CSBK Postpone Grand Bend; Plan Opening at Calabogie Motorsports Park July 10-11
Toronto, ON – The scheduled opening round of the 2021 Canadian National Superbike Championship, announced for Grand Bend Motorplex June 11-13, has been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. The 2021 CSBK National tour is now scheduled to begin at Calabogie Motorsports Park, south west of Ottawa, ON, July 10-11.
The new Pro 6 GP Regional racing series also plans to debut at Calabogie Motorsports Park on the same weekend, July 10-11. Pro 6 Cycle are entering their eighth season of providing Dunlop spec tire support for the CSBK National tour in all five Pro and Amateur categories.
CSBK had originally intended to open National action at the start of June. Then the ongoing revision of health guidelines, related to the ongoing Pandemic, forced some delays. As outlined by the province of Ontario, revised restrictions have occurred, and further updates are expected.
Currently, the earliest possible date to resume wheel-to-wheel competition in the Province of Ontario would be Monday, June 14.
However, it is not certain that racing will be possible in mid-June, and Government Officials have indicated that adjustments to the schedule for the gradual reopening of the Province will be based on several tiers of progressive health markers. These guidelines will be updated over the next few weeks.
At this point, series organizers are optimistic that racing should be possible by July, although with strict guidelines and requirements similar to last summer’s delayed opening. The last CSBK series event was the 2020 final National round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last August 16, conducted without spectators. CSBK and Pro 6 GP planned the 2021 National program expecting strict at-track requirements.
As well, clear guidelines for the resumption of travel between provinces are still not available from Ontario or the neighbouring Province of Quebec. CSBK earlier stated that National events will not be held in 2021 until competitors from outside Ontario could travel to that Province.
“We are sorry about the continued delays in opening up the 2021 Canadian National motorcycle road racing Championship series,” explains CSBK boss Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions in Toronto, ON.
“We were excited to confirm an ambitious program last fall in conjunction with partners Pro 6, and the support of our racer community and fans has been very encouraging. We aim to stage as complete a schedule of events as possible this year, working within the Federal and Provincial health guidelines. We also intend to provide a full slate of events to honor our agreement with The Sports Network (TSN) this season.”
