L’équipe canadienne prend part ce week-end à la dernière ronde du championnat CEV Buckler en Moto2 à Valencia. Le britannique Graeme Gowland et Austin Shaw O’Leary d’Halifax portent les couleurs de l’équipe. Après les premières séances d’entrainement ce matin Gowland se retrouve au 15ème rang avec un temps de 1,40.265 et Shaw O’Leary est en 29ème position avec un 1,45.475. Les deux pilotes tenteront d’améliorer leurs temps cet après-midi lors de la dernière séance de qualification tout en tentant de parfaire les ajustements des motos FTR qu’ils pilotent. Le temps le plus rapide de la session de ce matin, un 1,37.049 est l’œuvre de Jordi Torres de l’équipe Laglisse qui est aussi le meneur du championnat CEV en Moto2. La course se déroule demain (18 novembre) à midi, heure locale.

FOGI joins forces with Couturier Racing in Canada to complete the 2012 Spanish Moto2 Championship

Halifax, NS – Two forces in Canadian motorcycle road racing have joined together to compete in the final round of the Spanish Moto2 championship at Valencia. Throughout the year FOGI Racing has been working towards building a program for young talented racers to have an opportunity to ride at world class venues on world championship spec machinery. FOGI Racing has spent much of the year building the team and the assets required to make a full team effort in the Spanish championship to this end.

Couturier Racing, headed by Stephane Couturier has made a significant impact on the Canadian Superbike championship with their ability to attract quality team members and pilots. Couturier was able to build a team with mentor veteran and Canadian Champion Francis Martin, and one of Canada’s top crew chiefs, Patrice Goyette. The team caught the eye of FOGI Racing team owner when Couturier Racing fielded a team with veteran rider Kevin Lacombe, and rising star Samuel Proulx for the 2012 season.

« Couturier Racing’s passionate approach to the team and success for young riders was very much in line with the ideals set forth by FOGI Racing. Throughout the year I have had several meetings with team owners to see if there would be an interest in bringing Stephane to the Spanish Championship to see if he would like to be a part of our program. » Andrew Murray, Business Development at FOGI Racing said yesterday.

He continued to say, « We are very happy to see Couturier Racing come onboard to help complete the final round at Valencia and we hope Stephane will see the potential to make a real impact on the world stage for young talented Canadian riders. »

FOGI Racing continues their long standing partnership with FTR and looks forward to showing the Couturier Racing group the benefits of this great prototype chassis as they field a two rider team at the final round of the Spanish CEV Moto2 Championship at the Valencia circuit on November 16th – 18th. Testing with the riders will begin on October 29th – 30th.

FOGI Racing’s Mission is to utilize its extensive infrastructure and knowledge in motorcycle road racing to provide young athletes the opportunity to compete on the world stage; while building long lasting business relationships with organizations that share this passion.

To whom it may concern,

This letter/email is to state that Couturier Racing and his rider Kevin Lacombe is contesting the disqualification in the Pro Superbike race this past Sunday 26 Aug 2012 at Mosport (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park) for the use of non regulated fuel.

From a press release issued by Frontline CSBK Inc.:

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (August 25, 2012) Kevin Lacombe took his first Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship win of the season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Saturday, but with a second place finish Jordan Szoke clinched an eighth national Superbike crown. Lacombe, Szoke and Alex Welsh staged a thrilling battle for the win in the 20-lap race around the 3.9km (2.459-mile) circuit, with Lacombe taking the win on his Team Couturier Racing BMW S1000RR by just 0.118 secs. from the Waznie Racing / Parts Canada / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR of Szoke with Welsh just half a second behind on his AW7R / Kenwood Electronics Canada Suzuki GSX-R1000.

The result gives Szoke 252 points in the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship standings to the 193 of Lacombe with Sundays season finale still to run. But with a maximum of 52 points available in Sundays race the Brantford, Ont. racer is assured of the Canadian title.

« What an honour it is to win this trophy again », said Szoke, as he was presented with the Canada Cup.
« Sometimes I feel like I want it more than anybody. Ive been so much more involved with everything this year, running my own team, that I think this one is extra special. »

Lacombe started from pole position and led most of the way in the 20-lap race. He only ceded the top spot to Szoke for two laps and Welsh for one. The St-Cesaire, Que. rider completed the race distance in 27 minutes, 36.716 seconds for an average speed of 169.492km/h (101.695 mph).

« I had nothing to lose », said Lacombe after scoring his first national Superbike race win since 2006.
« I had a great bike from qualifying and I knew wed be right there for the race. Its been a tough year but to end the season like this is a good feeling. »

The win moved Lacombe into a solid second in the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship standings going into Sundays last round, 21 points ahead of Andrew Nelson, who finished fourth on Saturday.

