Canadian Superbike Championship

The Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) is the national motorcycle road racing superbike championship in Canada . The series is managed and organized by Professional Motor Sports Productions Inc. (PMP) of Hamilton, Ontario, and owner Ross Millson.

The series features national championships for seven classes, open to professional and amateur motorcycle riders. The headline Pro Superbike category features the best riders from across Canada, with the champion winning the Canada Cup every season.

Bridgestone became the official sponsor and tire supplier of the series in 2023, and will remain in that role through at least the 2026 season.

Early years (1980–1993)

The Canadian Superbike Championship was established in 1980, the first season to feature a multiple-event schedule. This came on the heels of the inaugural national event at Edmonton in 1979, won by George Morin. The 1980 season saw two events in Edmonton and Shannonville , with Morin earning the first-ever national championship and #1 plate in Canada.

A lone event at Edmonton in 1981 meant no official national championship would take place, but a return in 1982 saw Steve Dick claim the second-ever title following races at Shannonville and Atlantic Motorsport Park . The national series would then take a backseat to regional racing for the next three years, as no official national champions were crowned in 1983, 1984, or 1985.

The demand for a national championship re-emerged in 1986, and the RACE Series (then a regional organization) took over management duties. The first full campaign featured five rounds in five different provinces, as Michel Mercier claimed the national championship with a win at the final round in Shannonville .

The next two seasons saw eight different riders win races across 13 events, with Mercier defending his title in 1987 before Rueben McMurter took the championship in 1988. However, the 1988 season brought the debut of Miguel Duhamel and Steve Crevier, who would become the biggest names in Canadian racing over the next two decades.

Both Crevier and Duhamel would trade wins in 1989 with Crevier winning the championship, leaving to race in the United States the following year. That left Duhamel as the favourite for the 1990 title, but Mercier would win four races to secure his third and final crown. Crevier would return to Canada in 1991 and entered a period of dominance for Kawasaki , winning championships in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

Start of modern era (1994–2005)

The mid-1990's brought more success for Kawasaki but with multiple riders, as Michael Taylor and Don Munroe traded championships for the Japanese brand. Taylor would win in 1994 and 1996, while Munroe was victorious in 1995 and 1997. The duo was beat in 1998 by fellow Kawasaki rider Jordan Szoke , the first rookie champion in CSBK history and at the time the youngest winner at only 19 years old.

Despite being the overwhelming favourite in 1999, Jordan Szoke switched to Honda and struggled in the opening rounds, eventually losing the championship to Francis Martin. The 2000 season saw the return once again of Crevier to CSBK, who would win his fifth career title despite an improved year from Szoke. Crevier would defend his title in 2001, becoming a six-time national champion.

A switch to Suzuki in 2002 would prove to be a wise decision for Szoke, who won five races and secured his second national title, four years after winning as a teenager. That would lead him to the United States in 2003, with Pascal Picotte returning to Canada to replace him on a lucrative deal for Suzuki. Picotte would dominate the next two years of CSBK, winning championships in 2003 and 2004. Injuries would limit him in 2005, however, while Szoke only raced select events north of the border, l...

Szoke dominance (2006–2018)

Jordan Szoke would return to Kawasaki in 2006 after winning his first title with the brand in 1998. He would quickly become the feature name of the series, winning the first six races of the season in 2006 to capture the overall title. Crevier's latest return to CSBK nearly resulted in a seventh championship, but Szoke would hang on to defend his crown in 2007 and 2008.

History

The 2011 season saw Szoke return to Kawasaki while McCormick piloted an all-new BMW Motorrad program. It proved to be an excellent match for McCormick and the S1000RR , as he won the first six races of the year to end Szoke's run of five consecutive championships. However, McCormick would move to World Superbike the following year, allowing Szoke to move to BMW in his place and repeat as champion in 2012 and 2013.

