CAN-AM CHALLENGE SERIES RACE REPORT ROUND 5 MOSPORT, AUGUST 19-21 2005.
Round 5 of the Can-Am Challenge Series took place this past weekend at Mosport International Speedway, just outside of Bowmanville, Ontario. The Can-Am was invited to hold a round there by the Vintage Road Racing Association to participate in their main event held annually at one of Canada’s best race tracks. The 250 class was being sponsored by Infinity GP Racing as the 125’s was sponsored when they were there in July for the Parts Canada Superbike weekend.
John Dempsey, the series’ point’s leader in the 125 class, went into the weekend looking to secure the championship, his goal to finish at least one position ahead of Alex Welsh in the final. John Crook, the point’s leader among the 250s, sought to stretch his lead over Nick Colley and Gord MacKay, who were both in fine position to challenge Crook’s attempt to get the Can-Am’s first 250 championship under his belt.
Mosport and Mother Nature were again at odds with each other this weekend; low lying clouds and winds just strong enough to be bothersome threatened most of the day. Top practice times among the 250s belonged to Alain Brault, back from a mechanical seizure suffered at Shannonville three weeks ago. Gord MacKay was second behind Brault’s 1:34.419 with a 1:35.363, and American Joe Melchionda finished off the top three of the session with 1:37.475.
Matt Cooper topped the 125 practice with a 1:36.826, followed by John-Ross MacRae at 1:37.184, and Dempsey followed with 1:38.761. A second session for the G.P. bikes was cancelled as reports of steady rain in corner five came in as the bikes were ready to be sent out in the afternoon. Can-Am officials sent the riders, all on slicks, back to the pits as rain covered the entire track in minutes, ending the day on a somewhat disappointing note. As everyone batten down the hatches in time for a se thunder and lightening storm settled in around the track.
The Can-Am welcomed a few new members this weekend, including 20 year old Adam Roberts from Nova Scotia riding an RS 125, and 14 year old Brett McCormick from Saskatoon mounted on a TZ 125. McCormick is fresh from winning the 2004 Canadian Mini Road Racing Championship; the Can-Am was more then delighted to have the presence of these young riders in the paddock, along with regulars such as 17 year old Welsh and 16 year old J.R. MacRae. As well as a few returning to the Can-Am for the first time this year, Dave Wright, Dave Monahan, and Adam Roberts
Dempsey, Cooper and Mark White topped the Saturday morning session in the 125 group, as Brault, MacKay and Melchionda once again were the top three among the 250s. The afternoon’s thirty minute qualifier was combined, and ran without incident.
Cooper took the 125 pole position for the second time at Mosport this year with 1:34.330, and Brault grabbed pole for the 250s with a 1:30.611. Dave Monahan was chasing gremlins in his 125 all weekend, Mark Jeackle was busy fixing his seized motor along with Marc St.Amand chasing electrical on their 250’s
125 Qualifying Results 1. Matt Cooper 1:34.330 2. Dave Wright 1:34.954 3. John Dempsey 1:35.288 4. Adam Roberts 1:35.451 5. J.R.MacRae 1:36.670 6. Alex Welsh 1:36.696 7. Mark White 1:37.703 8.J.Melchionda 1:38.897 9.Brett McCormick 1:39.891 10.Adam Bennett 1:41.891 11.Jim Bergey 1:42.787 12.Don Murfin 1:45.512
250 Qualifying Results 1. Alain Brault 1:30.611 2. Gord MacKay 1:32.887 3. John Crook 1:34.447 4. J. Melchionda 1:35.777 5. Nick Colley 1:37.821 6. Al Cane 1:40.863 7. Jerry Sadler 1:41.830 8.Patrick Chartrand 1:42.150 9.Laird Shingleton 1:49.909 10.Paul Rostic 1:58.764
Sunday’s morning practice session had late entry rider Mark Rabo back on the track with the four stroke 250F creation; Cooper had an incident at Moss’s but was unhurt; the rest of the session ran without any further problems.
