showing position, rider name and point total:

1. Corey Sherman, 251; 2. Stuart Nodell, 242; 3. John Dempsey, 150; 4. Jim Struke, 145; 5. Yvan Desy, 122; 6. Angela Hiba, 112; 7. Christian Rose, 111; 8. Matthew Dennie, 104; 9. Dale Greenwood Jr., 94; 10. Mark White, 88; 11. Eddy Brunet, 72; 12. John Hjelm, 64; 13. Dean Hoelscher, 63; 14. Don Murfin, 55; 15. Chris Peris, 54; 16. Frank Guadagino, 51; 17. Chris Knowles, 50; 18. Debra Kuick, 40; 19. Zack Courts, 38; 20. Steve McNeil, 35; 21. Eric Yoo, 32; 22. Julian Molyneux, 32; 23. Jim Pentecost, 29; 24. Jesse Herrera, 29; 25. Gus Holcomb, 27; 26. Dave Monahan, 26; 27. Paul Hoyt Nelson, 25; 28. Rick Bulman, 25; 29. Scott Moxey, 21; 30. Steve Scott, 21; 31. Joe Melchionda, 18; 32. Paul Duval, 17; 33. Tim Courts, 13; 34. James Lovejoy, 12; 35. Neal Bach, 12; 36. Chris Cosentino, 6; 37. Reet Das, 4; 38. Brian Kcraget, 4; 39. Craig Derosa, 2; 40. Dave Wright, 2