Canadian SuperBike 2001 - Round 6 - Preview - Atlantic Motorsport Park
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The Parts Canada Superbike Championship finally hits the Canadian east coast with only two rounds left in this 7 round series. With Shubenacadie being the only eastern round, it couldn't come at a better time. The racing is always excellent at "Shubie" and in this penultimate round, possibly all three titles could be clinched be their respective series leaders. Steve Crevier on the factory RC51 has a stranglehold on superbike championship and he enters this round with a 42 point lead over his nearest rival. With 60 Points available over the weekend, Crevier could leave Atlantic Motorsport Park (AMP) as a 6 time Canadian Superbike Champion. Steve Crevier (CBR600F4i) also has a huge lead in the 600 sportbike class with an 85 point lead over his nearest rival. Barring any sort of mechanical misfortune or error, Crevier has a lock on this title. Finally Frank Trombino enters AMP with a 43 point lead over his nearest rival and he too has the opportunity to lock up his 2nd consecutive Open Sportbike Champion on the Yamaha YZF-R1. AMP is a mini Mosport. It goes uphill, downhill, and has some pretty daunting sections but at 1.6 miles in length, it is roughly a mile shorter. The best racing we have seen in recent years has been at Mosport or at AMP. In 1999 the event produced an amazing 3 race battle between Jordan Szoke, Jeff Williams and Mike Taylor. In 2000, Crevier had the lead, Szoke and Taylor dicing and catching the leader with Jeff Williams in tow. The championship points leader changed hands, as Szoke went on to crash, bringing Taylor down with him and Crevier took his 1st and only Superbike win of 2000. Just edging Jeff Williams. Each year Williams and Taylor have put on a show of shows at AMP, expect nothing different in 2001. Steve Crevier is in control of the championship and the Honda RC51 is a proven mount for this tight technical and bumpy track. Expect Honda's other two factory entries to also go for the win as both Jeff Williams (CBR929) and Mike Taylor (RC51) are proven contenders at this track, and Honda has been known to let the racers race, and the championship decide itself. Any doubters can look at the Szoke, Crevier rivalry from 2000. Suzuki rider Francis Martin is 2nd in the championship. The new for 2001 GSXR1000 has yet to see the top of the box, and Martin has been the bridesmaid more often than not. A consistent effort all year, overcoming both physical and mechanical ailments come race day, have been the strongest components of the Suzuki effort. While Francis is due for a victory, AMP might not be the most friendly track for the high horsepower GSXR1000. Yet no one might be more determined than this former Superbike Champion. He was unable to race here last year because of injury, and in 1999 took on the role of "on track" spectator, to then team-mates, Williams and Taylor, as they battled Szoke for the podium, while he went on to earn the championship. Kawasaki rider Owen Weichel slipped to 3rd in the Championship, only 3 points behind Francis Martin. Owen is not known for winning on these bumpy tight circuits, but the ZX7RR is one of the best mounts for this kind of track. The Kawasaki has enough horsepower and stability to get the power to the ground. Even though Weichel may be one of the best racers in Canada, he does have the least amount of Superbike experience. However, expect Owen to up the ante, before returning to Shannonville for the final round. Finally, the Yamaha Superbike effort has come to fruition. Frank Trombino destroyed the field at Mosport, then went off to an AMA event in Brainerd. With no qualifying session, Frank started from the last row of the grid in the now very competitive Formula Extreme class and worked his way up to 9th place overall behind the Erion Honda of Mark Miller. For Yamaha at AMP, getting the power to the ground may be the biggest obstacle to overcome. Last year the High Horsepower R1 was a burden in Superbike. A softer YZF-R1 might be what's needed for Yamaha to steal a win here from the proven Kawasakis and Hondas. Wild Cards???? Well, anyone who goes to AMP will get
harassed by the RC30 of local ace,
James Fraser. James Fraser can do the lap times on this track, at near the
pace of the factory superbikes. While old, ok VINTAGE, well, ok its a
dinosaur, in terms of looks, this bike, has spent more time circulating
AMP than any other bike or rider combined. While normally racing around
7th place, the RC30 of Fraser was dicing for 4th and 5th last year, in one
of the most competitive seasons seen in Canadian Superbike. The RC30 hit
its best lap times ever, and the factory regulars will have little chance
to get a breath on this bumpy track, for fear of being passed and
embarrassed by this 13 year old motorcycle. But make no mistake, this bike
is one of the crowd favourites and its the only time it is seen in the
Canadian Superbike Series. |