For the third time, Ben Young has won the Canadian Superbike Championship! After a difficult start to the season, Young’s grit and determination paid off with a well-fought win on Saturday sealing the deal.
Shannonville Motorsports park held the final meeting this past weekend [September 15-17] with three races to make up for the cancelled races at AMP in July. The championship was wide-open with just a few points between Young and his title rival Alex Dumas.
Aboard his Van Dolder’s BMW M 1000 RR, Young had great pace all weekend, and took second position during the qualifying session which was shortened due to a red flag incident.
The first lap of Friday’s race brought some drama, with a less-than-ideal start seeing Young into third, but not for long. By the time he had completed lap one, Young was back in the lead. Unfortunately, the Championship point leader crashed out, though Young would go on to win the race, achieving maximum points and a healthy lead in the championship.
Saturday’s race started without a hitch, with Young settling comfortably into second behind the race leader. At one point, Young was over two seconds behind his rival and it looked like the championship fight would continue to Sunday. However in a move no one saw coming, Young started to pick up the pace and began reeling the leader in. On the last lap at Turn Four, Young completed a daring pass took the lead. The move would see him clinch the Championship title despite one more race on Sunday.
Of the weekend, Young said: “It’s all pretty surreal. We knew what we needed to do to come back and win. It was going to be tough and more easily said than done. To win five in a row and clinch a day early is pretty unbelievable. So proud of all the teams work and proving the doubters wrong.”
Young would finish out the weekend with a second position in Sunday’s race, and he and the team were all smiles. After being 36 points down at one point this championship has been all the sweeter for the Van Dolder’s BMW Team.
Young’s partners for his 2023 Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship season include; BMW Motorrad Canada, Van Dolder’s Home Team, Scot-build Developments Inc, Parts Canada, HJC Helmets, Alpinestars, Hindle Exhaust, Clearlite, Primitive Patterns, DP Brakes, alphaRacing, Vass Performance Cycle, Cartier Racing and Bickle Racing.
To keep up-to-date on Ben Young throughout the year visit; www.BenYoungRacing.com, www.facebook.com/BenYoungRacing and on Twitter and Instagram: @benyoung_86.
