Round 1 Report: Ben Young Racing

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Category: Team News

Published on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 12:04 EDT

YOUNG ON PACE AT CSBK SEASON OPENER AT SHANNONVILLE

The 2017 MOPAR Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) season launched this past weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park (SMP). The Superbike Challenge presented by the Trenton Military Family Resource Centre featured a formidable cast of competitors. Hungry to fine-tune his pro rookie success in 2016 Ben Young quickly got up to speed despite limited track time taking home his first podium of the season with a third-place finish. 

Persistent rain this past month as well as the days leading up to this past weekend’s season opener at Shannonville Motorsport Park hindered pre-season testing for not only Young but all the CSBK competitors. The Collingwood, ON based pilot’s first real test of the off-season changes made to his #86 Scot-Build Developments BMW S1000RR was during Saturday’s Dalton Timmis Insurance Pro Superbike Top Ten SuperPole session. Young just missed out on the Dalton Timmis Insurance SuperPole podium earning the fourth and final spot on the front row for Sunday's 22-lap Pro MOPAR Superbike feature. The top six riders were all within the 1:04-second range during the ultra-competitive SuperPole session. 

Blue skies and a calm breeze greeted the MOPAR CSBK fans and competitors on Sunday morning. Young was eager to put his Scott Cartier/ Willie Vass prepared #86 BMW S1000RR into the heat of battle.

Young launched off the line from the inside of the front row and powered through the first corner in fifth place and quickly moved into fourth at the hairpin. The three front runners began to gap Young and it would appear he may ride a very lonely race. While the top two riders battled for the lead Young began to reel in the front runners with the top four setting a pace at near qualifying times.  With the top three focused on their battle, Young put his head down and stealthily joined the fray to make it a four-way contest for a spot on the podium.  

Making several attempts to get by series veteran Matt McBride, Young finally secured third place but was now being challenged by Bodhi Edie for the last spot on the podium. With a handful of laps remaining Edie would briefly take over third from Young before he would go down relinquishing third place back to Young, who now had his sights firmly set the on the rider in second.  In the closing laps navigating lapped riders presented an additional challenge for the top competitors. Young crossed the finish line with a hard fought third place aboard his #86 Scot-Build Developments BMW S1000RR.

“We made some great changes to the chassis this year which I feel was a huge help to our fast lap times this weekend. With the BMW S1000RR having great mid-range and torque we have kept the engine stock again for this year. After a hard and fast paced 22 lap feature I felt physically fine to be honest, which makes all the hard work in the off season worth it.” said Young.

The MOPAR Canadian Superbike Championship returns to TSN for 2017. This past weekend's Pro MOPAR CSBK action from Shannonville Motorsport Park is tentatively scheduled to air on TSN 2 on Monday June 5, 2017 at 1:30 PM. Visit www.csbk.ca for confirmed broadcast dates and times.

The Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship heads to Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, ON. for Round 2, the Series' first ever visit to this track, on June 9-11, 2017.

Young’s partners for his 2017 CSBK Championship season include; Scot-build Developments, BMW Motorrad Canada, AXO Racing, Arai Helmets, Hindle Exhaust, Woodcraft, SBS, Motion Pro, Human 2.0, K-Tech Suspension & Epic Racewear. 

He is also a proud "Laps for Muscular Dystrophy" (Laps4MD) rider who’s pledged to donate $1 for every lap he leads this season. These donations go to Muscular Dystrophy Canada to help make a difference in the lives of over 50,000 Canadians affected by a neuromuscular disorder.

To keep up-to-date on Ben Young throughout the year visit; www.BenYoungRacing.com, www.facebook.com/BenYoungRacing and on Twitter and Instagram: @benyoung_86.

From a press release