Mixed Weather, Mixed Winners at CSBK Shubenacadie

Sam Guerin (2) took a set of dry-conditions slicks to the win in Saturday's Pro Superbike race, in a gamble that paid off big-time. PHOTO CREDIT: Rob O'Brien/CSBK

After the 2023 CSBK race at Shubenacadie were rained out, and the race teams stranded at the track when a bridge to the facility washed away, the series was hoping for better times in 2024. Despite disastrous rains elsewhere in Nova Scotia, the doubleheader did run this weekend, and it was indeed fine competition.

In Pro Superbike’s first race on Saturday, Sam Guerin won, thanks to a gamble. As thunderstorms soaked the track before the race, most riders started on their rain tires. Guerin gambled on his dry tires, shuffling up and down through the top five and then taking off on Lap 5 as Atlantic Motorsport Park’s surface dried out. Nobody else came close; it was Guerin’s second career CSBK Pro Superbike win, and helped him make up some points on series leader Ben Young.

Meanwhile, Alex Dumas took second, and Young finished third. It must have felt good for Dumas to prevail over Young, as his loss to Young at Shubenacadie in 2022 was a big part of that year’s loss of momentum, momentum that Dumas never recovered in 2023.

Jordan Szoke actually grabbed the holeshot at Shubie’s infamous Turn 1 and even led the race for a bit at the start, but ended in fourth. Philip DeGama-Blanchet (who? Apparently he’s a 16-year-old rookie… ) grabbed fifth, on a Pro Sport Bike-spec machine. Was it rainy-conditions luck, or do we have a new up-and-comer to watch? Stay tuned…

Mavrick Cyr in the lead on Sunday’s race. He won on Saturday, but Sunday went to series leader Sebastien Tremblay, who now has a commanding stranglehold on the title. PHOTO CREDIT: Rob O’Brien/CSBK

In Pro Sport Bike, Mavrick Cyr was the man to beat on Saturday, flogging his Duc from a second-place start to first-place finish with a six-second margin. With his win, Cyr and his father Jean Francois join Yvon and Miguel Duhamel as only the second father-and-son pair to each win a Pro race in CSBK.

Sebastien Tremblay finished second, an important step in his ongoing protection of his lead in the series, and Andrew Van Winkle was third.

Dumas (23) and Szoke battle in Sunday’s Pro Superbike race. Since his racing in New Hampshire ended this season, Dumas’ return to CSBK has certainly shaken up the rankings in an already-tough top-five fight. PHOTO CREDIT: Rob O’Brien/CSBK

Then, on Sunday, there was another battle between Tremblay and Van Winkle in Pro Sport Bike. Tremblay came out on top for the race win, with Van Winkle grabbing second and Cyr third. More important points for Tremblay, but how long can he keep up the reign at the top, with those two young hotshots pressuring him?

Ben Young (1) is still solidly atop the Pro Superbike standings with his Race 2 win. PHOTO CREDIT: Rob O’Brien/CSBK

And in the Pro Superbike race on Sunday, we saw a forceful return to form by that series’ leader as well. Ben Young took the win, with Alex Dumas second and Jordan Szoke third. Guerin ended in fourth, losing back the points he’d gained on Young on Saturday. And fifth went to Andrew Van Winkle on his Pro Sport Bike machine. Shubie has always been a great track for supersports, who often perform very well against litrebikes on the tough, technical course. Looks like this held true again for 2024’s races!

For a full run-down of the weekend, lots of photos and results of the support classes, visit CSBK.com.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Such an exciting weekend at Shubenacadie! Sam Guerin’s bold tire choice on Saturday paid off with a big win, and the competition was fierce across both days. Incredible to see these riders pushing through mixed weather conditions—can’t wait to see how the season unfolds

  2. It’s always thrilling to see how different riders handle such variables, and your article captures that dynamic beautifully. Thanks for bringing the excitement of the races to life with your detailed and engaging report!

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