The Parts Canada Superbike Series continues its western swing through the province of Alberta this weekend of June 17th and 18th. The first thing you will notice is that this is a 2 day event. The airport is in use, and motorcycle racing would not be appreciated amidst the landing and take off of airplanes. The Namao airport facility hosted a regional event last year, that convinced the promoters that a National Superbike Event could be held in this part of the province. Welcome Edmonton and the Namao airstrip to the National Series.

Owen Weichel comes here on a high note. Weichel set the pole and won the Superbike Race. Overcoming a mid-weekend injury, Weichel now has a lead in the Canadian Superbike Series. This was also Owen Weichel's first Superbike Victory in his long racing Career. Always a 600 specialist, Weichel rarely had the offer of a National Level Superbike ride until this year. For Kawasaki, this is the 1st time since 1999 that a Kawasaki has lead the series going into the 3rd round. Choosing Weichel as the rider, and putting all their racing effort into a sole factory team has worked out well for Kawasaki Canada. 9 Years Kawasaki was the dominating force behind Canadian Racing Teams. Kawasaki had to make some tough decisions at the end of 2000 to take on the new factory efforts put forth by Honda Canada. Losing doesn't come easy to a company with 9 consecutive SuperBike titles. The Big Green Machine was rolled over by the Big Red Machine in 2000. Now the new Lean Green Machine has a World Class ZX7RR Superbike and a focused budget to regain what has been theirs for nearly a decade.

Honda came out of round#2 in Calgary, a little damp, in the SuperBike class. Both Mike Taylor and Steve Crevier slipped in the standings. Crevier's 4th place finish and Taylor's 5th place finish are soggy results and the current and former Superbike Champions will certainly get ready for takeoff at Namao. Taylor is heading into his 3rd Superbike Race without a podium. Steve Crevier is only 10 points back of Weichel, in the Canadian Series loaded Points system. While that may seem like a lot, the timed qualifying, pole position, gets you 10 points. The Series is very close between these rival companies, Honda and Kawasaki, and these rival racers, Steve Crevier, current champion and Owen Weichel, current points leader.

For Suzuki, Francis Martin, is securing 3rd in the series. With two 3rd place finishes in the 1st 2 rounds, Francis and his Scott Miller Tuned GSXR1000 must take the points they have and improve on the box to get themselves back into the championship. Certainly a good debut for the new SuperBike, but more is needed. While Weather played a part in Calgary, they still need faster times out of both the former champion and the motorcycle to get a win. Expect this bike to rock in Saturday Qualifying as development continues.

For Yamaha, their eggs are in one basket and the basket has been dropped. Much like Suzuki and Kawasaki, the Yamaha effort could be still considered the best in the series. Most of the focus has been on Frank Trombino. Certainly an excellent racer. The Current Open Sportbike Champion, has a well developed YZFR1 and considers this his best mount vs. riding competitors bikes. But Murphy has prevailed, and a mechanical in round#1 followed by damp conditions on the fastest track in the Canadian Series has limited Yamahas impact in the series championship. Fellow Superbike Racer Benoit Pilon usually collects his points out west before showing his cards at tracks like Mosport and St Eustache where he is very fast.

So where does that leave Yamaha? Well Right now their brightest hope is in the "little train that could". YZF600R6 Racer Jean Francois Cyr has been a pleasant surprise. He Currently sits 4th in the Championship, and finished 2nd in the Superbike Race at Calgary. Perhaps, knowing that Jordan Szoke did a similar feat in the Calgary rain a few years back helped in this brilliant performance. Jean Francois Cyr may be the most underrated National Racer on the circuit today. Often overshadowed, he should never be overlooked by his competitors. With many smaller tight tracks favouring 600 machinery over SuperBikes, it is important for Cyr to come away from Namao with a good finish if he wishes to contest for the championship on his 600cc machine.

Yoshimura 600 Sportbike
Expect more of the same as Crevier and his Honda 600F4Fi and Weichel on his Kawasaki ZX6R continue their feud. Crevier holds a 1pt lead over Weichel. Jean Francios Cyr (Yamaha) and Clint McBain (Suzuki) are also in contention as each manufacturer is represented in the top 4 positions.

International Motorcycle Supershow OPEN Sportbike
He destroyed the field last year, and he is doing it even better this year. Frank Trombino replace team-mate Ben Pilon as the Open Sportbike Champion. Yamahas R1 has proven to be the weapon of choice and Trombino is undisputed as the top racer with BOTH wins in the class as well as snatching both poles. The Suzuki GSXR1000 are not yet fully developed. The CBR929 Hondas
are slow, and there is only limited development on Kawasakis ZX900R raced by Martin Hamel.

The Other teams have a huge hill to climb to equal Trombino's Efforts. Expect Pilon and Cyr also on Yamahas to provide most of the competition along with Jeff Williams (Honda929), to battle it out with Clint McBain on Suzuki, for 2nd place table scraps.

CURRENT SUPERBIKE STANDINGS
1) Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 106
2) Steve Crevier, Honda, 96
3) Francis Martin, Suzuki, 74
4) J.F. Cyr, Yamaha, 71
5) Mike Taylor, Honda, 67

600 Sportbike
1) Steve Crevier, Honda, 99
2) Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 98
3) J.F. Cyr, Yamaha, 89
4) Clint McBain, Suzuki, 73
5) Mike Leon, Honda, 59

Open Sportbike
1) Frank Trombino, Yamaha, 120
2) Jeff Williams, Honda, 81
3) Mike Taylor, Honda, 78
4) Clint McBain, Suzuki, 71
5) Ben Pilon, Yamaha, 52.