Calgary-based roadracer Braeden Ortt has a ride in the 2016 World Supersport championship, Roadracing World is reporting.
We haven’t heard much about Ortt in recent years because he’s been doing all his racing overseas. However, he proved his worth in last year’s KTM 390 series in MotoAmerica, as well as internationally at the KTM RC World Cup. Before that, he was paying his dues at the European Junior Cup.
In previous years, Ortt probably would have been slotted for the Superstock series before jumping to Supersport, but with that class canceled, he’s going directly to World Superbike’s FIM-sanctioned feeder series, says Roadracing World. At 16 years old, Ortt is supposedly the youngest-ever competitor in World Supersport.
He’s riding for Racedays Honda this season. His teammate will be Spaniard Javier Orellana, winner of the 2015 European World Junior Cup. Team manager is former GP racer Jeremy McWilliams, who is familiar with both riders from working with them in the EJC.
To find out more about Ortt and the racing he’s been up to the last couple years, check out his website here.
The last Canadian to enter World Supersport was Brett McCormick, who ended up being promoted to World Superbike before he entered a single race. His 2012 season was marred by serious injuries and his Effenbert Liberty team’s instability; McCormick has stayed clear of roadracing since, despite putting up a good showing in the races he was able to partake in.
when was the last time there was a canadian in WSBK?
… and then I discover I missed the last paragraph.
It’s worth mentioning that if you’re a WorldSBK online video subscriber, you have full access to not only WorldSBK, but also the Superstock, Supersport and EJC races throughout the season. I always find it enjoyable to watch the EJC events; there are some really fast youngsters (male and female) running there.
Yeah, Ortt has flown below the radar because he hasn’t appeared in CSBK, but he might be The Next Big Thing from Canada. We’ll find out this year I guess.
The Alberta Mini Roadracing Association is a thriving hotbed of young up-and-comers:
http://amra.ca/