Younger defends title for first time as wide-open sequence returns to SMP this weekend
Toronto, ON – After months of hypothesis surrounding a vastly completely different and unpredictable 2023 Bridgestone Canadian Superbike season, our first reply will lastly be delivered this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, Might 18-21.
A lot has modified because the final time we noticed the characteristic GP Bikes Professional Superbike championship at CTMP in August 2022, and that completely different feeling can be on full show at historic SMP – a venue not seen on the CSBK calendar since 2019.
With the brand new period of Bridgestone tires absolutely underway, a return to a historic circuit for the primary time in 4 years, and an inflow of each purse cash and new expertise into the characteristic class, it’ll possible be a season filled with unfamiliarity.
One factor that may really feel acquainted, nevertheless, is Ben Younger being the person to beat.
Watch the unique spherical one video preview right here:
The reigning nationwide champion for the second time in his profession, Younger can be sporting the #1 plate for the primary time after sitting out the 2020 season (successful in 2019), nevertheless it virtually appears becoming because the 2022 model of Younger was not like something we noticed earlier than.
Profitable 5 of 9 races and ending contained in the top-two in each single one among them, Younger took dwelling 225 of a attainable 250 factors to defeat rival and then-champion Alex Dumas by 29.5 factors (the final race awarding half-points as a consequence of a purple flag).
Extra impressively, Younger fully obliterated the notion from earlier in his profession that he was “too protected,” successful races six and 7 in aggressive and dramatic style over Dumas to seal the Canada Cup for the Van Dolder’s House Group BMW program.
Mix all of this with the reminiscence that Younger is the newest victor at SMP – successful spherical one in 2019 en path to his first championship – and it will be truthful to imagine that nobody will contact him this weekend.
That couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Dumas can have a lot to say about being the “underdog” coming into 2023, having gained eight instances in 16 races since transferring north to his dwelling nation and lacking the rostrum solely as soon as – his notorious crash out of the lead in race 5 at AMP a yr in the past.
The Purple Cranium Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider additionally gained’t have the narrative of observe inexperience towards him this time round, after dropping 44 factors to Younger throughout the 2 tracks he visited for the primary time in 2022 (Grand Bend and AMP).
Whereas he’s but to race nationally at SMP, the 20-year-old is an teacher on the FAST Faculty situated proper inside the venue, and he showcased that observe data by topping the Tremendous Collection regional opener this weekend, simply 1.8 seconds off the outright lap report.
In relation to observe data, nevertheless, nobody can have extra round virtually any venue in Canada than 14-time champion Jordan Szoke, who’s aiming to make his long-awaited return to the Bridgestone CSBK paddock on the identical place the place he captured his first Superbike crown in 1998.
Szoke’s restoration from a brutal crash final offseason seemed to be behind him, topping the Winter Check in his first look again on board the LDS Consultants Kawasaki, however one other latest well being scare has put that in jeopardy – although he will certainly be a menace to win ought to he handle to show up.
He gained’t be the one menace within the LDS Consultants Kawasaki storage, nevertheless, as his new rookie teammate, Trevor Dion, proved one yr in the past. Making his first and up to now solely Superbike look, Dion got here out of nowhere to steal pole place and a third-place end in final yr’s Grand Bend opener, earlier than selecting to deal with his eventual Liqui Moly Professional Sport Bike championship-winning season.
Now absolutely centered on his Superbike profession, Dion will lead off the group of riders which might be subsequent in line for his or her first profession victories, ending second to Dumas on the Tremendous Collection regional, however he’ll have one other Trevor to take care of within the type of OneSpeed Suzuki’s Trevor Daley.
A podium challenger all over the place he goes, Daley struggled in his final look at SMP in 2019 however completed fourth the yr prior, and can hope a contemporary begin on the venue might help him lastly seize his elusive first profession characteristic victory.
Additionally price mentioning within the podium combine can be a pair of fan favourites in Sam Guerin and Tomas Casas, the previous making his first ever nationwide look at historic Shannonville. The EFC Group BMW rider went simply marginally slower than Dion in his latest regional motion, adjusting shortly to a variety of new variables as he additionally broke in a brand new machine on the circuit.
As for Casas, an injury-riddled 2022 season prevented the Elements Canada Yamaha rider from taking the subsequent step within the characteristic class, however the former two-time Sport Bike champion reminded everybody of his potential by ending fourth at CTMP a yr in the past.
Outdoors of the person rider battles on-track, there may also be a pair of different key awards to be careful for at SMP within the Constructors Championship and the Brooklin Cycle Racing Professional Rookie of the 12 months battle.
BMW will enter because the defending Constructors winners after stealing the trophy from inaugural champs Suzuki, thanks largely to the efforts of Younger and Guerin, however the one-on-one rivalry could also be damaged up in 2023 by the revamped effort of Kawasaki and the regular progress of Ducati and Yamaha, amongst others.
As for the Rookie of the 12 months battle, it’s anybody’s guess who would be the closest challenger to Dion in a deep and wide-open freshman class, although Pierre Simard possible snatched the honour after his breakout efficiency on the Winter Check.
The D1C Suzuki rider went fourth-fastest in Florida to solely Szoke, Younger, and Dumas, as he prepares to take a second crack at his rookie season, retaining his standing after an early damage derailed his 2022 marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, the highest duo can have fellow Suzuki teenager John Fraser and reigning AIM Insurance coverage Newbie Superbike champion Julien Lafortune (Kawasaki) to cope with, amongst many different proficient rookies.
The complete schedule for the opening spherical of the characteristic GP Bikes Professional Superbike class, in addition to the opposite six assist courses, will be discovered on the sequence’ official web site.
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