The second-ever event in the MotoRACE Series took place on Shannonville’s longest, 4.03 km layout on June 13-15, and reigning Regional Pro Champ Elie Daccache took all the major feature class wins aboard his potent Yamaha YZF-R1. Daccache won both Sprint Cup races, holding oT the Royal Distributing backed BMW of Michael Leon in both cases.
ON Saturday, both racers missed the start lights and had to ride into the lead group, with impressive BMW mounted Matt Vanderhorst holding first. Eventually Daccache would turn a lap at 1:46.6, while Leon got down to 1:48.2 and Vanderhorst lapped at 1:48.2 as well – a solid step.
Daccache rocketed into the lead Sunday in mid-days Sprint Cup, held in warm and sunny conditions, some of the best available so far anywhere in Canada this summer! Leon played catch up and got beside Daccache at one point but then ran oT track and settled for second. Daccache got down to a best lap at 1:46.2, but the pushing Leon was the pace setter at 1:45.9.
However, Daccache would turn the best lap of the weekend at 1:45.86 later in the program completing Pro Superbike race; Leon also close in pace with a tour at 1:45.89 in a strong showing of consistency.
The lap record for the big bikes is a 1:43.48 set by Alex Dumas at the National last summer aboard a Ducati v4.
In Superbike race action Saturday, Daccache won by almost nine seconds from Leon, while Ernest Berhard netted third on his Farnham Brewery Yamaha YZF-R1. Vanderhorst was a close fourth.
Daccache once again got the hole shot in Sunday’s second ten lap Lou-Anne Printing Pro Superbike Feature, and Leon took a while to clear traTic, eventually placing second, 1.7 seconds back from the slowing Daccache. In another repeat result, Bernhard held oT Vanderhorst for third.
In Pro 6 Cycle Pro 600 Supersport, Yamaha mounted Rob Massicotte qualified second, then went on to win Saturday’s 8 lap race and Sunday post-lunch 12 lapper. Suzuki mounted Jordan Decarie scored second Saturday, pulling away from the Yamaha of rookie Pro Matt Hooper; on Sunday Hooper returned the favor and got clear for second, but no one could challenge the charging Massicotte.
Yamaha YZF-R6 mounted Alexis Beaudoin was quick in both middleweight and open class production action, starting his event with a win in Joe Rocket Amateur Supersport over the Kawasaki of Martin Perreault by a shocking 24 seconds, Rick Edwards third on another Yamah 600. In Superbike on Saturday, Beaudoin was first by 16 seconds from Perreault, while Ken Foley (Yam) earned third from Glen Brown.
Sunday’s 600 race was another Beaudoin benefit, the margin this time an amazing 31.57 seconds ahead of Perreault, who worked through a dicing fight for runner-up honors. Daniel Johnson got up to earn third.
In Sunday’s Amateur Superbike race, Beaudoin got the lead from the lights and looked set to win before making an uncharacteristic, unforced error in turn six, falling from first. Foley made his way to the lead and then held on for the win by .08 of a second over Perreault, Edwards claiming third in a busy race.
Veteran Jean-Pascal Schroeder pushed to success in Middleweight on his Kawasaki, winning Saturday by .8 of a second over favorite Istvan Hidvegi (Kaw) and third finisher Tyler Brewer. On Sunday, Schroeder was never headed, winning by 48 seconds after ten laps, Brewer second from Chris Carmichael. Hidvegi didn’t start.
Hidvegi won both the Lightweight class races on his immaculate Kawasaki, beating runner- up Andrea Purdy by 20 seconds in the opener, Carmichael not far back for third. On day two, Hidvegi won by only 12.8 seconds from Purdy, Carmichael .7 of a second behind the runner-up to net third.
Parker Sabine-Craig left Shannonville with the Novice Championship point lead, going 2/1 over the two days. Saturday’s Novice win went to Craig Foster, but Foster didn’t finish Sunday. Brennan Brown didn’t start Saturday but came back on day two for second place.
The Heavyweight division featured a small field but good action at the front, with rising Amateur star Beaudoin fighting for the win against National front runner Marco Sousa, who was rebuilding from a fall a week earlier in Nova Scotia. Beaudoin beat Sousa convincingly Saturday, but Souse rebounded to win by .57 of a second after an entertaining duel on Sunday.