Ambulance delays muddled the schedule somewhat after lunch, and as things were finally set in place to continue, the clouds pulled through on their threat and finally started to drop water over Mosport. The 125s were sent back to the pits to decide which tires to put on their bikes; approximately 20 minutes were available to make the tire-choice gamble, and with the wind pushing the clouds away and the sun straining to breakthrough, the decision was a tough one to make. Series leader Dempsey opted for rain tires, as well as Melchionda and Bergey. White decided to run his intermediates, and the rest of the field stayed with their slicks.
Dempsey led the first two laps with young Adam Roberts pushing on his slicks on the very damp track to pass him, getting by Dempsey at the top of corner four to take the lead in the third lap. Cooper worked to keep veteran rider Dave Wright behind him, and Welsh went to work while in fifth to keep in touch with Wright in front of him. J.R. MacRae crashed in corner nine on the first lap, and was unable to continue. McCormick chased Rabo for five laps, eventually getting by the four stroke. The group of White, Murfin, Bergey, Melchionda and Bennett changed positions a few times, and Dave Monahan brought up the back of the field.
Roberts continued to maintain a safe distance from Dempsey, and Cooper began to creep up behind Dempsey as Dempsey’s rain tires began their protest against the fast drying track. Welsh also gained on Wright, as the group behind them started to slowly spread out slightly. The Nova Scotian would take the checkered flag, as Cooper managed to slip by Dempsey to take second spot on the last lap, and leave Dempsey to settle for third. Wright edged out the hard charging Welsh by mere inches at the finish line.
125 FINAL RESULTS
1. Adam Roberts 2. Matt Cooper 3. John Dempsey 4. Dave Wright 5. Alex Welsh 6. Brett McCormick 7. Mark Rabo 8. Mark White 9. Adam Bennett 10. Don Murfin 11. Joe Melchionda 12. Jim Bergey 13. Dave Monahan DNF-J.R. MacRae
The 250s had a fantastic race; late entry rider Jeff Lowe brought the field up to 13 riders, who all put on a great show to watch. Crook grabbed the lead for the first lap, followed closely by MacKay, Brault, Lowe and Colley. MacKay snatched away Crook’s lead in the second lap, as Lowe made his move on Brault in the third. Brault made his way into the lead on the fourth, moving MacKay into second, and Crook into third. Lowe busied himself with keeping Colley behind him. Behind the leaders, Melchionda put in a great effort to keep in contact with them, but retired in the sixth lap with a mechanical. Marc St.Amand, an SV rider new to G.P. two strokes, struggled with an ailing 250 all weekend, but was able to have a decent ride with Al Cane. Mark Jaeckle, Patrick Chartrand, Jerry Sadler, Laird Shingleton and Paul Rostic would bring up the rest of the field. The battle at the front would result in Brault taking the checkered, followed by Crook and MacKay; Colley passed Lowe for fourth.
250 FINAL RESULTS 1. Alain Brault 2. John Crook 3. Gord MacKay 4. Nick Colley 5. Jeff Lowe 6. Al Cane 7. Marc St.Amand 8. Mark Jaeckle 9. Patrick Chartrand 10. Jerry Sadler 11. Laird Shingleton 12. Paul Rostic DNF-Joe Melchionda
The Can-Am Challenge Series will have its final in two weeks at the Parts Canada SuperBike Labour Day weekend round, at Shannonville Motorsports Park. Sponsored by Infinity GP Racing, our final will have some excitement with Cooper, White and Melchionda, all 1 point apart for 3rd in the 125 Championship, and Crook 39 points ahead of Colley and MacKay who are 2 points apart for second for the 250 Championship
The Can-Am Challenge Series would like to thank their 2005 sponsors Infinity GP Racing, Race Superseries, Hjelm Motorsports, Highside Health Services, Diablo Energy Drink, Bickle Racing, boB, and Flair Photo. The Can-Am Challenge Series would like to add a special thanks to Chris Chapelle, who donated his time to help make our weekend a huge success.