During my interview with Scott Miller, I jokingly suggest that he has something in common with fictional action hero John Wick, as played by Canadian movie star Keanu Reeves. Wick no longer wishes to cavort with criminals and work as an assassin, but he keeps getting “pulled back in” to his prior life. It is somewhat the same for Miller and Superbike competition, and he does admit to enjoying the movies.
This is relevant information because Miller spent the last few months putting together a program that will have him return to the CSBK paddock full time in 2025. After running factory programs for Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha, Fast Company will now field BMW Motorrad equipment for former CSBK Champ Alex Dumas, support coming from the Kitchener-area based Economy Lube and Tire series of businesses.
At the recent Toronto Motorcycle Show, insiders were referring to this program as a “Super Team.” No doubt the Dumas announcement from BMW has momentarily taken the focus away from Ben Young’s recent surprise, big news move to Honda Canada for the next two seasons.
Miller’s last full-time effort running a team in CSBK was a famous hot mess, but not of Miller’s doing. Steve Crevier signed to lead the Yamaha Motor Canada effort run by Miller, and the 2007 timing unfortunately aligned with the first major financial melt down to affect worldwide business and certainly motorcycle sales.
After a rough start to the season with new chassis components, Miller and Crevier regrouped and went on a winning spree, almost gaining the titles in both Superbike (R1) and Sport Bike (R6 middleweight). However, Yamaha Canada still pulled out, and the much-anticipated Crevier/Fast Company dominant effort for the next season never came to pass.
“That was a real shame with Crevier and Yamaha back in 2007,” reflects Miller, interrupted from snow removal duties. “We were right there at the end of our first season, we had an opportunity to be dominant. I offered my pay cheque to back the Championship (meaning he wouldn’t get paid if Crevier didn’t take the title), but there just wasn’t enough to keep things going.
“I’m proud and sad that we got Steve his last Superbike win, there certainly was an opportunity for several more. We had t-shirts made and everything, we were that close.”
The agreement to run Dumas for BMW is a one-year plan, and Miller explains that “I’ve never had a multi-year deal, but I usually get called at the 11th hour!”
In late 2023, Miller was helping Grand Bend fast guy Trevor Dion, then hooked up with Economy Lube’s Steve Moxey when Dion started riding some of Moxey’s Ducati equipment. When Dion opted to retire early in the 2024 campaign, Moxey and Miller considered several replacement riders for the ex-Works Ducati before deciding on Dumas, a choice that went better than expected.
“It was evident there would be little support from Ducati for 2025, so I looked around and reached out to BMW first, but eventually also Honda and Aprilia,” continues Miller of his off-season. “I talked with former Superbike race winner turned Executive Alex Welsh at BMW and asked that he please keep us in the loop. Aprilia contacted us a few times, and nothing materialized from Honda.”
(Miller had previously run Honda Canada programs for Szoke on two occasions, including the unparalleled success in Superbike and Sport Bike in 2010 – the middleweight streak spoiled at the final Atlantic round that year by one Alex Welsh on a works Kawasaki!)
“This isn’t a cheap undertaking, and we are starting with a new bike from Alpha Tecnik, but Steve does have a couple of strong BMWs with Alpha parts already,” explains Miller. “Moxey told me to work directly with BMW, and that it should be my team. We refined the plan with BMW, I’m very happy with the level of support, and it allowed me to see my way forward running a team that can win for Alex Dumas.
“I’ve known Moxey since the late 1980s. He is a Kitchener-Waterloo guy like me, and he has helped and continues to help a lot of people, believes in Canadian talent. He has been very generous to Fast Company. He will provide primary support, our finance for the team, as well as supplying a trailer and truck.
“Steve’s immediate focus is on the US, with the new Celtic Ducati Supersport program affiliated with HSBK and Warhorse – Steve is supplying v-twins for that effort. Initially we though Alex Dumas would be a rider for that team, but they wound up with South African Cam Petersen from Attack Yamaha.”
As far as Miller was concerned, Dumas was his only choice for a full-on Superbike program in 2025: “Alex was always the rider; he isn’t at all difficult, otherwise I might be done! We had some tough times with the Ducati last year, really short on parts, and Alex is really a great guy to work with, he has the right attitude. He has the talent, and he is the right age (22) with the right experience.”
Miller admits that the Ducati campaign of 2024, while successful, was stressful for everyone involved.
“That Ducati is a challenge, I am surprised we pulled it off, got those two wins, starting part way though the season,” reflects Miller. “We had zero parts, and with three or four bad crashes between Trevor and Alex, we always seemed to be scrambling, on the back foot. By the end it really needed to be freshened. At Mosport I was collecting the broken pieces from the trackside to try and put things back together!
“The Ducati V-4 is a great motorcycle, really different and exciting. I hadn’t worked with Euro equipment much; I’ve worked on Superbikes since 1987, but mostly in-line four cylinders. I wasn’t allowed to get into the electronics, and we were pretty low on the list of people who needed help.”
(At one point, the team were waiting for an off-sight computer tuning hook up with an Italian Ducati staffer on a boating holiday!)
“You really need a Ducati Corsa guy full time at the track, and of course we needed a consistent supply of spares. But really, it could have gone much worse!”
Looking forward, Miller has lots of experience with the BMW engine, including building powerplants for Jordan Szoke during his dominant BMW era. Miller will also assist with the engine build for Szoke’s Canadian Kawasaki program this season.
“The BMW will be easier on my nerves,” admits Miller. “Everything wound up so last minute with the Ducati. Now I am in full charge of the operation of the team, and I have time on my side. I have the budget and parts availability needed thanks to Moxey and BMW.”
Miller will have two or three complete bikes available, including a pending brand-new machine. Miller will participate in the build of the latest M at Alpha’s facility just outside Munich, Germany, in the next few weeks.
“From what I understand, this generation of BWM has a new combustion chamber, new cylinder head with revised ports, so it’s likely an evolution. The bikes are getting lighter and more compact. We know these bikes are fast.”
Right now, the Fast Company team is considering a first test at Grand Bend, as are several other front runners, but much will depend on the weather and need for “privacy.”
“It is going to be an exciting season, and we know that Alex and Ben can really put on a show; they are great rivals,” reflects Miller. “I’m really excited to get going on this project, get to Germany and see how it all works.”
