Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Pascal Picotte will ride factory Yamaha YZF-R1 and YZF-R6 Yamahas in the 2003 Parts Canada Superbike and 600cc Sport Bike Championship, according to Picotte’s manager, former racer Alan Labrosse.

“That’s correct,” said Labrosse. “It’s the Yamaha Canada factory team. Picotte is actually the rider and the owner/operator of the team.” Labrosse added that Picotte would ride on Dunlop tires and has no plans to add a teammate.

Picotte rode for Ducati Austin Racing in 2002 and was believed to be at the top of team owner Terry Gregoricka’s list for a second slot on the 2003 team beside Anthony Gobert, provided additional sponsorship was found.

“Pascal was being considered, that’s correct,” confirmed Labrosse. “I spoke to Terry on Monday this week, and as of yet, he doesn’t have the sponsorship. So, I mean, we can’t hold out forever.”

Picotte, 33, came on the scene in 1989 with an eighth-place finish in the AMA 600cc Supersport race at Loudon. Picotte rode for Yamaha Canada in 1990 and finished ninth in AMA Superbike and fifth in AMA 600cc Supersport at Loudon. Picotte started the 1991 season with Yamaha Canada but also rode to his first AMA National win, in the Pro Twins class, on a Fast By Ferracci Ducati. Picotte rode for Ferracci through 1994, winning the 1992 AMA Pro Twins National Championship and scoring his first two Superbike race wins in 1994. Picotte had an injury-plagued 1995 season with Muzzy Kawasaki but still managed to qualify on the Superbike pole twice, podium in two other Superbike races and finish on the 600cc podium twice. Picotte rode for Yoshimura Suzuki in 1996-1997 and won an AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio (in 1996), won four 750cc Supersport races and finished second in that Championship (in 1996) and won four 600cc Supersport races (in 1997). Picotte rode for the Harley-Davidson/Gemini Racing Superbike team from 1998-2001, finishing on the podium twice in 1999. Picotte started the 2002 season with HMC Ducati but was released from the team after personality conflicts arose during the Daytona race weekend. Picotte then joined Ducati Austin Racing and went on to finish fourth in the 2002 AMA Superbike Championship with a best race finish of fourth at Mid-Ohio. Picotte only finished outside of the top seven three times in the 2002 AMA Superbike Championship.

Picotte was unavailable for comment at post time.

Other riders represented by Labrosse, which include Miguel Duhamel (American Honda) and Jordan Szoke (Corona Extra Suzuki) have their rides settled for 2003, but young Canadian Andrew Nelson is still unsigned for 2003. In 2002, Nelson finished 16th in the AMA Supersport Championship with a best race finish of 11th, 24th in the AMA Superstock Championship with a best race finish of 11th, eighth in the Formula USA Sportbike Championship with a best race finish of fourth, and finished on the podium at Canadian Nationals and WSMC races at Willow Springs on a Honda CBR600F4i.

In other news from north of the border, young gun Kevin Lacombe, 19, has re-signed with the Orion Motorsports Honda factory team to ride an RC51 in the Parts Canada Superbike Series and the new CBR600RR in the Yoshimura 600cc Sport Bike Series. Lacombe contended for the 2002 600cc class Championship, before crashing in the final race, and finished fourth in the Superbike Championship, with a win in the final race of the season at Shannonville.

Frank Trombino has left the Orion Motorsports Honda squad to return to Yamaha. Trombino will race a YZF-R1 in 2003. Trombino won the 2000 and 2001 International Motorcycle Supershow Pro Open Sport Bike Championships with Yamaha.

Kawasaki Canada has resigned veteran Owen Weichel to campaign a ZX-7RR in Superbike and the new ZX-6RR in 600cc Sport Bike. Weichel will team with Matt McBride, who will ride a ZX-6RR in both Superbike and 600cc Sport Bike.

Ending a five-year relationship, Fast Company and Suzuki Canada will not work together in the 2003 Parts Canada Superbike Series. Fast Company Suzuki won the 2002 Parts Canada Superbike Championship with Jordan Szoke and the 2002 Open Sport Bike Championship with Francis Martin in 2002, both riding GSX-R1000s.

Suzuki Canada will back Coors Light Racing Blackfoot Team Suzuki with Martin and Clint McBain, the 2002 Canadian 600cc Sport Bike National Champion, racing GSX-R1000s in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship and GSX-R600s in the 600cc Sport Bike class.


More on Canadian racing, from a press release issued by Coors Light Racing Blackfoot Team Suzuki:

Blackfoot Racing Announces Road Racing Plans for 2003

Blackfoot Racing, in partnership with Coors Light Racing, Suzuki Canada Inc, Parts Canada, Alpinestars, HJC and Yoshimura is pleased to announce their Professional Road Racing program for the 2003 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

For the third consecutive year, Blackfoot Racing will continue to work closely with Suzuki and Parts Canada to campaign the 2003 Parts Team with current Canadian Champions, Clint McBain and Francis Martin.

“In addition, we are very pleased to announce for the second year the primary sponsor for the Suzuki Factory Team will be Coors Light Racing. Together with the tremendous support we are receiving from all of our sponsors we believe that we will be able to assemble the most competitive and professional national road racing team in the 2003 series,” said Blackfoot Racing co-owner/team manager Pat Chambers. “With the strong media coverage of the series by all the Canadian national magazines in addition to the television coverage across Canada, the series will offer enthusiasts and fans an exciting year in road racing.”

1999 Canadian Superbike Champion and 2002 Canadian Open Sport Bike Champion, Francis Martin will be joining Coors Light Racing Blackfoot Team Suzuki to compete in both the 600 Sport Bike class as well as campaign the new Suzuki GSXR1000 in Superbike. Martin has been aboard the awesome Suzuki GSXR racing bikes for the last 3 years as a title contender and has the ability and speed to again achieve his goals as a repeat champion.

Current Canadian 600 Sport Bike Champion Clint McBain will be returning to the team to carry the number one plate on board the 2003 Suzuki GSXR600 as well as campaign the awesome new 2003 Suzuki GSXR1000 in Superbike. Coming off his most successful year racing, McBain posted a banner year, winning his first Canadian National Championship as well as finishing second in the Open Sport Bike class.

The “2002 Canadian Tuner of the Year”, Chuck Downie will be back with the team as chief technician with the responsibility of building the championship contending Suzuki racing bikes. As well, renowned suspension tuner Joe Skidd, will again for the second year, be looking after the team’s suspension and chassis setup as well as working as Racing Director for Blackfoot Racing Inc. Also for his second season with the team, Doug Clavier will also be working closely with both Downie and Joe Skidd on the setup and maintenance of the equipment. The team’s hospitality and statistical co-coordinator, Jacquie Matechuk, will also be back for the 2003 season.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been working closely with Blackfoot Racing Inc. for all their support to date in assisting us to assemble the Coors Light Racing Blackfoot Team Suzuki effort.” added Chambers. “We are looking forward to another Championship season with everyone for 2003 and look forward to continuing our relationships.”