It appeared as though Szoke would add a tenth championship in 2014, but a mid-season injury handed the title to Jodi Christie and Honda . Szoke would add perfect seasons in 2015 and 2016, and won all but one race in 2017 to become a 12-time national champion. The 2018 season began the same way with five consecutive victories, enough to help secure Szoke a 13th championship, but rival Ben Young would end his win streak at the final round.

Modern era (2019–present)

The end of 2018 forced Jordan Szoke to return to Kawasaki after eight years away from the brand, while Ben Young took over as the lead rider for BMW Motorrad . The switch worked well for both Young and BMW, winning the opening two races and adding a historic comeback victory at Atlantic Motorsport Park to win his first national championship.

The COVID-19 pandemic meant only an abbreviated two-round schedule could take place in 2020, as Young decided not to defend his crown. That left Szoke to another perfect campaign, winning his 14th and most recent championship. Young would return in 2021 but lost to series debutant Alex Dumas , who became the first rookie champion since Szoke while also winning the title at just 19 years old for Suzuki .

Young would steal the championship back in 2022, narrowly defeating Dumas in one of the closest championship battles in series history. In 2023, the series partnered with Bridgestone to become the official sponsor and spec tire of the series through at least 2026. Young would add a third championship in the first year under Bridgestone, completing the title comeback after Dumas led for majority of the season.

Prior to the 2023 season, PMP founder and longtime CSBK president Colin Fraser sold the organization and series to former pro racer Ross Millson.

2024 CSBK Schedule

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CSBK Superbike Champions

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Yamaha YZF-R1

Honda CBR600RR

Honda CBR1000RR

Quick Facts

0 nan

0 Category

0 Country

0 Inaugural season

0 Riders' champion

0 Makes' champion

0 Official website

Table 1

Track	City	Province	Length	Turns	Debut Year
Shannonville Motorsport Park	Shannonville	Ontario	2.47 km (Pro Track)	9 (Pro)	1980
Grand Bend Motorplex	Grand Bend	Ontario	2.2 km	11	2017
RAD Torque Raceway	Edmonton	Alberta	2.7 km	14	2015
Atlantic Motorsport Park	Shubenacadie	Nova Scotia	2.56 km	11	1982
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park	Bowmanville	Ontario	3.957 km	10	1985
Shannonville Motorsport Park	Shannonville	Ontario	4.03 km (Long Track)	15 (Long)	1980

Table 2

Track	City	Province	Length	Turns	Years
Alma Street Circuit	Alma	Quebec	nan	nan	1993–1995
Autodrome St. Eustache	Saint-Eustache	Quebec	1.78 km	15.0	2002–2003, 2011–2019
Calabogie Motorsports Park	Greater Madawaska	Ontario	5.05 km	20.0	2008–2009, 2015, 2020–2022
Castrol Raceway	Edmonton	Alberta	2.7 km	14.0	2015
Circuit ICAR	Mirabel	Quebec	2.8 km	10.0	2009–2011
Circuit Mont-Tremblant	Mont-Tremblant	Quebec	4.26 km	17.0	2003–2004, 2006–2007, 2012–2013
Circuit Sanair	Saint-Pie	Quebec	2.0 km	nan	nan
Edmonton International Speedway	Edmonton	Alberta	4.067 km	14.0	nan
Gimli Motorsports Park	Gimli	Manitoba	2.092 km	9.0	1985–1988
Namao Airport	Edmonton	Alberta	nan	nan	2001

