Round two of the 2022 Super Series got underway this past weekend on the Pro track amid one of the most unstable forecasts. With the skies being unpredictable, the riders took to the track knowing potential rain showers could come at any second. When the dust all settled, nine different riders found themselves on the top step of the podium with the weekend also producing its fair share of first-time podiums sitters.
Due to a handful of riders being absent this round, major championship points were on the line as the 2.470 km long Pro Track layout played host to the most interesting race weekend of the season so far. The first race saw 23 riders take to the track in PRO-AM Sportbike classes, with the absence of points leader Louie Raffa, Drew Weber took it upon himself to snatch the checkered flag for his first official win in a Pro category. Weber claimed another win later in the day in the Heavyweight Sportsman class. Over in AM Sportbike, Jordan Decarie picked up his second win a row beating out Colin Duncan and Rick Edwards.
The Lightweight Sportsman class witnessed the return of 2021 Lightweight Production Champion Ryan Vanderputten, who in only his first outing as a PRO class rider, picked up his first win of the 2022 campaign doubling that up on Sunday with the same podium finish as Saturday. Ryan Dunwoodie continued his dominant streak in Novice by taking the win, with Jordan Ivory claiming his first Super Series podium finish in third place. Doug Newman grabbed a career best fourth place finish.
With only two machines representing the Sidecar division this weekend, Michael Vinten and interim partner Sue McFadden found themselves winning over Wayne & Krista Walsh.
Elie Daccache stormed to a dominant PRO Superbike win and repeated his effort for the Sprint Cup race at the end of day, while Matt Vanderhorst started building up his rise to a PRO status next year by prevailing over Jordan Decarie for the AM Superbike win.
In the Lightweight Production class, Eric Quintin claimed his first win of the season, followed by Jean-Pascal Schroeder and Andrea Purdy in third place, proudly taking her first podium this year.
As the wins were celebrated, the looming threat of weather spooked many riders who elected to go home. With many competitors who were top of their classes choosing to leave, it opened the door for some unlikely faces, who stayed for the second day of competitions, to climb the standings. Despite the absences, Mother Nature shined her light on Shannonville and the precipitation stopped well before on track action began.
Sunday saw some spectacular racing given the short fields, with a handful of first-time winners and podium sitters. While Weber and Decarie swept the PRO-AM Sportbike races, the AM race produced an incredible battle for third place. Eric Quintin, Wes Barnes and Adam Pearsall were locked in a fight for the final podium spot. Barnes was the first to budge as he went off track in corner two trying to make a move on Pearsall. Then, with only a few laps from the finish, Pearsall went off track in the same corner trying to pass Quintin. In the end, Jordan Decarie took home the first-place finish, followed by Colin Duncan in second and Eric Quintin in third.
Dunwoodie seized the Novice win on Sunday followed by Quebec rider Alexis Beaudoin in second place with Jim D.A Vo taking his first Novice podium over Dylan Leclair.
While Vinten swept the sidecar class, the WW Racing team nearly missed the race due to a mechanical failure. Believed originally to be terminal, Walsh made the necessary repairs to get his team back on track. The sidecars will be returning to Shannonville this August for Super Series round 4.
In Heavyweight Sportsman, Weber took the victory while Pearsall finally achieved his first podium with a third place finish after winning a spirited battle with Barnes. Duncan completed the podium in second. Daccache took his fourth Pro Superbike win of the weekend, while Dunwoodie was moved up to compete in the AM Superbike race due to his speed. In a first for the Super Series, Dunwoodie won the AM Superbike feature becoming the first rider to win in Novice and Amateur on the same day.
Quintin and Daccache rounded out their days with Lightweight Production and Sprint Cup wins.
After a successful Round Two, the Super Series will be back July 9-10 on the original Nelson track layout. Last used during the second race of 2021, Shannonville’s Nelson track offers a more compact track that can be fully viewed from the grandstand. The shorter layout still offers a mix of tight and fast corners.
For more information on the Super Series, please visit www.super-series.ca. Fans can follow us on Facebook @SuperSeriesMotorcycle.
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