Dumas, Younger set for CTMP shootout in spherical 4 tripleheader
Toronto, ON – Little or no has separated Alex Dumas and Ben Younger of their time collectively within the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship, however each will get a key alternative to swing that rivalry of their favour this weekend in spherical 4 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, August 18-20.
By 20 races collectively within the function GP Bikes Professional Superbike class, each riders have tilted the scales of their favour at numerous tracks, with Younger out-qualifying Dumas 5-2 in that span whereas Dumas owns a 12-8 benefit on race day, every securing one championship within the course of (Younger having additionally received the title in 2019).
Examine their data at CTMP, nonetheless, and it’s about as at the same time as you will get.
Six races on the historic venue north of Bowmanville, ON have produced two wins for Dumas, two for Younger, and two for Jordan Szoke. Of their non-victories, each riders completed because the runner-up 3 times, and accomplished the rostrum in third a single time.
Actually, simply 5 whole factors separate the 2 of their CTMP historical past, with Younger taking the slight benefit because of qualifying and lap led factors. For sure, it’s an not possible process choosing a favorite for the penultimate spherical of the 2023 marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, it’s virtually sure that the weekend will swing their rivalry in a large manner, with Dumas seeking to put one hand on the Canada Cup as he carries a cushty 36-point benefit into “Previous Mosport,” a niche that appears considerably extra menacing after the cancellation of spherical three and subsequent lack of one function class race.
It would take a mighty effort – and even mightier luck – for the Purple Cranium Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider to formally wrap issues up coming into spherical 5 at Shannonville, as he would wish to massively outscore Younger at CTMP to offset the 85 factors obtainable in September, however even a single victory might go a good distance in handing Dumas his second title in three years.
That stated, the identical alternative stays obtainable to Younger, as a 36-point deficit appears much more palatable with six races and 170 factors left on the board. The Van Dolder’s House Group BMW rider scored his first-ever Professional Superbike win at this venue, in spite of everything, and has amassed 9 podiums in his final ten races at CTMP, together with his solely absence being when he clinched the 2019 nationwide title in a secure fourth place.
Younger will even know that the super-fast, flowing nature of the circuit, mixed with the lengthy Andretti straightaway, usually create massive lead packs of riders with unpredictable outcomes. Whereas that may additionally jeopardize his efforts, it’s a far larger menace to Dumas as he goals to keep away from any chaos over the ultimate six contests.
Ought to a brand new winner emerge, although, it could look like no higher time than for Szoke to cap off his comeback story.
Whereas his physique has endured its justifiable share since his final CSBK victories in 2021, the ten-turn structure of CTMP is taken into account one of many least bodily demanding tracks on the calendar, a key element for Szoke with three races on the schedule.
The LDS Consultants Kawasaki rider unsurprisingly holds the report with 20 profession Superbike wins at CTMP, 4 occasions as many as Pascal Picotte in second (5), and would be the first title in line so as to add to that whole if Dumas or Younger falter.
Simply as Szoke chases victory quantity 79 in his profession, a handful of names stay hungry for his or her first, and the wide-open nature of CTMP often is the place the place the drought ends for one among Sam Guerin, Tomas Casas, or Trevor Daley.
The latter would wish a big turnaround from his damaged femur suffered at spherical three simply 24 days in the past, however Daley isn’t one to rely out if he can discover a solution to mount his OneSpeed Suzuki.
As for the 2 wholesome names of the batch, Guerin and Casas have had reverse profession paths at CTMP, however have seemingly ended up in the identical state of affairs coming into the weekend tripleheader.
Guerin stormed out of the gates with second and third-place finishes in his first two professional races on the circuit in 2020, however the EFC Group BMW rider has managed only one top-five end on the venue since, admittedly because of mechanical issues which have to this point been mounted in 2023.
As for Casas, it’s been extra of a constant battle for the Components Canada Yamaha rider at his residence observe, ending a better of fourth in 2019, fifth in 2021, and fourth once more (twice) a yr in the past, frequently within the lead group however to date unable to remain on the entrance.
The standing of Daley will even have enormous implications on the Constructors Championship, the place Suzuki at present leads BMW by 28 factors. A wholesome Guerin – in addition to the constant presence of IBEW BMW rider Jordan Royds – will assist assist Younger up entrance, whereas an absent Daley would put loads of stress on RLS Contracting Suzuki rookie John Fraser in his first professional look at CTMP.
Szoke and Casas additionally determine to play an enormous function within the scrap for third total within the Constructors desk, the place Kawasaki at present trails Yamaha by 27 factors.
The penultimate shootout will even show to be an important one in a pair of awards battles, as Younger appears to be like to cement his second BS Battery Pole Award whereas the struggle for the Brooklin Cycle Racing Professional Rookie of the 12 months Award rages on.
Younger owns a six-point benefit over Dumas within the qualifying-based battle, and might clinch the award with one other pole place and a third-or-worse grid spot for Dumas.
As for the Rookie of the 12 months contest, Acme Motorsports Yamaha newcomer Paul Macdonell at present leads 18-year-old Fraser by only a single level, with LDS Consultants Kawasaki star Trevor Dion an extra 12 factors again.
Protecting with custom, the return to CTMP will even convey again the “King of Mosport” award, supplied to the GP Bikes Professional Superbike rider that scores probably the most whole factors throughout the weekend.
Dumas was topped the King of Mosport a yr in the past with a pair of wins, whereas Younger took the honour (and literal crown to go along with it) in each 2021 and 2019.
The total schedule for the GP Bikes Professional Superbike class may be discovered on the collection’ official web site at CSBK.ca.