Team Couturier Racing Reports on CSBK Weekend at Shubenacadie

Laval, Quebec’s Team Couturier Racing was in attendance for the 3rd round of the Mopar CSBK Championship in beautiful Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia July 20-22.

Saturday’s qualifying went great for all the team’s members, with Pro Superbike riders Kevin Lacombe & Samuel Proulx qualifying 3rd & 8th respectively, Pro Sportbike rider Louie Raffa placed 8th on the grid for Sunday’s finals. The team’s amateur rider, Eric Fiset, chose to sit out this round on account of not having many points and the distance to travel to Nova Scotia. 

Sunday’s finals: 

Shortly following lunch, the 18 lap Pro Sportbike final would kick off the afternoon of racing. The race would be shortened to 16 laps on account of previous delays. Raffa had a great start, riding very close to the front runners for most of the 1st lap, unfortunatly making a mistake in turn five which made him lose contact with the front pack. Raffa ran some fast laps trying to make up the lost time but couldn’t quite do it, crossing the finish line 6th. With points accumulated this weekend Raffa now sits 3rd in the overall Pro Sportbike standings.

“I never have been to Shubie so I didn’t go in with big expectations but to did my best and gathered up as many points as possible. I struggled with the track all weekend, finally getting more confortable Sunday. I’m looking to find more speed very soon. As always I am so thankful for all the support from the team bosses (Stephane & Martine) as well as my wife for the hard work she does for me everytime I ride.” said Raffa.

Later that afternoon after several delays that included a helicopter pickup for an amateur rider was the main event of the day, the Pro Superbike final was shortened to 14 laps on it’s 2nd restart. Lacombe had a good start running with the front pack but wasn’t quite able to stay with them having some minor issues with the bike’s handling on the very technical Atlantic Motorsports Park circuit still managing to cross the finish line 4th, gathering up some very important points which now bump him up to 3rd in the championship. Fellow teammate Samuel Proulx launched his Couturier Racing BMW S1000R off the line to a three way battle with competitiors Marcel Irnie and Sebastien Tremblay for most of the race until Irnie had a mishap which Proulx gained from crossing the line in 7th place. 

“Shubie started good for me. I was fastest in Friday practice session in SBK with a 1.08.8 and qualified 3rd, a good spot on the front row. Unfortunatly in the race I wasn’t able to run the same times. Fourth is not where I wanted to finish but 3rd in the standings with 11 points to 2nd is good. Thanks to Couturier Racing, Patrice, Importations Thibault, Oakley & the whole team.” said Lacombe.

“It was probably the best weekend up to now for me in the Couturier Racing team. I gained a lot of confidence on the S1000RR and I’m very happy with my performances throughout the whole weekend,” said Proulx. “During the race I was able to keep a constant pace to protect my position until the checkered flag was droppped. I was a great gift for me to finish 7th.” 

Team Couturier Racing would like to thank: BMW Motorrad, MPG (Patrice Goyette), Acier St-Michel, Martin Brickwood Performance (MBP), TSBK, ProFuel, Ohlins, Importations Thibault, Arlen Ness, Puig, Suomy, Spectro, Puma, Hindle, K&N, D.I.D, Ferrodo, AFAM, HotBodies, Taz Grafix, Honda Canada, Centre Hamel Honda, Fast Company, EBC, Litho Select, Pirelli, Golo Motorsports, Pete’s SBK, HEL, Oakley, Rev-It, Rubaroc, WREX, BlueStreakRacing, Velocity Sportsgear, Visalus Science & Vision Chevrolet.