Szoke was on Lacombes tail from the start and the two initially pulled clear of the rest of the field before Welsh was able to make his way up to the lead duo. The new champion acknowledged he was racing with the points battle in the back of his mind.

« I was being so careful », Szoke acknowledged.
« I thought I would let Kevin do some work early on and hope he pulled us away from the pack. But then when Alex got up there I didnt want to get pushed too far back, so that forced me to ride hard the whole race. »

Welsh produced a tremendous effort after engine troubles left him eighth on the grid following qualifying on Friday. The Uxbridge, Ont. racer was up to third by lap four and quickly closed up on Lacombe and Szoke. He ended up with the fastest lap of the race, a 1:22.248 on lap three and his charge through the field earned him the KICKER Kick Ass Pass of the Race Award.

« It was hard work moving up from eighth and I didnt have the best of starts », Welsh said.
« It took me a while to move up and then when I got with Jordan and Kevin I thought I would hang back and see where an opportunity might develop. I was trying to put something together for the last lap but it just didnt happen. But I know now we have a bike that can win tomorrow. »

The battle for fourth was no less dramatic than the lead fight, and at the finish less than two seconds covered fourth through eighth positions. Nelson came out on top of the scrap aboard his Nelson Racing / Endras Motorrad / mcn.tv BMW S1000RR. After qualifying fifth on the grid the Kars, Ont. racer ran as far back as eighth in the early laps but worked his way up to grab fourth spot two laps from the end of the race.

Warman, Sask.s Bodhi Edie was fifth on the Edie Racing / Blue Streak / Fast Company BMW S1000RR, equalling his best result of the season.

Right behind Edie was top rookie Pro Sebastien Tremblay on the MotoNation BMW S1000RR. The Longueuil, Que. rider followed up a career high fourth fastest qualifying time by running third for the first three laps of the race before settling for sixth at the flag.

Matt McBride of Mississauga, Ont. was seventh riding the Riders Choice BMW S1000RR and Keene, Ont.s Jodi Christie took eighth aboard the Jodi Christie Racing / Accelerated Technologies Honda CBR1000RR. Christie is now fourth in the Superbike standings, eight points behind Nelson heading into Sundays finale.

The top 10 was rounded out by Francois Dumas of St-Raymond, Que. on the Team Dumas Superbike / boulangeriedumas.com BMW S1000RR and the Irnie Racing / Amsoil BMW S1000RR ridden by Kelowna, B.C.s Marcel Irnie.

In other action at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Christie clinched his second straight K&N Performance Filters Pro Sport Bike title in style with his fourth win of the year on his Honda CBR600RR. The Keene, Ont. racer battled all the way with polesitter Raphael Archambault aboard the Team Archambault Racing / Picotte Motorsport / G Suspension Suzuki GSX-R600, eventually beating the Terrebonne, Que. rider by 0.444 secs.
In another exciting battle, Kleinburg, Ont.s Frank Trombino on the Acme Slate Suzuki GSX-R600 edged the Royal Distributing / Elka Suspension Honda CBR600RR of Beaconsfield, Que. racer Michael Leon for third. Trombino now leads Archambault by just 11 points in the battle for second spot in the Pro Sport Bike standings heading into Sundays season finale.

Steve Crevier saw his perfect run of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada XR1200 Cup race wins come to an end but second place was enough for him to clinch his second straight class title for the MotoSport Plus / Dominion Lending team.

After claiming the Tactical Products Canada LUMINOX Pole Award in qualifying on Friday, Michael Barnes of Boca Raton, Fla. scored the race win on his Ruthless Racing / Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada entry, finishing the 14-lap race 9.890 secs. ahead of Maple Ridge, B.C.s Crevier. Elie Daccache of Newcastle, Ont. completed the podium on the Harley-Davidson de lOutaouais-sponsored entry.

Tim Robinson claimed his second straight win in the Bazzaz Amateur Superbike class on the Robinson Racing / Gym-Max BMW S1000RR. The Gatineau, Que. rider finished a massive 16.055 secs. clear of the racingphil.com / Petes Superbike Kawasaki ZX-6R of Philippe Masse while points leader Trevor Daley of Mississauga, Ont. was third on the OneSpeed / Riders Choice / ProStar Motorsports Honda CBR600RR.

