Even though a wheel hasn’t turned and there are still three months until racers line up on the Bridgestone CSBK grid to kick off the 2025 season, the series has been making a splash on the news cycle over the last month.
Ben Young Moves to Honda
The rush of major CSBK news kicked off part way through January when reigning Superbike Champion Ben Young made the surprise announcement that he would be leaving BMW Motorrad Canada and his M 1000 RR in the rearview mirror and campaigning the 2025 season on a Honda Canada sponsored CBR1000RR-SP.
The four-time champion’s decision to leave behind the brand that he raced to each of his titles and one that has claimed 11 CSBK championships since Brett McCormick delivered BMW’s first CSBK title in 2011, will definitely have race fans anxiously waiting to see how Young and Honda perform when the 2025 season gets underway at Shannonville Motorsport Park on May 16th.
On the positive side, Young is in pretty good company when it comes to switching brands while holding a championship. Most notably of course is Valentino Rossi’s switch to Yamaha in 2004 following three world championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003 aboard a Honda, which confirmed his position as a MotoGP legend and one of G.O.A.T.s of motorcycle racing. For 2025, Young’s journey to a new brand also mirrors that of 2024 MotoGP Champion Jorge Martin who will defend his title on an Aprilia after taking a Ducati to the pinnacle of his sport in 2024.
For Young, 2025 represents the opportunity to cement his position as a CSBK legend. With four Pro Superbike championships, Young is already third most winning CSBK champion (Jordan Szoke has 14 and Steve Crevier 6). While some may see moving away from a brand with the best track record in modern CSBK history, I for one applaud his willingness to take this plunge and let the race decide whether its man or machine that makes the difference.
Western Swing Suffers a Setback
Coming on the heels of Ben Young’s big announcement, CSBK organizers delivered the unfortunate news that the planned series stop at Alberta’s Rocky Mountain Motorsports facility would deleted from the 2025 calendar.
As Canada’s newest, and most technologically advanced racetrack, adding the 3.6-kilometre circuit to the CSBK series was an obvious choice. A Bridgestone tire test conducted at RMM following the 2024 Edmonton round was a hit with racers and CSBK management alike, resulting in the move to a two-stop western swing on the 2025 schedule.
Citing ongoing and unresolved issues with the municipal counsel, the CSBK announcement confirmed that while the 2025 RMM event would not be taking place, the series remains committed on adding the track to the schedule in future years.
Inside Motorcycles caught up with CSBK boss Ross Millson at the Calgary Motorcycle Show at the start of February and you can check out our interview below.
BMW Answers Back
Following Ben Young’s defection to Honda, speculation and rumours started almost immediately as to who the team at BMW Motorrad Canada would look to in order to fill this vacancy and also maintain the brand’s CSBK dominance.
Well, BMW wasted no time and last week made their own blockbuster announcement that 2021 CSBK Champion Alex Dumas would be racing aboard a BMW for the 2025 season. Having achieved multiple MotoAmerica championships as well as being the youngest ever CSBK Pro Superbike champion, Dumas is widely regarded as one of the most promising Canadian racers of the current generation.
With three months to go before the season gets underway, there will undoubtedly be lots of conversation about Young vs. Dumas and BMW vs. Honda. It will be entertaining, and best of all it brings a new level of excitement to the series.
Here’s looking at May and the CSBK action that awaits.
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