TORONTO, Ont. – Premier helmet manufacturer Shoei and sole Canadian Shoei distributor Motovan Corporation are now the title sponsors the 2016 and 2017 Amateur Sport Bike Championship in the Mopar CSBK National motorcycle road racing tour. The Shoei CSBK Amateur Sport Bike Championship will showcase some of Canada’s best up-and-coming competitors, aboard middleweight sports machinery.
“Shoei is a premier brand, and we are proud to work with Shoei to maximize their exposure on the National scene,” explained David Bond, Motovan’s Marketing Project Leader. “Our Shoei sponsorship plan links with other Motovan initiatives, including our Social Media programs, to underline our support of the CSBK Series.”
Founded in Tokyo in 1959, Shoei has built a solid reputation for ground-breaking helmet design and innovative features, proven both on and-off road, around the globe.
Previously, Motovan-distributed Liqui Moly had been named the title sponsor of the Professional Sport Bike division for the next two seasons. As well, Motovan is launching assorted customer, spectator and competitor-oriented competitions associated with the CSBK tour. These contests will include the awarding of premium Motovan-distributed products such as Rockwell Watches, Ogio Gear Bags, HitCase iPhone equipment, Liqui Moly lubricants and more.
The year-end, overall points fund pay-out for Amateur Sport Bike will increase to $6,5000. The top seven competitors overall will receive their Championship cheques at the final round of the Shoei Helmets Amateur Sport Bike Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario, August 20-21.
As well, a $1,000 bonus will be paid to the title winning competitor if he or she utilized a Shoei helmet throughout the 2016 National Championship Series.
Shoei helmets are currently worn by Mopar CSBK National number one Jordan Szoke as well as top Pro riders Trevor Daley and Michael Leon. Stacey Nesbitt, a two-time Canadian National Champ and 2016 European Junior Cup competitor, wears Shoei, as does Flat Track Canada star Don Taylor and MotoGP superstar Marc Marquez.
The Shoei Amateur Sport Bike class serves as a development series for the next generation of top Canadian road race competitors. Last year, Alex Coelho of Brossard, Que., on a Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja edged Phil Leckie of London, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R600 mounted, to earn the overall National Championship.
Coelho and Leckie will make their rookie Pro National debuts at the opening round of the 2016 Mopar CSBK National Championships at Shannonville Motorsport Park, east of Belleville, Ont., May 27-29.
The 2014 top Amateur Sport Bike competitors, Peterborough, Ont.’s Champ Tomas Casas and Nesbitt of St-Lazare, Que., shared Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year honours in 2015.