Daley, who had to borrow the Honda after his Suzuki GSX-R1000 suffered engine problems in testing on Thursday, leads Masse by 42 points heading into Sundays last race.
Robinson was presented with a prize pack from series title sponsor Mopar and also took home the $1000 DUA Motorsports contingency payback.

Masse took his third win of the year to clinch the Inside Motorcycles Amateur Sport Bike title on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. The St-Hyacinthe, Que. racer finished 4.105 secs. ahead of Daley aboard the Honda CBR600RR while Will Hornblower of Sarnia, Ont. took third riding his Hornblower Racing / Blue Streak / ProPulsion Yamaha YZF-R6. Daley was named the Performance Under Gear Performer of the Race.

The battle for the Honda CBR250R National Race Series title will go down to Sundays season finale after championship contenders Stacey Nesbitt and Ryan Roche finished second and third, respectively on Saturday.

Tomas Casas of Peterborough, Ont. claimed his third straight win on the Peterborough Cycle Salvage-backed entry, beating the Powersports Canada entry of Nesbitt by 0.586 secs. As a result, St-Lazare, Que.s Nesbitt takes a 13-point lead over Pickering, Ont. racer Roche, 406-393, into Sundays race.

Pascal Bastien of Laval, Que., representing Moto 123, took the Media Challenge division win in the CBR250R class but CMG Onlines Costa Mouzouris from Montreal locked up the title with second place.

Since 2006 Pirelli has been the spec tire supplier to the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship. The series has been used as a development platform for the companys products, and competitors in the K&N Performance Filter Pro Sport Bike, Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada XR1200 Cup, and Inside Motorcycles Amateur Sport Bike classes run on the same Diablo Super Corsa DOT racing tires used in the World Supersport Championship.
Pirelli is currently developing 17-inch slick tires for use in the World Superbike Championship in 2013, and these will also make their way to the Canadian Championship in the future.

The Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship concludes at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Sunday with feature races in all six national classes. Off track features include the BMW Motorrad SummerFest, plus demo rides featuring the latest bikes from top manufacturers.

Tickets are on sale for $35. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.canadiantiremotorsportpark.com or call 1-800-866-1072.

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (August 25) – Results of Saturday’s fifth round of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and laps completed:

1. Kevin Lacombe, St-Cesaire, Que., BMW S1000RR, 20
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 20
3. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 20
4. Andrew Nelson, Kars, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 20
5. Bodhi Edie, Warman, Sask., BMW S1000RR, 20
6. Sebastien Tremblay, Longueuil, Que., BMW S1000RR, 20
7. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 20
8. Jodi Christie, Keene, Ont., Honda CBR1000RR, 20
9. Francois Dumas, St-Raymond, Que., BMW S1000RR, 20
10. Marcel Irnie, Kelowna, B.C., BMW S1000RR, 20
11. Martin Hamel, Drummondville, Que., BMW S1000RR, 20
12. Sylvain Dery, St-Colomban, Que., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 20
13. Mike Bevan, Amherstburg, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 19

Did Not Finish
Scott Rupert, Gadshill, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 10

Did Not Start
Michael Leon, Beaconsfield, Que., Honda CBR600RR
Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, Que., Suzuki GSX-R600

Time of Race: 27:36.716
Average Speed: 169.492km/h (101.695 mph)
Margin of Victory: 0.118 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:22.248 by Alex Welsh on lap 3

Point standings for the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship after five of six rounds, showing position, rider name and point total:

1. Jordan Szoke, 252
2. Kevin Lacombe, 193
3. Andrew Nelson, 172
4. Jodi Christie, 164
5. Matthew McBride, 139
6. Bodhi Edie, 137
6. Alex Welsh, 137
8. Sebastien Tremblay, 114
9. Samuel Proulx, 82
10. Francois Dumas, 81
11. Marcel Irnie, 72
12. Frank Trombino, 60
13. Sylvain Dery, 43
14. Franklyn Dominguez, 42
15. Martin Hamel, 32
16. Marie-Josee Boucher, 31
17. Ron Munroe, 21
18. James Collins, 13
18. Michael Bevan, 13
20. Aubrey Bailey, 10
21. Tony Stufko, 8
21. Michael Leon, 8
23. Louie Raffa, 6

Frontline CSBK Inc.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (August 25, 2012) – Kevin Lacombe took his first Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship win of the season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Saturday, but with a second place finish Jordan Szoke clinched an eighth national Superbike crown.

Lacombe, Szoke and Alex Welsh staged a thrilling battle for the win in the 20-lap race around the 3.9km (2.459-mile) circuit, with Lacombe taking the win on his Team Couturier Racing BMW S1000RR by just 0.118 secs. from the Waznie Racing / Parts Canada / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR of Szoke with Welsh just half a second behind on his AW7R / Kenwood Electronics Canada Suzuki GSX-R1000.

