Last weekend the 2018 Mopar CSBK National roadracing tour was in Nova Scotia, taking on the substantial challenge of the 2.56 kilometer-long, eleven turn Shubenacadie-area venue, famous for it’s legendary hills and topography since the first motorcycle National held at the venue in 1975.
As usual, various checks were conducted by the CSBK Technical staff once the bikes began to take part in official sessions for the five National categories. Horsepower is measured on the Official Series Dynojet rear-wheel Dyno, weights are checked on the official scales right after on-track sessions, and other inspections including fuel tests are part of the regular review of performance to ensure racers are within the guidelines established by series rules.
The new Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike category was always going to provide plenty of interest at A.M.P., since a variety of top guns from the local Society of the Atlantic Racing League would join the tour and challenge at their home venue.
Following Saturday’s seventh race of the season, held on an almost-dry surface, the top finishers headed to Tech for a weight check, to be sure they met the 320 pound posted minimum. Championship leader Jake LeClair held off an aggressive group for the win on his Oshawa Cycle Yamaha YZF-R3, and weighed in at 327 pounds.
Runner-up Avery Hart’s Kawasaki 250 Ninja tipped the scale at 324 pounds, while the similar Ninja of final podium man Scott Alexander registered 322 pounds. Fourth placed title contender Alex Berthiaume measured 326 pounds with his R3, and the fifth placed Kawasaki Ninja 300 of Ryan White weighed 326 pounds – all the racers were close to the class limit, as you’d expect in such a competitive field.
Earlier in the weekend, post Qualifying, the top Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike performers all ran on the Dyno. Fast Qualifier Avery Hart’s Ninja 250 registered 31.73 horsepower, showing it doesn’t take major engine output to do well at A.M.P. – the class limit for his machine is 44!
Jake LeClair’s was second best on track in Q, and his R3 registered 39.18 horsepower, third best Scott Alexander netting a 31.78 number with his Kawasaki 250. Berthiaume, an A.M.P. rookie, shook off a crash and was fourth best, but tops on the dyno with a run at 40.05 horsepower. Fifth quickest Ryan White registered 36.98 horsepower with his Kawasaki Ninja 300, a spec class CSBK racer from 2016-2017.
On the other end of the National performance spectrum, the official series Dynojet Dyno provided by Brooklin Cycle Racing was used to check the top performers following the Dalton Timmis Insurance SuperPole session on Friday afternoon. The class limit for output for the Mopar CSBK Feature Superbike class is 200 horsepower, not easy to use at A.M.P.!
Three BMW S1000RR superbikes were measured, Jordan’s Szoke Pole winner registering 186.64 horsepower, the second-quickest machine of Ben Young measuring at 182.52 and Michel Leon’s third-best Royal Distributing BeeMm netting 189.89 horsepower.
In always-entertaining Liqui Moly Pro Sport race action on a wet track Saturday, local ace Jacob Shaw-O’Leary earned his first career National win with his Pro Cycle Honda CBR600RR, and in post race Tech registered 113.11 horsepower. Points leader and double 2018 winner Tomas Casas was second on a Yamaha YZF-R6, posting a 109.31 HP run, and the third-placed Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja of 2017 BCR Rookie Pro of the Year Jean-Marc Bilger recorded 99.59 horsepower, safely under the class limit of 125.
In Sunday’s Parts Canada Amateur Sport Bike event for middleweight machinery, Nicolas Meunier earned his first career National victory aboard the Euromoto/Speed 67 Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, and registered 111.06 horsepower on the Dynojet Dyno post-race. Luc Labranche was second on his well-developed PSR/Hindle Yamaha YZF-R6 and registered 107.58 horsepower, and the newer third placed DSI Performance-backed YZF-R6 of Danny Cayer, made 109.38 horsepower on the way to setting the fastest lap of the National.
Qualifying for Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike took place on a dry track late Saturday, and the middleweight bikes were again up front, as is often the case at AMP. Local ace Mario Ricard was quickest on his Honda CBR600RR, and registered 95 horsepower, less than half of the max output allowed for Superbikes. Cayer’s 600cc Yamaha was second best in the session and registered 109.41 horsepower on the Dyno, while the third best Yamaha of ever-consistent Labranche spun the Dynojet’s drum to record 107.01 horsepower.
Next event is the series finale at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, August 10-12, where double headers are scheduled for every National category. The long, uphill back Mario Andretti Straight means that outright engine performance is a major concern at “old Mosport.”
