Toronto, ON: Frontline CSBK has confirmed that the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup Championship, an integral part of the MOPAR CSBK Series, will not continue as part of the 2014 National Road racing tour.
Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, the exclusive Canadian distributor for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, has decided that their XR1200 Cup will not return for a fourth season. The street-based spec class for identical, lightly modified v-twin XR1200 models has been part of the National Championship schedule for the past three years. The similar American Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup Championship will continue to run in the United States as part of the AMA Pro Series Schedule, sponsored by aftermarket giant Vance and Hines.
“We’re sad to see Harley-Davidson leave the CSBK series,” explained CSBK Director of Competition Colin Fraser. “However we understand that products and corporate direction can change and we appreciate the opportunity to race with Deeley H-D Canada on the National tour. We look forward to opportunities in the future when it might be possible to resume activities on track in Canada with Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada.”
The Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup produced outstanding race action at tracks across Canada, starting with the opening event at Circuit ICAR in Quebec in June of 2011. Legendary Canadian racer Steve Crevier of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, dominated the XR1200 Cup, taking the Championship in all three seasons of competition aboard his Motosport Plus sponsored racer.
“Maybe the hardest part of losing the XR1200 Cup is the fact that so many popular, fast racers competed the category,” continued Fraser. “Besides a living legend like Crevier, we also had racers of the caliber of Michael Taylor, Darren James, Cody Matechuk, Elie Daccache, David Estok, Michael Barnes, Chris Harmon, Blaise Fougere, Olivier Spillborghs, Costa Mouzouris, Jon Cornwell and of course the late J.R. MacRae taking part at various times during the series. The XR1200 Cup was a real showcase for some top Canadian racing talent.”
Frontline CSBK is currently considering various options for a possible replacement class to take part in next year’s MOPAR-backed National Championship series, scheduled to open at Shannonville Motorsport Park’s Pro layout, near Belleville, ON., on June 6-8, 2014.
