Shannonville, ON (May 18, 2015)- This weekend the checkered flag was aired out at the opening round of motorcycle road racing in the RACE SuperSeries, at Shannonville Motorsport Park. This is the first race of the season, with round one being sponsored by West City Powersports. Top Pro and Amateur riders competed this weekend under sunny skies and mid-summer like temperatures.
This season the Shannonville RACE series and the Soar race series at the Grand Bend race track in Grand Bend Ontario have combined efforts to give riders and fans alike the first look at a new motorcycle racing series for eastern Canada. Riders from both venues will be competing this season to win valuable points that will go toward the final invitational race of the season in the new Ontario/Quebec Motorcycle Racing Series, that is tentatively scheduled to conclude in the SOAR Racing home track at Grand Bend Motoplex on October 2nd to 4th.
The big winner at Shannonville Motorsport Park this weekend was Kenny Reidman who scored big wins in both Pro Superbike and Pro 600 Sportbike.
In Pro Superbike action, Elie Daccache jumped into the early lead but by lap 4, Kenny Reidman, aboard the Sturgeon Cycle Superbike, had reeled in the Newcastle rider to take the lead. Daccache then came under unrelenting pressure from Franklyn Dominguez who took second position and looked to lock up the runner up podium spot. Undeterred, Daccache made a late braking pass on the final lap of the race to earn second behind Reidman, who was now long gone. Fourth went to former champion Jim Proulx aboard his aged Yamaha superbike. Fifth and sixth went to Sean Huffman and Royal Distributing sponsored Michael Leon, both on new BMW S1000R bikes.
In Pro 6 Dunlop Tire Pro 600 Sportbike action, Daccache again got a brilliant start leading the race until the midpoint of the contest when Reidman took the Triumph Canada-backed Daytona 675 to the front of a freight train on motorcycles battling for the lead. Reidmann managed to hold off the best efforts of Daccache for the hard-earned win with rookie Pro Will Hornblower getting a well-earned third spot on the podium. Brent Strong took fourth with Anthony Scavone taking fifth.
In Amateur Superbike action Derrick Whyte took the win with Chris Brent and Christopher Gray completing the podium. Just shy of a podium finish was Mike Raniowski, the local Belleville rider.
Gravenhurst Plastics Amateur 600 class saw an epic battle between Steve Hamer and Chris Brent. Both riders exchanged the lead in the race in what seemed like every corner. On the penultimate lap they came together in Allen’s corner and both riders crashed out of contention, handing the win to Michael Hood. Local riders also benefited from the exchange with Mike Raniowski earning second and Kingston’s Steve Cole taking the final step of the podium.
In Open Sprint racing, Royal Distributing rider Michael Leon took his new BMW S1000RR to the top step of the podium followed closely by Yamaha mounted Jim Proulx. Third went to another BMW rider Sean Huffman with Steve “Doc” Walker taking fourth just ahead of Reiner Griese.
The SRA Sidecar racers were also in action this weekend in a 10-lap battle with Steve Fletcher and Shane Hoeckel taking the win ahead of Chris Wells and Ian Boddaert and the team of Mike Vinten and Greg Carrol.
Local riders did well this weekend with Steve Cole earning a win in the Novice 600 class ahead of Aaron Burns and Terry Smith. Kingston’s Brian Madeley also had a good outing earning a second in Lightweight Superbike behind Hans VanSleuwen who set a new lap record in the class. Joshua Thomas took the final step on the podium.
Next race in the RACE SuperSeries is set to take place at Shannonville Motorsport Park on July 3rd to 5th.
From: Don Empey
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