CSBK - RIP: Eddy Brunet

RIP: Eddy Brunet

Details: Category: CSBK News; Published on Friday, February 2, 2024 18:10 EST; Written by Colin Fraser

A star of the CSBK National series in the 1980s, Eddy Brunet has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 63.

Brunet was the top Amateur competitor of the 1986 season, riding the just-launched overdog of Canadian production racing, Suzuki’s racer replica RG500 square four two-stroke. Brunet won all three RACE Championships available for street-based racers, 555 Production, 555 G.P. and 750 Production.

Brunet’s racer was vividly presented, and Brunet’s matching gear was coloured to match the various colours of duct tape that he knew would be necessary to repair his bike and gear throughout the busy season. The flamboyant Brunet also claimed to have built an end table out of the plaques he won for success in the RACE Castrol Eastern Canada Championship regional championship series.

Brunet jumped to Pro in 1987, travelling with good friend and Honda-backed racer Jean Paquet. Brunet stuck with his two-stroke RG, and even built a superbike class square-four, although that machine seldom ran for any length of time.

Brunet’s best race was at the debut of National competition at Race City Speedway in Calgary, Alberta, where the Suzuki’s significant top speed was a plus against the four-strokes along the drag strip front straightaway.

Eddy Brunet (left) shares a laugh with his friend, the late Jean Paquet. [Photo: Courtesy Michel Mercier]
In RACE Regional action at S.M.P. in 1986, Eddy Brunet (321) holds the inside line from disabled racer Stephen Longstaff (747), both on Suzuki RG500 square four two-stroke production bikes. [Photo: Colin Fraser]
Start line action in RACE Regional activity at Shannonville Motorsport park in 1886 with the Amateur Open Production field headed by (top to bottom) #2 Suzuki RG500 of Rob Trottier, #321 Suzuki of Eddy Brunet, #525 ex-Mercier Suzuki of David Ryan and #166 Suzuki GSX-R750RR of Pierre Martin. [Photo: Colin Fraser]
Opening RACE Regional of 1987 at Shannonville’s Nelson layout, with the #9 Suzuki of Paul MacMillan leading # 94 Moto International Suzuki of Richard Greg, # 1 Suzuki Katana 600 of Michel Mercier and rookie # 12 Suzuki RG500 of rookie Pro Eddy Brunet. [Photo: Colin Fraser]
CSBK National at Race City, Calgary, Alberta, August, 1987, Pro Sport Bike middleweight Heat race battle for first: #12 Suzuki RG500 Eddy Brunet, #16 Honda CBR600F Jimmy DeWitt and #11 Honda CBR600F Gary Goodfellow head on to the kilometer long drag-strip front-straight. [Photo: Colin Fraser]
Eddy Brunet holds the Canada Cup on the podium at Shannonville Motorsport Park in 2005 after Francis Martin claimed the Superbike championship riding for the Brunet-run Diablo squad. [Photo: Rob O'Brien]

Brunet pivoted to duty with Michel Mercier’s FAST (Facility for Advanced Superbike Training) Racing School, initially based at Sanair, QC, and soon travelling with the Academy back when FAST travelled to venues across Canada. Later, Brunet would replace Mercier as a Quebec zone rep for Canadian Kawasaki Motors.

Brunet returned to competition with the Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA), where he was a frequent pace setter, often on two stroke “real” race bikes including a Honda RS250 and Yamaha TZ250.

Perhaps Brunet’s greatest success in motorsport came when he managed the Diablo paint ball Racing equipe owned by Montreal’s Richard Italia. Using Suzuki and Honda equipment, sometimes factory-backed by both manufacturers in the same season, Diablo Performance Racing of St-Laurent, QC, were one of the top factory-backed teams in the early 2000s on the CSBK National tour.

Diablo won National titles with Steve Crevier (Honda in Pro Sport Bike middleweight), and Francis Martin (Suzuki in Pro Superbike with the Canada Cup in 2005). As well, Diablo supported up and comers including Kevin Lacombe, Ugo Levert and Karl Daigle, and popular veteran Michael Leon. The team also competed in the U.S. on the AMA Pro National tour.

As well, Diablo’s support allowed Brunet and John Bickle to start the successful Suzuki SV650 Cup National Series for stock twins for 2004. Diablo also backed the Pro-AM 125cc G.P. Series, including a televised international event at Atlantic Motorsport Park, Nova Scotia, in 2003 – Brunet competed in the Championship on a Honda RS125.

A recent Facebook post by Brunet’s wife, Josee, indicated that a celebration of life will take place on Saturday, February 10th, from 11 am to 3 pm at 4 origins Microbrasserie, 2220 Hymus Blvd, Dorval, Quebec, H9P 1J7.