Boring weekend ahead? Check these events out

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, there’s some pretty big events out there!

First up for dirt heads is the Parts Canada TransCan GNC motocross at Walton Raceway in Walton, Ontario, where world champion and U.S. national champion rider Julian Bill is coming all the way from Switzerland to race against the local boys.

Also racing, in his pro debut, is Bridgen, Ontario’s Cole Thompson, fresh off a national championship win two weeks ago in the U.S.; Thompson has also been TransCan Grand National Amateur Champion several times, and he says Walton is one of his favourite tracks.

Racing begins late Wednesday afternoon at the TransCan, and Canadian championships will be awarded in 20 classes by Saturday afternoon. Roughly 30,000 people attend the races, so it’s a big deal in Huron County. You can find more information about the races here.

Still in Ontario and it’s the finale of the Canadian Superbike Championship at Mosport Raceway with a double header.

All eyes will be on the Parts Canada Pro Superbike class, as 19-year-old Brett McCormick of Saskatoon, will attempt to wrap up a perfect season by winning all five rounds of the season on his BMW S1000RR. 2010 champion Jordan Szoke will try to spoil the party and (in theory at least) could still take the championship if he wins both rounds and McCormick has a very uncharacteristic weekend.

Of course there are plenty of other classes over the weekend as well including the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada XR1200 Cup and the Honda CBR125R Challenge.

BMW Motorrad Summerfest returns to Mosport for its fifth year which includes all things BMW as well as live music from Crash Karma (though maybe not the best name for a racing event). Oh and BMW, Honda, Ducati and Suzuki will also be offering demo rides.

The three-day weekend SuperTicket is $50 until August 17 ($60 at the Gate). Single-day tickets are also available.  Each ticket includes parking, access to the race team paddock, Mosport Expo and Marketplace, the BMW Motorrad Summerfest and admission to Mosport Speedway’s Saturday Night Stock Car racing at the half-mile paved oval located on the grounds.  Children 12 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by a paid adult admission.

More info here.

The other big event you may want to check out is MotoMoncton. Moncton, New Brunswick, lost its previous major motorcycle festival, Atlanticade in 2010. After the 2009 festival ran the same weekend as a Bon Jovi concert. organizers moved the rally down the highway to St. Andrews, where they wouldn’t have any problems with competition for accommodations for visiting bikers.

Moncton is kicking off their new rally this weekend on Friday, with a stunt show at the riverfront, live entertainment on Main Street, and a blessing of the bikes.  There’s another stunt show running Saturday, there’s plan for a group ride, a burnout competition, more live entertainment, and of course, vendors, vendors, vendors.

All that’s scheduled for Sunday, so far, is a biker breakfast on Main Street. For more details, visit here.

It will be interesting to see how well MotoMoncton draws. When it was first announced, some bikers questioned the point of running a new festival scheduled so close to Shediac’s rally. When you add the Maritimes’ other major festivals in Digby, St. Andrews, and Cape Breton into the mix, there’s a lot of biker partying going on already that MotoMoncton will have to compete with.