Dion throws wrench into Mackay/Simpson title decider
Toronto, ON – Coming into the season finale of what has been a wide-open Liqui Moly Professional Sport Bike marketing campaign, it’s laborious to think about any extra curveballs being thrown at David MacKay or Matt Simpson as they put together for his or her title showdown at Shannonville Motorsport Park, September 15-17.
Nonetheless, the most important twist of all is simply now coming into the equation.
Reigning champion Trevor Dion will return to the middleweight championship for the final weekend of the 12 months, having initially determined to not defend his #1 plate and focus as a substitute on his first full Superbike marketing campaign.
The one rookie champion within the class’s historical past, Dion gained twice final season and stood on the rostrum in six of eight races to clinch the title by eight factors over MacKay, breaking loads of Sport Bike information within the course of.
The 21-year-old will now return to the grid aboard his LDS Consultants Kawasaki for the primary time in over a calendar 12 months, and whereas he can be making his nationwide debut at SMP after lacking spherical one as a consequence of harm, it’s laborious to not pencil Dion in as at the least a podium risk in each races if not the rider to beat.
If Dion isn’t the betting favorite, although, that honour will doubtless go to one more identify making an attempt to play spoiler within the finale, as Sebastien Tremblay is about to debut his Turcotte Efficiency Suzuki GSX-R750 machine.
Whereas mathematically nonetheless within the championship hunt, Tremblay would wish to beat a 52-point deficit as he sits fifth within the total standings. As an alternative, the 2021 champion will give attention to piloting the bigger-displacement Suzuki to a victory in its Sport Bike debut, after starting the 12 months on a GSX-R600.
Which will seem to be a catastrophe for title chief MacKay and the chasing Simpson, however the actuality is that the plan hardly adjustments for the 2 title rivals. With 16 factors between them after which a 29-point cushion to 3rd, it appears the principle factor both facet wants to fret about is simply ending forward of the opposite.
The maths turns into simpler for MacKay, although, who has guided his ODH Snow Metropolis Cycle Kawasaki to the highest spot thanks to 5 podiums and two wins this season. Each are probably the most within the Sport Bike class for 2023, a 12 months which has seen a report six totally different winners in seven races and 9 totally different podium finishers.
A fast have a look at the purpose construction will present that the most important distinction in factors comes on the prime – with 25 for a win, 20 for second, and 16 for third – whereas the distinction tails off to only a single level between every place from fifth right down to fifteenth.
Which means MacKay may truly welcome the specter of Dion and Tremblay on the entrance, as his 16-point lead over Simpson can be harder to beat if the 2 rivals discover themselves battling for locations exterior the rostrum.
Simpson has to this point discovered himself off the listing of race winners regardless of his title problem, benefitting from his constant run of 4 podiums to remain within the championship combine. The Blackstock Motorsports Yamaha rider gained’t essentially have to win to be able to beat MacKay for the title, however a pair of podiums seem to be the mandatory minimal if MacKay is ready to keep close to the entrance.
He did simply that in his final look at SMP, ending third and second as he regarded to keep away from the chaos on the entrance, a sensible transfer on the time however a luxurious he now gained’t have on the ultimate spherical with the title on the road.
Podium spots are hardly a assure for both rider, although, as Dion and Tremblay are removed from the one ones able to beating the 2 championship favourites.
Brad Macrae has already executed so at Shannonville, successful race two of the opener after crashing out of the lead on the final lap of race one, and the Colron Excavating Yamaha rider will really feel greater than able to including a second profession victory to shut out the 12 months.
One other rider eager so as to add one other victory to his resumé can be Francis Martin, who not too long ago confirmed his entry on the season finale. The 2-time Superbike champion had his sensational comeback ruined by a weird mechanical failure at CTMP, however will look to make up for it together with his first Sport Bike win since 2007 aboard his Purple Cranium Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki.
Elliot Vieira will even have one thing to say for the frontrunners, after lastly shaking the rust off his GP Bikes Ducati at the newest spherical in CTMP. Whereas Vieira endured a disastrous season opener on the venue in Might, he has since come to grips together with his V2 Panigale, evidenced by a win and second-place end final day trip.
The opposite breakout star of the CTMP weekend, John Laing, will even be eyeing some Shannonville redemption after his debut exhibiting 5 months in the past. The Vass Efficiency Kawasaki rider grabbed the holeshot twice in his CSBK introduction, crashing out in race one however ending fourth in race two, and his confidence can be at an all-time excessive after his debut win within the AMP make-up race.
One former Shannonville winner gained’t be taking the grid, although, as Connor Campbell’s commencement to the Superbike discipline will come on the expense of his B&T MacFarlane/Kubota Kawasaki program, which opened the season with an SMP victory.
One other storyline to observe can be within the inaugural Bickle Racing Professional Twins class, the place Andrew Van Winkle appears poised to make historical past because the youngest professional champion in CSBK historical past.
The 16-year-old FD Racing Suzuki star appeared set for a runner-up end in his debut season, however an unlucky crash and slew of accidents for championship chief Jeff Williams have opened the door for Van Winkle to grab the inaugural trophy.
Van Winkle completed second in each of the opening races at Shannonville, incomes a haul of 40 factors on the weekend, and he’ll solely want 26 this time round to maneuver previous the sidelined Williams and produce dwelling a historic title.
Because it stands, Tomas Casas turned the youngest ever professional champion when he clinched the Sport Bike crown at 18 years outdated in 2017, however Van Winkle may break that report by almost two years if he can erase his championship deficit on the season finale.
The total schedule for the Liqui Moly Professional Sport Bike season finale doubleheader could be discovered on the sequence’ official web site at CSBK.ca.
The put up Canadian Sport Bike: Dion Might Complicate Season Finale appeared first on Roadracing World Journal | Bike Driving, Racing & Tech Information.
