The regional Amateur Sportbike and Superbike classes continued to impress motorcycle roadracing fans during Atlantic Roadracing League (ARL) Round 3 action which was held at Atlantic Motorsports Park (AMP) in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia this past weekend.
16-year-old amateur Austin Shaw-O’Leary of Falmouth, Nova Scotia took home first place victories in Superbike 1, Superbike 2, and Sportbike races over the weekend. The GoLo Racing and Duo Motorsports sponsored rider also completed a personal best lap time of 1:09:97 after returning to his home track after competing in the first two rounds of Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship.
Second to Shaw-O’Leary in all three races was Colin Campbell on his Honda CBR600RR. Following Campbell was Kris Pracz in Amateur Superbike 1, and Dean Johnston in Amateur Superbike 2 and Amateur Sportbike.
“I’ve been able to take 4.5 seconds off my best laptime from Round 1 to Round 3”, said Johnston, “Credit goes to our local reigning champion Ron Munroe. Ron has been unbelievable helping out a lot of the amateur racers from on the track coaching, to bike setup and mechanical work.”
Ron Munroe of Beaver Bank continued to dominate both the Pro Sportbike and Pro Superbike classes over the weekend, adding three more victories to his list ever-growing trophy chest. Munroe has won all 9 races during the first 3 rounds of the ARL series.
Caleb Noiles finished second to Munroe in all three races on his Kawasaki ZX6R. Mopar CSBK contender, Marcel Irnie, was on hand for some early CSBK practice and took third in Superbike 1 while Paul Whitehead took third in Superbike 2.
Despite suffering a fractured pelvis during round 1, Richard Thompson returned to the track with a third place finish in pro Sportbike.
“To see Richard racing so soon after the accident was inspiring,” said Noiles, “I’m glad to have him back, and I hope he gets back to speed so he and I can have some great battles.”
The Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship Series will be making its way to Atlantic Motorsports Park the following weekend, bringing along some much anticipated national talent to round 3. Along with Marcel Irnie on board his BMW S1000, Mopar CSBK contender Stacey Nesbitt took home two first place finishes in Mini Roadracing on her CBR250R. Gump Harrison also practiced on his XR1200 however after crashing during Saturdays practice he was unable to race.
“I’m extremely excited for nationals,” said Noiles when asked about participating in the Mopar CSBK series, “I plan on doing some suspension work, hopefully a new set of tires… I’ll be right up there chasing down some of the best in Canada.”
The Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship visits Atlantic Motorsports Park in Shubenacadie July 20-22 while Atlantic Roadracing League action continues with Round 4 August 17-19.
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