Superbike Preview: Dumas, Younger to resolve 2023 crown with tripleheader grudge match at SMP
Toronto, ON – It’s the precise state of affairs many anticipated when the 2023 Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship season started, however that gained’t make it any much less thrilling when Alex Dumas and Ben Younger face off within the title-deciding ultimate spherical of the GP Bikes Professional Superbike class this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, September 15-17.
Nothing has separated the 2 rivals via the primary seven races of the season, with 2021 champion Dumas taking three wins and an ideal seven podiums whereas reigning champion Younger has countered with 4 wins and 6 podiums on the 12 months.
Regardless of all of the twists and turns alongside the best way, simply three factors would be the margin coming into the ultimate spherical of the marketing campaign, successfully wiping the slate clear and producing a tripleheader shootout to resolve the 2023 Canada Cup.
Whereas Dumas is the one with that slight benefit, it’s Younger who carries all of the momentum into the “lengthy monitor” configuration of SMP, which makes its return to the schedule for the primary time since 2006.
Seeking to erase a 36-point deficit in spherical 4, Younger swept the tripleheader in snug style and noticed Dumas accept third on every event, drawing the title chase virtually even regardless of his early season misfortune aboard the Van Dolder’s House Crew BMW.
Younger has seemed just like the outright quicker rider for elements of the season, besting Dumas in all however one follow or qualifying session, however the Purple Cranium Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider has seemed way more constant on race day, together with in spherical one at SMP.
Whereas that was on the totally different “professional monitor” format, Dumas merely seemed unmatched over a full race distance, maybe owed to his expertise educating at Shannonville for the FAST Using College.
Younger can be fast to level out his weird rear fairing situation that left him sixth in race two, however Dumas would counter that argument by saying he was already alone on the entrance when that malfunction occurred.
No matter how that weekend performed out, it can have little impact on what battles are to return on the brand new configuration. Dumas and Younger ought to each have the ability to run on the entrance as soon as extra, which might arrange the fiercest conflict both rider has seen since their rivalry started.
What stays the X-factor is the query that can be at the back of Dumas’ thoughts after spherical 4 at CTMP: who can play spoiler?
The runaway favorite of the bunch is Sam Guerin, who was not directly the most effective wingman Younger might have hoped for final day out. The EFC Group BMW rider completed forward of Dumas in all three races, and firmly established himself because the closest challenger to the 2 title rivals.
Dumas will even keep in mind it was Guerin who gave him the most important problem final time at SMP, main race one within the rain earlier than crashing out. Whereas he might not wish to get in the best way of both rider’s championship combat, Guerin will nonetheless be chasing his personal maiden victory and in addition has a accountability to BMW within the Constructors Championship, that means he can’t afford to be too type on the ultimate spherical both.
Guerin gained’t be the one one hoping to capitalize on the chaos and safe their first Superbike win, although, as Tomas Casas has continued to creep in the direction of the entrance amidst a breakthrough 12 months for the Components Canada Yamaha group.
Finishes of fourth, fifth, and fourth at CTMP have been made much more spectacular by his lack of straight-line pace in comparison with the higher-horsepower machines of Dumas and Guerin, one thing that shouldn’t be as a lot of a priority across the tighter, 15-turn “lengthy monitor” format of Shannonville as Casas eyes a long-awaited characteristic class win.
One other rider who will present little take care of the title battle is 14-time champion Jordan Szoke, who’s chasing an emotional victory of his personal. Simply the winningest rider in CSBK historical past, Szoke hasn’t gone a full season he’s entered with no win since 2005, and can be operating out of choices to increase that streak within the ultimate spherical of the 12 months.
The drought has been comprehensible given Szoke’s unlucky accidents and prolonged restoration, however on condition that race three can be his one hundred and fiftieth profession Superbike race begin and rumours proceed to swirl about his 2024 plans, the 44-year-old can be desperate to rejoice the milestone from the highest of the field.
No matter what occurs on-track for Szoke, followers will discover a change of surroundings in his pit field this weekend, because the information of his and Trevor Dion’s cut up has been met by the announcement that Connor Campbell will take his place on the second ZX-10R Ninja.
Campbell – a race winner at Shannonville within the Liqui Moly Professional Sport Bike class – will carry his B&T MacFarlane/Kubota sponsorship with him regardless of coming into as Szoke’s teammate, as he seems to be to get a headstart on his Superbike improvement previous to 2024.
Dion will now run a separate effort, and one that can look very totally different because the LDS Consultants-backed rider is about to debut an Economic system Lube & Tire Ducati. The reigning Sport Bike champion does personal each Kawasaki and BMW privateer equipment, however is now anticipated to trial the V4 Panigale as Ducati stays with no factors end this season.
No matter what machine Dion rides, the 21-year-old can be eyeing a return to the rostrum to cap off what’s been a troublesome 2023 marketing campaign, as he seems to be the important thing piece in lots of producer rumours for a second consecutive 12 months.
The ultimate spherical of the season will even see the return of Trevor Daley to the fold, although hardly at 100% as he recovers from a crash in spherical three at Atlantic Motorsport Park.
The OneSpeed Suzuki rider might have a tricky time staying with the lead group throughout three 14-lap races given his accidents, however even at lower than full-strength is able to scoring key factors for Suzuki and operating contained in the podium combine.
The total schedule for the ultimate spherical of the 2023 Professional Superbike season may be discovered on the sequence’ official web site at CSBK.ca.
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