July 4 to 6 saw the fastest motorcycle racers in the country descend on Leduc AB’s Rad Torque Raceway as the CSBK Canadian Superbike Championship made its lone visit to the west for the 2025 season.
As a long time race fan who follows pretty much any form of motorsport – two wheels and four – the opportunity to leave the television behind and experience a race in person is always welcome. Of course, when it comes to motorcycle racing, a job at Inside Motorcycles affords me the opportunity to pick up a camera and return to my original role of photographer. This close proximity to the on-track action as well as the paddock offers some unique insights not only into the racers, but the support teams, series organizers, staff and volunteers.
The Weather
Lately, it seems that the expression “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes,” rings true no matter where you are in the world and Leduc is no exception. As a mature adult, one would think that I would have learned not to put faith in the weather forecast. Well you would be wrong as I am apparently a slow learner.
Leading up to the weekend the forecast was suggesting that Saturday would be a wet rainy day with skies giving way to sunshine on Sunday. Given that Sunday would also feature two Pro Superbike races, the decision of which day to attend seemed obvious. That is until we were driving north from Calgary on Sunday morning with the truck’s windshield wipers running full out and paying homage to Eddie Rabbitt’s 1980s hit “Drivin’ My Life Away.” With the rain intensifying as we arrived at the track, learning that Saturday had been dry and pleasant earned a few choice words for weather forecasters everywhere.
Unfortunately, the rain kept fans out of the stands with only family and the most diehard enthusiasts braving the weather. It also meant the planned motorcycle drag racing events on the facility’s quarter-mile strip would not proceed as planned. The good news for those who did attend is that they were treated to some world-class motorcycle road racing.
Calm Before the Storm
I don’t think I will ever get used to or even understand the calm that comes over racers before they head out on to the starting grid and on Sunday morning in Leduc it was even more evident.
Anyone who has ever ridden a motorcycle in the rain, whether it is on the street, highway, trails or a racetrack will tell you it is not fun (okay, there are a few individuals who actually like riding in rain, but for the most part these are few and far between). Yet, walking through the downpour, I stuck my head in the tent of Kawasaki’s Jacob Black to say hi and no one would ever have guessed that he was less than five minutes from lining up for the scheduled ZX-4RR race in the midst of weather that had everyone wondering if an ark would soon come floating by. Instead he was joking, laughing and talking about how much he loved racing Kawasaki’s 399 cc supersport machine.
This feeling of calm throughout the paddock, while extraordinary in itself is also a reflection of the teams and support crew who stand behind every racer, looking after all the details and allowing them to relax and focus on the task at hand. Whether it is repairs, last minute setup tweaks, getting gear ready, making sure the racer is fed and hydrated or any one of countless tasks, ask any racer on the grid what got them there and a shout out to their friends, family and crew is sure to follow.
Making History
Sharing the grid with ZX-4RR Cup race in Leduc, the Importations Thibault Twins class included Calgary-based road racer and Inside Motorcycles columnist Bronti Verbeek. Anyone who has followed Bronti’s racing career will know that she is one-of-a-kind racer with goals that go far beyond local or regional club racing, and certainly have been defined by her drive and ability to beat anyone on the track, male or female.
While the action on track was captivating, having the perfect location to observe Bronti’s team, led by her ever-present boyfriend and mentor Brad Gavey, provided one of the most memorable scenes of the day. With Bronti in the lead, they paced, moved and huddled together as one in anticipation of the story that was unfolding as the laps ticked down. Arriving at the checkered flag in first position, Bronti secured her first national race win and a place in CSBK history. As humble as she is fast, her time on the podium was dedicated to thanking her team, sponsors and supporters.
It is a safe bet that this historic win won’t be the last for Bronti as she continues to pursue her goals and along the way inspires and motivates the next generation of Canadian road racers.
You Gotta Have Faith
For the rest of the world, there is always the option to stop riding when rain starts falling. On the other hand, in road racing it means it is time to put on some rain tires, get out on the track and look after the task at hand.
Rain tires with their magical design allow the tire to channel water away from the contact patch, providing better traction when compared to DOT street tires or race slicks. It is a great theory, but one that defies the natural fight or flight reflex that emerges when faced with slippery wet surfaces. In other words, you need to set aside basic human instinct and have faith in the tires.
With the rain continuing and the track moving from wet to full-on standing water, the Pro Superbike class rolled out on to the grid for their first race of the day. Now in fairness, the front runners in this class are truly the best road racers in the country and include reigning champion Ben Young, former CSBK champ and MotoAmerica title holder Alex Dumas, multi-time Pro Superbike winner Sam Guerin and 14-time Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke. However, watching these individuals navigate the track at a pace that defies logic (and some would say physics) had George Michaels singing in my head. Truly impressive.
The Show Must Go On
Rain or shine, big crowds, small crowds, full grids or not, Ross Millson and the team from Professional Motorsports Productions (operator of CSBK) working alongside dedicated local volunteers and facility staff, always put on an event that can hold its own against any national competition. In Leduc, they once again put on a show that will not only look great when it comes on the TSN and RDS airwaves, but also provides racers, sponsors and supporters with the confidence that the CSBK is stronger than ever and here to stay. I for one can wait to see what comes next.
Complete CSBK results from Round 3 and the entire 2025 season can be found at www.csbk.ca as well as here at www.insidemotorcycles.com.
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