Motomike Racing Wins CSBK National Championship!
Calabogie Motorsports Park, Sept 19,2021
What a weekend for Motomike Canada, as our rider Harvey Renaud dominated the Supersonic Roadrace School Amateur Lightweight Sportbike class, collecting a couple lap records on his way to his first National Championship!
Entering the weekend, with Mike Maguire sitting out due to an earlier injury, Harvey was in a 3-way tie for 3rd spot in the Championship, and quite a ways behind the leader Mack Weil. We knew it was unlikely he could overtake both Mack and Jacob Black, in second, so the only thing to do was to try to get out front and stay there, and whatever happened behind him would decide the ultimate outcome. How prophetic that conversation turned out to be.
The weekend started out with Harvey putting the #28 Motomike Canada Inc. sponsored Kawasaki Ninja 400 on top of the morning test session times, and he never looked back from there. Qualifying in first position with a time of 2:23.094, a record for the class, and a full 7 tenths ahead of Paul Etienne Courtois on his Honda CBR500. This meant pole position starts for both of the 8-lap sprint races.
In race trim, the 325 lb machine was making 44.3hp in the cool September air, just under the class limit of 45. The new-this-year spec Dunlop slicks were toasty in their Woodcraft warmers, and the Ohlins suspension kept the bike planted and controlled. Confident and encouraged by the crowd of spectators now allowed at race events, Harvey lined up for the start of race 1.
When the lights went out, Renaud got the hole-shot and led the pack into turn 1, leading start to finish and setting yet another lap record of 2:22.597 on the 5km 20-turn course.
Mack Weil, starting from row 2, put down a blistering lap to push to the front, and the top 4 bikes jockeyed for the lead before disaster struck for the series leader. What has been a very tight and heated battle all season between the top contenders, ended when the 707 of Jacob Black and the 79 of Mackenzie Weil came together on lap 3, sending both off track. Black was able to get back on his bike and tried to rejoin but ultimately retired. Weil unfortunately suffered a mild concussion and could not continue, ending his weekend with no points scored. His lead was sizeable, and Renaud would have to be perfect all weekend to eke out a win. A DNF in the first race put Black into 5th, and Courtois finishing behind Renaud for 2nd meant it was now down to one of them to win race 2 if either was to push ahead of Weil for the win.
Starting again from pole in race 2, Renaud got yet another fantastic start with Black hot on his tail, and Courtois relegated to third spot.
The top two bikes battled back and forth for most of the race, and pulled a sizeable gap to 3rd place by the closing laps. Barring a mistake, it was Renaud's to lose, and even a second-place finish would put him ahead. With Black leading in the final lap, Renaud decided for one last move on the back side of the track and when Black went wide on corner entry, Renaud dove to the inside to secure the lead spot. Coming to the line, the two were neck-and-neck, with Renaud just edging out the second place Kawasaki by only 0.018 seconds!
With that, the season was over and Renaud crowned champion, collecting his number 1 plate, two 1st place trophies, qualifying lap record, and race lap record for the class. A perfect ending to a perfect weekend.
Bike Specs for both 28 and 613 bikes:
- 2018/2019 Kawasaki Ninja 400
- Armour Bodies bodywork
- Hotbodies Windshield
- Hindle Megaphone Full Exhaust
- Ohlins NIX22 Fork Cartridges
- Ohlins KA744 Rear Shock
- Woodcraft Rear-Sets
- Woodcraft Clip-Ons
- Woodcraft Key Delete
- Woodcraft Case Guards
- Woodcraft Tire Warmers
- Spears Racing Brake Lines
- Spears Racing 415 Chain and Sprockets
- Spears Racing Fuel Rail
- Spears Racing Fuel Cap
- Spears Racing Clutch Springs
- Spears Racing Oil Pressure Spring
- Stock Airbox
- Stock Paper Filter
- Motul 300v Racing Oil
Harvey and Mike wear Alpinestars, Arai, HJC
All parts and gear are available from Motomike Canada Inc.
17 Fitzgerald Road, Ottawa, ON.
Thanks to CSBK, Pro6 Cycle, Dunlop Racing Tires, Toni Sharpless Supersonic Roadrace School, LiquiMoly, and everybody else who helps to put on the show.