Team News: Round 2 Report from Ben Young
- Details
- Category: Team News
- Published on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 09:33 EDT
YOUNG TAKES A POLE POSITION, A 1ST, A 2ND AND A 3RD IN TRIPLE-HEADER WEEKEND AT MOSPORT
Ben Young continues to charge in his campaign for the 2021 Canadian Superbike Championship title. He was crowned “King of Mosport” after walking away with Pole Position, 1st place race one, 3rd place race two and a 2nd place in race three, along with a race lap record during the first-ever triple-header at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
After topping the timesheets in the first qualifying session, Young moved into Yuasa Battery Pole Award with the top 10, where they have the opportunity to run a Dunlop spec qualifying tire which can improve times dramatically. The weather had other ideas, however. Young headed out on a soft slick at the start of the session and easily took pole position. He came into the pit, switched over to the spec tire but didn’t get out on track as heavy rain began to fall on the back section of the track and the session was stopped immediately. After much deliberation, the ultimate decision was to proceed to grid based on positions from Superpole - Young took his second Pole Position of the 2021 CSBK season.
Due to unfortunate circumstances on Saturday, all three races were switched to 14 laps, and would all be held on Sunday. They would prove to be close racing the likes of which we’ve not seen at this level for years.
Race one began with Young slotting into 2nd place behind Dumas for the first few laps. He was constantly on Dumas tail and by lap 6, Young managed to make a pass stick and led the race on his Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW. With the top 5 close on his tail. Young continued to push, closing the door on his opponents and held on to take the win.
With a great start off the line in race two, Ben rocketed his BMW S1000RR into first position. Young jostled positions with Szoke and Dumas for the entirety of the race. Multiple times, they crossed the line three-abreast, so close was the competition. Ultimately, Young took 3rd place, with just 3/10ths of a second covering the top 3. This would only prove to make Young hungrier for the final race of tripleheader weekend.
Young got a bad launch of the line for the third and last race of the day, dropping as low as 5th place. He quickly picked off riders and was battling for first again in no time. Young led the race, with Szoke close on his tail, renewing their long rivalry. They switched positions, and with one lap to go on the last corner, Young attempted one last pass on Szoke but had to sit up at the last moment to avoid a collision. The riders crossed the line three-wide, with Young taking the second position - completing his trifecta of positions for the weekend.
Of the weekend, Young said the following: “Three races in one day was a lot, but we were more than ready for it. We had a great race set up for the crucial last laps of the 20 and 18 lap races, and with our race being shortened to 14 laps, I felt like it helped a lot of the other riders who hadn’t had it figured out. Some great battles throughout all 3 races, and all clean and fair racing.”
Ben now tails first place in the standings by only 10 points. The championship will be decided at the final round held at Calabogie Motorsports Park, dates to be confirmed.
Young’s partners for his 2021 CSBK Championship season include; BMW Motorrad Canada, Van Dolder's Home Team, Scot-Build Developments Inc, Parts Canada, HJC Helmets, Alpinestars, Motul, Hindle Exhaust, Barrie Trim and Mouldings, Alpha Racing and Vass Performance Cycle.
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