HORSEPOWER GOES UP FOR FEATURE CLASS TORONTO, Ont. (May 13) The horsepower limit in the feature class of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship has been raised to 190, as measured on the official series Dynojet Dyno, for the 2010 season. The move represents an increase of five horsepower over the previous class limit. The decision was made following evaluation of BMW’s new S 1000 RR, which will make its debut in the national Superbike championship at the opening round of the season at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Que. May 28-30. “We would have preferred not to make this decision so close to the start of the season,” said Peter Hoogeveen, technical director of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. “But we wanted to be sure to have the most reliable and accurate data on hand. We wanted to test the BMW ourselves in Canada, on our own Dynojet Dyno and with our own staff, before making the ruling.” Dynojet has been a sponsor and partner of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship since 1997, when horsepower limits were introduced for the national series. The top finishers in all classes are measured on the Dynojet Dyno immediately following qualifying sessions and races to ensure they comply with the series regulations. The dyno is also available at all rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship in an unofficial capacity for racers to tune their bikes. Horsepower limits for each of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship classes are assessed on an ongoing basis and increases are made to reflect improved performance in stock equipment. Prior to the start of the 2003 season, the Superbike division was unrestricted and bikes were not held to a horsepower limit. Now, however, the current, production-oriented feature class machines produce power on a par with their predecessors in the unrestricted era. “The pace of motorcycle development over the past several years has been quite remarkable,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, which administers the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. “Trying to keep up with the performance improvements of the latest equipment while ensuring a fair playing field for our competitors is a tremendous challenge, but we are confident this latest increase in the horsepower limit will be a positive move for our series.” Four of the BMW S 1000 RRs are expected to compete in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship this season. Two-time national champion Francis Martin of Sherbrooke, Que. will team up with Kitchener, Ont.’s Mike Ferreira in the BMW Motorrad Canada factory squad, while entries are also anticipated from Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ont. and Carleton Place, Ont.’s Steve Walker. For more series information, visit ~http://www.cdnsuperbike.com~