The last question mark about manufacturer participation in the 2010 Parts Canada Superbike Series has been erased, with Suzuki Canada and the rest of the Parts Canada Superbike members reaching agreement on a way to allow GSX-Rs on track.
Basically, Suzuki has agreed to pay "a small homologation fee" to keep the company’s sport bikes eligible for competition by privateers. The deal prevents the company from supporting a top-level team as it has in the past, and also guarantees Suzuki participating in the 2011 series.
Yamaha, by contrast, which is also stepping back, has declined such a deal to date and the arrangement with the other manufacturers and PMP thereby disallows the use of R1 models in Superbike, or 2010 R6 models in the Sport Bike (600) division.
BMW remains the only company to have a full-fledged distributor-supported team in the 2010 series, with Francis Martin and Mike Ferreira on board. Honda is supporting Jordan Szoke in Superbike and Jodi Christie in Sport Bike, while Kawasaki has a sole Superbike entry in Alex Welsh.
"Everyone understands the current financial challenges in the motorcycle industry and it was important to provide some flexibility to Suzuki Canada so that it could continue to play a role in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship," said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, which administers the series.
"Our four partner manufacturers agreed that keeping the GSX-R out of the series would have a detrimental effect on the national championship and we think we have found a good compromise that can work for all parties. We appreciate Suzuki’s willingness to find a way to make this happen."
The Parts Canada Superbike Championship is overseen by Professional Motorsports Productions along with partner manufacturers BMW Motorrad Canada, Canadian Kawasaki Motors, Deeley Racing, and Honda Canada.
There are very few motorcycle people I dislike. Colin Frasier is one of them.
By chance?
After the AMA Buell controversy have we not learned anything? Is Colin Fraser dictating this by chance ?
So, Yamaha isn’t fielding a factory team, and isn’t paying the “small homologation fee”, so privateers can’t race Yamahas.
I guess I won’t be racing that Ural next year as I’d originally hoped.
The “rule” is that you have to be a member to play. Basically, you buy a share of the playground if you want to be part of the show.
I don’t understand. What is the rule that prevents these bikes from competing?