From a press release issued by series organizers:

NATIONAL SERIES ADDS THUNDER

TORONTO, ON Three of the most famous names in motorcycle history will join the Parts Canada Superbike Championship on a regular basis beginning next year.

BMW Motorrad Canada, Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, through its Buell brand and Ducati North America have reached an agreement with Professional Motorsport Productions to add the Thunder class to the national road racing series in 2005 and 2006.

The Thunder series will run at all events on the Parts Canada Superbike tour in 2005 except for the rounds at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park and the Montreal Molson Indy Superbike Invitational. The two-year agreement provides for the addition of a race in Calgary in 2006.

Thunder joins the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship as a national support category to the feature Parts Canada Superbike Championship chase.

The Thunder division will run to national series standards and feature guaranteed prize money of $3,000 per round. The organizing sponsor group is also looking into arranging a title sponsor to provide a year-end point fund.

Thunder is designed for air-cooled twin-cylinder production-based sport motorcycles. The series ran with selected national and regional events in 2004 under the organization of RACE Event Inc. with backing from Buell.

The new national class will run Pro and Amateur divisions.

“The Thunder class will be an exciting addition to the Parts Canada national tour,” said series producer Colin Fraser of PMP. “All the sponsors and supporters of our series are looking forward to helping Thunder develop. Thunder will add a new element to the program, with a close-running field of bikes that look and sound different from our existing Sport Bikes.”

Buell, Ducati and BMW have agreed that a minimum of 25 machines will attend each event and each constructor has specially-priced new models reserved for the series. BMW will offer the “Boxer Cup” R1100S and Ducati its 1000SS. Buell will apply the special pricing to any of its models eligible for the series. Existing models are also legal for the Thunder series under the revised 2005 rules, which will shortly be posted on the official Parts Canada Superbike website, www.cdnsuperbike.com.

Minimum weight for Thunder machines will be 395 lbs. and the series will have a maximum horsepower of 95 hp. Weight and horsepower will be measured immediately after each race on the official series scales and Dynojet Dyno, respectively.

The series will be administered by PMP staff under the guidance of event director Brian Williams and technical director Mark Orchard. The national event staff will be expanded to include dedicated Thunder management personnel, including registration and tech officials.

As in 2004, Thunder results, stories and point standings will be featured on the Parts Canada Superbike website.

“All three manufacturers are excited to see Thunder go to the national level,” said Chris Duff, events and promotions co-ordinator for BMW Motorrad Canada. “We are looking to showcase our motorcycles in the ultimate sport bike environment and show the sport bike buying public that our models are dynamic, energetic and fast.”

Joining Duff as manufacturer representatives for the series will be Ric Marrero of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada and Steve Hicks of Terminal Velocity for Ducati North America.

Vancouver’s Darren James took the 2004 Thunder title, clinching the crown in the final event at Shannonville Motorsport Park. James also placed second in the Amateur 600 Sport Bike national series, winning the round at Mosport International Raceway.

2005 Thunder Schedule

May 20-22, Shannonville Motorsport Park (Pro Track), Shannonville, ON

July 15-17 Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, ON

Aug. 5-7, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, NS

Sept. 2-4, Shannonville Motorsport Park (Long Track), Shannonville, ON

Sept. 9-11, Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, QC