From a press release issued by Frontline CSBK Inc.:

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (August 24, 2012) – Kevin Lacombe ended Jordan Szoke’s run of qualifying perfection at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Friday.

The St-Cesaire, Que. racer claimed pole position for this weekend’s final two rounds of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship by turning a time of one minute, 21.716 seconds (171.815km/h) in Pirelli SuperPole qualifying on his Team Couturier Racing BMW S1000RR.

Lacombe’s effort was over half a second quicker than Szoke, who had to settle for second fastest with a 1:22.225 aboard the Waznie Racing / Parts Canada / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR. Szoke had qualified on pole for the four previous rounds of the season.

« I knew it would be hard but I love to ride here and I felt really comfortable on the bike » said Lacombe, who is making his return to racing this year after missing most of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
« All year I’ve been trying to get used to the bike and we’ve made a lot of changes for this weekend. »

Pole position gave Lacombe four more points in the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship standings and moved him into a tie for second with Jodi Christie at 141 points heading into this weekend’s pair of 20-lap races.

Szoke added three points for setting the second quickest qualifying time and continues to enjoy a healthy 69-point lead at the top of the championship rankings with 210 points. A race win is worth 50 points.

Matt McBride of Mississauga, Ont. qualified third with a time of 1:22.518 on the Riders Choice BMW S1000RR and rookie Pro Sebastien Tremblay of Longueuil, Que. completes the front row for this weekend’s races after recording a 1:22.683 with the MotoNation BMW S1000RR.

Lacombe had put in the fastest qualifying time early in the 15-minute Pirelli SuperPole shootout. Szoke briefly got ahead with a lap at 1:22.474 with just a few minutes remaining, but almost immediately Lacombe replied with his 1:21.716 to lock down the top spot.

« We’ll make some changes tonight » Lacombe said.
« We need to find a little more traction; the bike’s sliding all over the place. But we have a good shot at winning the races. »

Szoke put in his two fastest laps right at the end of the SuperPole session as he gradually found more speed out of his BMW.

« We’ve been working away at it and the speed is coming, » said the Brantford, Ont. rider who is trying to clinch an unprecedented eighth Canadian Superbike title.
« The bike feels pretty good and maybe I’m being a little more careful with the championship at stake. But at the end of the day we’re where we need to be and don’t count me out. I’ll be looking for the wins. »

Szoke has won six of the last eight Superbike nationals at CTMP.

McBride continued to display his good form at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. He finished second here in last year’s season finale and already has two runner-up finishes in this summer’s Superbike tour.

« I think our chances are good » he said.
« I know this track well. We’re working on the front end; it’s doing a couple of weird things and we’re fine tuning things. We’ll figure it out and I know we’ll be up there. »

Tremblay produced a career-high qualifying result in the SuperPole session.

« I didn’t think I would be on the front row but this has always been my favourite track and I seem to shine more here, » he said.
« We will try a couple of changes for tomorrow because you are always trying to go faster, but the bike feels great so far. »

A couple of riders in the thick of the battle for second in the point standings lead off the second row of this weekend’s Superbike grids. Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ont. was fifth in qualifying riding the Nelson Racing / Endras Motorrad / mcn.tv BMW S1000RR with a time of 1:22.753 and Keene, Ont.’s Christie was sixth with a 1:23.180 on the Jodi Christie Racing / Accelerated Technologies BMW S1000RR.

Nelson, the winner of the opening round of the season at Shannonville Motorsport Park, sits fourth in points with 140, just one behind Lacombe and Christie.

Warman, Sask.’s Bodhi Edie completes the second row after recording a time of 1:23.871 aboard the Edie Racing / Blue Streak / Fast Company BMW S1000RR.

The top 10 qualifiers in Pirelli SuperPole are rounded out by Uxbridge, Ont.’s Alex Welsh on the AW7R / Kenwood Electronics Canada Suzuki GSX-R1000, who missed half the session with engine problems, St-Raymond, Que.’s Francois Dumas on the Team Dumas Superbike / boulangeriedumas.com BMW S1000RR, and Marcel Irnie of Kelowna, B.C. riding the Irnie Racing / Amsoil BMW S1000RR.

In other action at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Raphael Archambault claimed pole position for the K&N Performance Filters Pro Sport Bike class on his Team Archambault Racing / Picotte Motorsports / G Suspension Suzuki GSX-R600.

