From a press release issued by series organizers:

‘ALL STARS’ READY TO BATTLE

TORONTO, ON An all-star line-up of Canadian motorcycle racing talent is ready to face off at the opening round of the 2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park this weekend.

The starting grid for Sunday afternoon’s feature race will highlight no fewer than five former national Superbike champions, including the winners of the last six titles. Additionally, the entry list boasts nine racers who have won at least one Canadian Superbike feature race.

The man showing off the number one plate on his bike will be Granby, QC’s Pascal Picotte, who claimed his first Canadian Superbike title in 2003. He defends his crown with the latest version of the Yamaha YZF-R1 run by his Picotte Racing Yamaha team.

Among those leading the chase of Picotte will be Maple Ridge, BC veteran Steve Crevier, the most successful rider in Canadian Superbike history with six championships and 21 race wins. Second in last year’s series, Crevier is back with the Diablo Performance Suzuki squad on a GSX-R1000.

Another title contender from 2003, Francis Martin has rejoined the Canadian Kawasaki Motors squad to race its brand new ZX-10R. After three years with Suzuki, the Rock Forest, QC native is back with the team for which he won the Canadian crown in 1999.

Two-time national champion Jordan Szoke returns to Canadian action with the new Honda Canada / Fast Company team, riding the CBR1000RR. The Brantford, ON native was champion in 1998 and 2002, but spent last year competing on the U.S.-based AMA Superbike tour.

Last of the former champions in the field is 1994 and ’96 titlist Michael Taylor, who will race a Ducati 999R for the Z1 Cycletech team. This is the first time Ducati has had a major presence in the Canadian series since 1995.

Joining this stellar line-up at Shannonville will be former race winners Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON and Granby, QC racer Kevin Lacombe, both on Yamahas prepared by Brooklin Cycle; Laval, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr on the CyRacing / Michelin Honda CBR1000RR; and Crevier’s Diablo Suzuki teammate Jeff Williams from Harrowsmith, ON.

Also sure to contend will be Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki pilots Clint McBain of Calgary and his new Australian teammate Craig Connell; Szoke’s Honda Canada / Fast Company partner Andrew Nelson of Kars, ON; and young Kawasaki factory rider Matt McBride from Mississauga, ON.

This weekend’s racing will also include the opening rounds of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship and the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship. Picotte is the defending Pro 600 Sport Bike champion while a host of young up-and-coming riders will attempt to emulate Keremeos, BC’s Jeremy Leduc, winner of last year’s Amateur 600 crown.

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

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN this summer and later this year on the Outdoor Life Network and Quebec’s RDS.

For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com


All Time Shannonville Motorsport Park Superbike Wins

Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 9; Michel Mercier (Thetford Mines, QC) 5; Rueben McMurter (London, ON) 3; Miguel Duhamel (Repentigny, QC) 2; Jeff Gaynor (Toronto, ON) 2; Pascal Picotte (St-Cecile de Milton, QC) 2; Michael Taylor (Toronto, ON) 2; Don Munroe (Halifax, NS) 2; Francis Martin (Rock Forest, QC) 2; Paul MacMillan (Downsview, ON) 1; Gary Goodfellow (Vancouver, BC) 1; Steve Dick (Vancouver, BC) 1; Linnley Clarke (Barrie, ON) 1; Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 1; Frank Trombino (Kleinburg, ON) 1; Kevin Lacombe (Granby, QC) 1

Shannonville Motorsport Park Fast Facts

…Only twice in the last 10 years has the winner of the Canadian Superbike season opener gone on to win the series title. Steve Crevier did it in 2001 and Michael Taylor in 1996. Last year Crevier won the first race but Pascal Picotte was champion at the end of the year.

…This marks the fourth straight year that the Parts Canada Superbike Championship has opened at Shannonville Motorsport Park. The track hosted its first season opener in 1991 and has kicked off the tour in all but six years since. The last track other than Shannonville to hold the season opening event was Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park in 2000.

…This year’s Parts Canada Superbike Championship field features winners of 12 of the 24 national titles held in the class’s history. Six of those belong to Steve Crevier, Michael Taylor and Jordan Szoke account for two each, and Francis Martin and Pascal Picotte each have one.

2003 Final Point Standings

Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 308; 2. Steve Crevier (Suzuki) 303; 3. Francis Martin (Suzuki) 299; 4. Jean-Francois Cyr (Yamaha) 261; 5. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 223

Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 352; 2. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 232; 3. Frank Trombino (Yamaha) 216

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Jeremy Leduc (Yamaha) 233; 2. Bill Card (Honda) 221; 3. Derek Bowker (Yamaha) 211

Provisional Weekend Schedule

Saturday May 22

1:15 p.m.-1:40 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Qualifying

2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Qualifying

3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Qualifying

Sunday May 23

12:45 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 15 laps

1:50 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Race 15 laps

3:00 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Championship Race 18 laps


More, from a press release issued by Team Shoulder Check Racing:

It’s the first Canadian National of the 2004 season! Come on down to Shannonville (www.shannonville.com)to check out Pat, Rich and the other top Amateurs. There will be some top Pro riders there as well like Dan Henri, Pascal Picotte and others.

This will be the first round of the New Diablo SV650 cup in which TSC’s Rich Peillard (am #46) is hoping to be a front runner. He will also be
riding his SV650 in the 250gp class and Heavyweight Sportsman where Pat Boyd (am #48) will be riding his trusty 1991 Honda CBR 600 F2. Pat will also be entering the National Amateur 600 class on his Ex Dan Henri Yamaha R6 where he hopes for a top 10 finish.

TSC’s Dan Henri will be making his debut Pro ride aboard his New Yamaha R6 in the Pro 600 Class and may also enter the Pro Superbike feature.

Be sure to visit the hospitality area of the Team Shoulder Check pits where Johhny Vintage wil be servring up some nice cool beverages for
those brave enough to consume them.