From a press release issued by organizers of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship: TORONTO, ON Honda Canada will run a spec series using its CBR125R starting in 2008 with the support of Parts Canada Superbike Championship organizer Professional Motorsports Productions (PMP). The Honda CBR125R Challenge will run at select rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship and will likely also visit other appropriate Canadian series events. The program is envisioned as a starter class for young road racers aiming to move further up the competition ladder. In keeping with this, the CBR125R Challenge is restricted to younger racers looking to make their start in the sport. Riders planning to compete in the national series next season must be between the ages of 14 and 22 years as of January 1, 2008. Honda Canada and PMP expect to see the new national series branch out to run with other club classes in road race series across Canada. “Honda Canada’s goal is to provide a safe environment that will give new and existing enthusiasts who have thought about racing, both the means and opportunity to do so,” said Honda Canada’s Kim Moore. The Honda CBR125R will run near-stock (all bikes will be equipped with a catalytic converter) with engine performance restricted and horsepower checked on the official Parts Canada Superbike Championship Dynojet Dyno. Pirelli spec tires will be used in the series. A specified race conversion kit will be available through participating Honda dealers. The conversion kit includes an Elka shock, Mimic bodywork, Arrow bolt-on exhaust canister, Z-1 frame sliders, Parts Canada work stand and a certificate for Pirelli Supercorsa approved race rubber. “We agree that this series will act as a stepping stone into other racing classes,” said Colin Fraser, president of PMP. “It provides racers with an inexpensive way to learn road racing. These are easy bikes to ride and learn on, and this sort of development class is very successful in Europe.” Mini Road Racing has been growing in popularity in recent years, particularly in western Canada. Sixteen-year-old Brett McCormick of Saskatoon, winner of this year’s HJC Pro Rookie of the Year Award in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship is a product of the Mini Road Racing boom. Honda launched the CBR125R in 2007 in conjunction with a program aimed to bring new riders into the sport of motorcycling. This program continues in 2008. The bike is powered by a 125cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke single-cylinder engine and takes its styling cues from Honda’s full size sport bikes. Claimed dry weight for the stock CBR125R is 118.9kg and horsepower is quoted as 13.4hp at 10,000 rpm. The bike features electronic fuel injection and a six-speed transmission. Suggested retail price for the CBR125R is retails for $3,499 (CDN). A full schedule as well as the rules and regulations for the Honda CBR125R Challenge will soon be posted on both honda.ca and cdnsuperbike.com. For full series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com