The Terrebonne, Que. rider turned a lap at 1:25.274 right at the end of the session to edge the Honda CBR600RR of points leader Jodi Christie, who missed half the session after a crash on his first flying lap but still holds a commanding 77-point lead in the standings heading into this weekend’s races.

Michael Leon of Beaconsfield, Que. set the third fastest time at 1:26.285 on his Royal Distributing Honda CBR600RR.

Michael Barnes of Boca Raton, Fla. claimed pole position for this weekend’s pair of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada XR1200 Cup races. Riding for the Ruthless Racing / Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada team, Barnes turned a lap at 1:31.570.

Steve Crevier moved closer to repeating as class champion by qualifying second on his MotoSport Plus / Dominion Lending entry with a time of 1:31.910. The Maple Ridge, B.C. racer now has 226 points to the 166 of Deep Cove, B.C.’s Darren James, who qualified fifth on another of the Ruthless Racing / Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada machines. James is competing with a broken ankle sustained last weekend in Indianapolis.

Tim Robinson of Gatineau, Que. claimed pole position for the Bazzaz Amateur Superbike class with a time of 1:24.636 on the Robinson Racing / Gym-Max BMW S1000RR. Points leader Trevor Daley of Mississauga, Ont. was second quickest with a 1:26.902 on the OneSpeed / ProStar / Riders Choice Honda CBR600RR and goes into Saturday’s penultimate round of the season with 186 points to the 139 of St-Hyacinthe, Que.’s Philippe Masse, who qualified third on the racingphil.com / Pete’s Superbike Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Masse extended his lead in the Inside Motorcycles Amateur Sport Bike class by claiming pole position for this weekend’s races with a time of 1:27.123 on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. Masse now has 184 points in the class standings to the 137 of Sarnia, Ont.’s Will Hornblower, who qualified fifth on the Hornblower Racing / Blue Streak / ProPulsion Yamaha YZF-R6 and failed to add to his point total.

Stacey Nesbitt got a bit of breathing room at the top of the Honda CBR250R National Race Series standings by taking the four points that go with pole position. The St-Lazare, Que. native recorded a time of 1:54.183 on her Powersports Canada entry while title challenger Ryan Roche of Pickering, Ont. could only manage the fifth best time of 1:55.142.

Nesbitt now takes an eight-point lead, 364-356 over Roche into this weekend’s races.

Costa Mouzouris of Montreal padded his lead in the Media Challenge division of the Honda CBR250R series by taking pole position with a time of 1:54.871.

Since 2006 Pirelli has been the spec tire supplier to the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship. The series has been used as a development platform for the company’s products, and competitors in the K&N Performance Filter Pro Sport Bike, Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada XR1200 Cup, and Inside Motorcycles Amateur Sport Bike classes run on the same Diablo Super Corsa DOT racing tires used in the World Supersport Championship.

Pirelli is currently developing 17-inch slick tires for use in the World Superbike Championship in 2013, and these will also make their way to the Canadian Championship in the future.

Action continues at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Saturday with feature races in all six national classes. Off track features include the BMW Motorrad SummerFest, plus demo rides featuring the latest bikes from top manufacturers.

Advanced Weekend Super Tickets are $50 and Sunday only tickets are on sale for $35. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.canadiantiremotorsportpark.com or call 1-800-866-1072.

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (August 24) – Starting line-up for this weekend’s fifth and sixth rounds of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, showing starting position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time:

1. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., BMW S1000RR, 1:21.716 (171.815km/h)
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 1:22.225
3. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 1:22.518
4. Sebastien Tremblay, Longueuil, Que., BMW S1000RR, 1:22.683
5. Andrew Nelson, Kars, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 1:22.753
6. Jodi Christie, Keene, Ont., Honda CBR1000RR, 1:23.180
7. Bodhi Edie, Warman, Sask., BMW S1000RR, 1:23.871
8. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:23.918
9. Francois Dumas, St-Raymond, Que., BMW S1000RR, 1:23.997
10. Marcel Irnie, Kelowna, B.C., BMW S1000RR, 1:24.809
11. Sylvain Dery, St-Colomban, Que., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:25.355
12. Martin Hamel, Drummondville, Que., BMW S1000RR, 1:25.378
13. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.477
14. Michael Leon, Beaconsfield, Que., Honda CBR600RR, 1:26.666
15. Mike Bevan, Amherstburg, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:27.580
16. Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, Que., Suzuki GSX-R600, No Time
17. Kristopher Garvie, Caledon, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, No Time

Frank Wood interviews Kevin Lacombe

Marc Cantin discute avec Patrice Goyette, mécanicien pour Couturier Racing.