CSBK officials have finally lined up a new racing venue in Quebec, with confirmation the roadracing series will return to ICAR for 2020.
The Canadian racing series ran at the Mirabel-based facility 2009-2011, but ICAR is best-known for four-wheeled racing, not motorcycle events.
ICAR officials say the track is in the middle of being reconfigured for 2020, meaning riders will see a different layout than the last visit there almost 10 years ago. It’s expected to be significantly different for next summer. Trackday organizers MotoNation are going to help with the revised configuration, so two-wheeled racers will be having their say in the process.
The move to ICAR comes as Autodrome St-Eustache has closed at the end of the 2019 racing season, initially leaving CSBK with no Quebec-based events for 2020. More details in the press release below.
Press release
ICAR Hosts 2020 Mopar CSBK Series in Quebec
The ICAR venue in Mirabel, Quebec, will host the Quebec round of the Mopar CSBK Canadian National Superbike Series July 17-19, 2020. The venue is on the north edge of Montreal, the biggest city in the Province of Quebec.
The ICAR (International Centre of Advanced Racing) venue is a multi-use facility, including a drag strip, stock car oval, karting and a multi-configuration road course. The ICAR Track has hosts NASCAR and Canadian Touring Car road races and a wide range of media launch events, and held Mopar CSBK National events on a variety of layouts form 2009-2011.
Recent Mopar CSBK events in Quebec have been held at Autodrome St-Eustache, not far south west of ICAR. With the Autodrome closing at the end of 2019, it was important for the Mopar CSBK tour to find a strong partner in Quebec.
“We’re excited about the return of the National Superbike Championship to ICAR,” confirmed circuit boss Elie Arseneau. “We are reconfiguring our track with a new oval prior to the start of the 2020 season, and we will be working with partners including MotoNation and CSBK to provide an entertaining layout for our two-wheeled customers and fans.”
Trackday organizers MotoNation will participate in track set-up for ICAR and provide support events around the summer National date at the track on the northern portion of the former Mirabel International Airport.
“Quebec is an important market for the National Superbike tour and establishing a new base for the series is a central goal of our fortieth anniversary superbike season in 2020,” explained National Series Control staffer Andre Lalancette. “Once the updates and changes are completed at ICAR, we will spend some time developing the best road race layout for the ICAR motorcycle customers.”
At the most recent Mopar CSBK event at Circuit ICAR, eventual National Champ Brett McCormick of Saskatoon, SK, dominated the opening 2011 National action with his factory-supported BMW S1000RR Superbike. McCormick also won the first-ever ICAR National in 2009 for Suzuki, while in 2010 victory belonged to eventual National Champ Jordan Szoke of Lynden, ON, aboard a Honda CBR1000RR.
Ben Young from Collingwood, ON, won the 2019 Mopar CSBK National crown on a BMW, with Szoke placing second overall for Kawasaki. With only a portion of the original ICAR layout included in the 2020 Circuit configuration, no current racer will have an edge when National Pro Superbike Feature practice starts on Friday, July 17.
The ICAR round of the Mopar CSBK tour is expected to feature a wide range of related spectator activities, with support provided by Liqui Moly lubricants. Full details of the event will be announced in conjunction with the Salon de la moto Montreal at the downtown Montreal Convention Centre. February 28-March 1, 2020.
