The Canadian Superbike series will have another weekend of racing this year, August 15-16 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (aka, Mosport).
After the COVID-19 pandemic wrecked original plans for CSBK’s 40th anniversary series, some thought the season was in doubt. Organizers figured out how to get a weekend’s racing in Calabogie in July, though, including a Pro Superbike doubleheader. Now, they’re going to run another weekend of races at CTMP. Once again, there will be very limited attendance, and no spectators. See details in CSBK’s release below:
CSBK Confirms Canadian Tire Motorsport Park National on August 15 and 16 with Pro6
The Canadian National Superbike Championship (CSBK) will stage their second event of 2020 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park hear Bowmanville, ON, on August 15 and 16. Traditionally, the series completes their Canadian tour at “old Mosport” each season, but the Covid19 pandemic meant that this event was considered unlikely for 2020.
While spectators at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park are still out of the question, extensive planning with Track Day provider Pro6 Cycle and CSBK organizers Professional Motorsports Productions have led to an agreement to stage a two-day event at the popular venue.
On July 25, Pro6 and PMP organized the first 2020 CSBK round at Calabogie Motorsport Park, south west of Ottawa, ON. Using a different format to incorporate the changes required to conduct an event without the benefit of fans, the good overall start at Calabogie allowed for CTMP plans to move forward during the past week.
“It was a real challenge to stage the new style event at Calabogie,” confirmed CSBK Series founder Colin Fraser of PMP. “We were fortunate to have an enthusiastic group of participants, and a co-operative team willing to figure out how to organize this event.
“Our current situation is not in any way ideal, and everyone would prefer to have spectators, as well as last year’s budgets, and all of the ingredients that have lead to steady growth for CSBK in the past few seasons. However, we know people want to race, and fans want to follow the action as much as possible.”
“We are working together with Pro6 to find ways to make things work with our current restrictions, and looking forward to working directly with Canadian Tire Motorsport Park again in the future when we can once again engage with a big group of enthusiastic fans.”
The plan for the CTMP event will involve pre-entry on the Pro6 web site, with entry closing on Sunday, August 9 at 6 PM EST. No entries will be accepted at the venue, and racers will be required to pre-list their four crew members that will join them at CTMP.
Teams that are based within half an hour of the venue are requested not to camp at the circuit but return home each evening, and access and set-ups will be severely restricted. CSBK Competitors and Pro6 Track Day participants will be restricted to viewing on track action from the pits and paddock, as well as the final turns (nine and ten) and turn one -no one will be allowed to visit all ten turns around the park the way so many typically choose to do.
CSBK racers will be expected to work from Hot Pit for the entire event, with no Paddock displays or set-ups. All staff in Hot Pit, except for competitors, will always be required to wear a face mask – anyone ignoring this standard will lose their Hot Pit Lane access for the remainder of the CSBK event. These requirements worked well when first tried at Calabogie.
Racers will leave for their warm-up lap for each race from Hot Pit, with no roll-out or fanfare. Post-race media interviews will, in most cases, be conducted at the end of the day. Qualifying will not offer points for performance, but simply establish the starting order for every 4-3-4 grid at the famous 4.03 Grand Prix venue.
The CTMP Schedule for CSBK 2020 will be announced shortly, and as at the Calabogie opener, two events will be scheduled for the Pro Superbike Feature class. At Calabogie, Lynden, ON’s Jordan Szoke won both races for Kawasaki. Trevor Daley of Mississauga, ON aboard a Suzuki, as well as BMW pilots “Jammin’ Jeff” Williams of Inverary, ON and Montreal, QC’s Michael Leon, completed the remaining top three podium positions.
