Despite some tough breaks, the Canadian Superbike Championship is planning out its 2012 season.
When Parts Canada announced last month that they were dropping their sponsorship for the CSBK series, many onlookers figured the championship was in serious jeopardy. It didn’t help that Kawasaki also said they were going to stop their longtime involvement.
But, there’s good news; many other serious sponsors are sticking around. Deeley Harley-Davidson, Mopar, Pirelli, and Honda Canada will all be involved in the 2012 season. BMW Motorrad Canada is also going to have a presence, even though their top rider, reigning champion Brett McCormick, has signed with World Superbike team Effenbert Liberty.
Championship officials say they’re working on a schedule right now; the completed version will be presented at December’s motorcycle show in Toronto.
For now, we know that both pro and amateur superbike classes will return, as well as pro and amateur sportbike. Honda is dropping their CBR125R Challenge to club level, and is instead running a CBR250R spec series, with 2012’s CBR125R champ Stacey Nesbitt expected to run the #1 plate.
Harley-Davidson’s XR1200 spec series will run again, but with some interesting changes. Canadian Superbike officials say the series will co-operate in some way with American racers next season. Stay tuned for interesting developments there when we know more details.
Officials also say this year’s double-header season-ending weekend at Mosport proved to be popular enough that they plan to repeat it next year.
