Superbike Preview: Younger carries championship lead into spherical two at Grand Bend
Hamilton, ON – The second spherical of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship will roll onto lovely Lake Huron this weekend, as Ben Younger seems to be to increase his early benefit within the function Superbike class on the Grand Bend Motorplex, June 7-9, offered by Southwest Marine & Powersport.
The three-time Canada Cup champion and two-time defending title winner confirmed simply why he owns the #1 plate on the Shannonville opener, conquering each races and delivering an particularly dominant exhibiting in race two to open up a ten-point hole atop the GP Bikes Professional Superbike standings.
Younger was definitely examined in race one, dropping again as little as fourth earlier than having to claw his approach by on rivals Trevor Dion, Jordan Szoke, and eventually Sam Guerin, however his race two victory was a a lot greater assertion as he cruised to a snug 17-second win.
Younger’s historical past round Grand Bend, it’s onerous to not anticipate extra of the identical this weekend.
The Van Dolder’s House Crew BMW rider practically scored his first profession CSBK victory on the circuit, ending second to Szoke in a nail-biter in 2018 earlier than taking his maiden win later that 12 months, and he has been nearly unbeatable on the circuit ever since with three wins within the final 4 races at Grand Bend.
As if that isn’t a formidable sufficient streak in itself, Younger’s solely loss over that span got here in a moist race two final season after he crashed on the warmup lap, permitting rival Alex Dumas to finish his run of success on the venue.
Unhealthy luck apart, Younger received’t need to cope with Dumas this time round, placing a giant ask on the likes of Szoke, Guerin, and Dion, amongst others.
Ought to any misfortune come again round for the reigning champ, nevertheless, Szoke might be the one most ready to return to the highest step of the field.
The 14-time champion admittedly hasn’t been as sturdy round Grand Bend as practically each different observe in his profession, however he’s nonetheless a former winner on the circuit and has appeared rejuvenated in 2024, exhibiting indicators of his outdated self aboard the CKM Kawasaki as he continues to get well from his 2022 accidents.
Guerin, in the meantime, might be in for a vital weekend as he enters because the closest challenger to Younger behind a pair of runner-up finishes within the opener.
The EFC Group BMW star has been stable however unspectacular in his profession at Grand Bend, ending contained in the top-five in all 4 appearances however taking solely a single podium (third) in race two final season. Nonetheless, Guerin did appear to be a stronger model of himself than ever earlier than at spherical one, one thing that might be put to the check in spherical two as he tries to maintain his title hopes in good condition.
As for Szoke’s former teammate Dion, the native rider left SMP with a warning shot to his opponents, saying he’s “wanting ahead to being on high” in Grand Bend, and it might not be far-fetched to suppose he can again it up this weekend.
The Economic system Lube Ducati star has had his fair proportion of technical struggles aboard the V4R Panigale – to the purpose the place he was pressured to leap aboard a BMW in race two at Shannonville – however he’s a former pole-sitter at Grand Bend and is aware of the observe properly from his days with the SOAR regional collection.
Dion received’t be the one native star to cope with, nevertheless, as David MacKay will put his in depth observe data to good use in his second weekend aboard the ODH Snow Metropolis Cycle Honda.
The reigning Professional Sport Bike champion has extra laps round Grand Bend than anybody else on the grid, and whereas solely a few of them have come aboard the brand new machine, his performances at Shannonville proved he received’t want a lot of a teething interval.
There’s a robust likelihood MacKay received’t be the one frontrunning Honda both, as fellow SOAR common Chris Pletsch is predicted to make a return look after a spectacular one-off at his residence observe final season.
Pletsch made his nationwide Superbike debut and was an immediate contender, qualifying second to Younger and ending second in race two aboard his Stratford Cycle Centre Honda, and there’s little purpose to doubt he will be again within the podium combine this weekend.
Like MacKay, one other former Sport Bike champion will enter the Motorplex with greater expectations, as Sebastien Tremblay will hope to duplicate his sturdy opener for Turcotte Efficiency Suzuki.
Tremblay is at a slight drawback aboard his lesser-powered GSX-R750, the identical machine he pilots within the Sport Bike ranks, however that ought to have much less of an impression across the tight, slim first half of the Grand Bend format as he tries to choose up precious factors for Suzuki.
The 2 weeks of relaxation after spherical one might be a fine addition for rookie Connor Campbell, after preventing by rib accidents to take a pair of top-ten finishes at Shannonville.
The B&T MacFarlane/Kubota Kawasaki rider handled damage and mechanical points as a Sport Bike rider at Grand Bend final season, however will hope for a more healthy return in 2024 as he tries to increase his lead within the Brooklin Cycle Racing Professional Rookie of the Yr award standings.
Campbell’s kind may be essential for Kawasaki within the Constructors Standings, as he and “satellite tv for pc teammate” Szoke look to trim their 42-point deficit to BMW in spherical two.
An ideal weekend for Younger and Guerin (taking the utmost 45 factors in every race) has already put the stress on Kawasaki and the remainder of the sphere, and a repeat efficiency for the pair may see them prolong an insurmountable hole by spherical three.
Kawasaki might be equally as weak to Ducati, Honda, and Yamaha behind them, nevertheless, particularly with Honda receiving some very important reinforcements within the type of Pletsch.
The weekend schedule for the GP Bikes Professional Superbike class, in addition to the opposite six nationwide courses, will be discovered on the collection’ official web site.
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