Table 3

("Canadian Superbike (CSBK) Riders' Champions", 'Season')	("Canadian Superbike (CSBK) Riders' Champions", 'Class')	("Canadian Superbike (CSBK) Riders' Champions", 'Rider')	("Canadian Superbike (CSBK) Riders' Champions", 'Bike')	("Canadian Superbike (CSBK) Riders' Champions", 'Unnamed: 4_level_1')	("Canadian Superbike (CSBK) Riders' Champions", 'Unnamed: 5_level_1')
1980	Pro Superbike	George Morin[2]	Kawasaki KZ1000	nan	nan
1981	Pro Superbike	Lang Hindle[3]	Kawasaki KZ1000	nan	nan
1982	Pro Superbike	Miles Baldwin	Yamaha TZ750	nan	nan
1983	Pro Superbike	Art Robbins	Suzuki GS1000	nan	nan
1984	Pro Superbike	Paul MacMillan	Suzuki Katana 1100	nan	nan
1985	Pro Superbike	Art Robbins	Yamaha TZ750	nan	nan
1986	Pro Superbike	Michel Mercier	Suzuki GSX-R750	nan	nan
1986	Pro Sport Bike	Mario Duhamel	Suzuki RG500	nan	nan
1987	Pro Superbike	Michel Mercier	Suzuki GSX-R750	nan	nan
1987	Pro Sport Bike	Mario Duhamel	Honda 600	nan	nan

F1ABY Commentary

“Considering the sheer forces at play – aerodynamic pressure, longitudinal acceleration – does the chassis’s compliance truly represent a strategic advantage, or merely a symptom of inadequate structural rigidity?” The 1980 inception of the CSBK, you see, wasn’t simply about speed; it was a nascent investigation into the limits of rider-machine interaction. Initial tire choices, predictably, were Dunlop, but the subsequent shift to Bridgestone in ‘23 presents a fascinating parallel. Observe the evolution of suspension kinematics; the early systems, undoubtedly, prioritized damping over precise control. This, of course, reflects the then-dominant philosophy of absorbing road imperfections. Now, with Bridgestone’s compound offerings, the challenge shifts toward optimized spring rates and anti-dive characteristics. The data from the first few races will be crucial – particularly concerning tire degradation and its impact on cornering loads.

“The fundamental instability of a motorcycle’s chassis dictates every decision made in superbike racing; observe the subtle shifts in weight distribution during braking – a phenomenon directly linked to longitudinal and lateral loading. ” The Bridgestone CSBK’s evolution began with a deceptively simple premise: optimizing tire contact patch through chassis geometry. A crucial element, of course, is the progressive refinement of suspension kinematics, a process inextricably bound to the evolving demands of the rubber.

F1ABY Trivia

Let’s examine the Bridgestone tire selection – a crucial element, wouldn’t you agree? The ’80s saw a prevalent reliance on the R10 compound, exhibiting a peak horsepower increase of approximately 12 bhp during warm-up, a consequence of the rubber’s internal friction building. A fascinating divergence from later strategies, considering the evolving understanding of thermal management.

Let’s begin. “Observe the torque vectoring implementation on Verstappen’s Red Bull – a subtle, yet aggressive, application of differential braking. The data suggests a 0. 08 second gain on corner entry, a figure amplified by the track’s inherent elevation changes. It’s a demonstration of how meticulously refined control systems are now the primary determinant of tenths. ”.

F1ABY Tales

“Magnificent…absolutely magnificent braking. Observe the rear tire scrub – a full 1. 7Gs sustained for nearly 200 meters before the lock-up. The delta pressure between the front and rear is currently 0. 08 bar, a critical factor in maintaining optimal front-end grip during that deceleration. The team’s clever use of differential ride height – a mere 1. 2 millimeters – is clearly contributing to the stability. This level of precision, achieved through the sophisticated control algorithms, is what separates the contenders. Let’s examine the data stream; the stability control unit is actively modulating the rear damper settings, anticipating the corner’s radius. A fascinating application of predictive dynamics. ”.

Let’s examine the data stream from Rossi’s corner speed during the second sector. The telemetry paints a stark picture – a dip of 2. 3 percent coinciding precisely with the application of the rear brake. Observe the resultant spike in lateral g-force; the chassis is clearly wrestling with a compromised grip. It’s a delicate dance, isn’t it? The rider’s intervention, while undoubtedly aggressive, introduces a cascade of instability. The suspension kinematics are screaming, and the differential is fighting a losing battle. A fascinating illustration of the constant trade-offs inherent in maximizing performance.