Munich. The international BMW Motorrad Motorsport family cancelebrate the first title win of the 2018 season: Jordan Szoke (CAN)has been crowned champion of the Canadian Superbike Championship for the 13th time. The latest important meeting of the international road racing scene, the Ulster Grand Prix, also endedin success. In the 1000cc race, BMW rider Peter Hickman (GBR)claimed victory and a podium finish and was named “Man of theMeeting”. David Johnson also reached the podium with the BMW HP4RACE. Travis Wyman (USA) claimed a podium finish in the MotoAmerica.
Canadian Superbike Championship at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Canada.
The “serial offender” has done it again. Champion record holderJordan Szoke (CAN / Mopar Express Lane BMW Superbike Team) secured his13th title in the Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK),his seventh together with BMW. He took the final steps to this byfinishing third and fourth in the season finale at the Canadian TireMotorsport Park outside Bowmanville (CAN).
Another BMW rider topped the podium in the first of the two finalraces of the weekend: Ben Young (CAN / Ben Young Racing). InBowmanville, he claimed his first win in the CSBK. Szoke secured thirdplace. In the second race on Sunday, Young finished second to reachthe podium again. Samuel Trepanier (CAN) claimed the final podium spotwith the Blysk Racing BMW S 1000 RR. Szoke confirmed his title win byfinishing fourth. Young ended the season in second place in thechampionship standings.
Jordan Szoke: “Definitely one of the tougherchampionships I’ve won, that’s for sure. But we battled through. It’sbeen a bit of a rollercoaster year, so this one means a lot. Ipartnered with BMW about eight years ago, and we’ve now won sevenchampionships. I’ve had a really great run here with the team and thebike, and it’s been awesome.”
Ulster Grand Prix at the Dundrod Circuit, Northern Ireland.
The international road racers met up in Northern Ireland at theweekend for the spectacular Ulster Grand Prix. This year’s schedulewas disrupted by bad weather, leading to the cancellation of someevents. Two races did take place on Saturday in the 1000cc category,the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Superstock race and the MMBSurfacing Superbike race. BMW rider Peter Hickman (GBR) recorded a winand a podium finish to prove impressively that he has earned his placeamong the world’s best road racers.
Hickman enjoyed a thrilling duel with Dean Harrison (GBR) in theSuperstock race, with the lead changing hands several times. Hickmanwas in second place at the end of lap four, before popping out ofHarrison’s slipstream to retake the lead at the start of the fifth andfinal lap. However, a red flag then stopped the race and the standingsat the end of lap four were treated as the final result. This meantthat Hickman finished second, 0.203 seconds back.
In the Superbike race, Hickman took the lead on lap two. This racewas also stopped early – race control could no longer guarantee theriders’ safety as the rain increased in intensity. Hickman claimedvictory by 1.399 seconds – his fifth win overall at the Ulster GrandPrix. As the Smiths Racing rider also won the 600cc Supersport race,he was named as “Man of the Meeting” for the second year running.
Australia’s David Johnson was competing for Tyco BMW Motorrad – withthe BMW HP4 RACE. He secured the first international podium for thecarbon-fibre racing machine. Johnson claimed third place in theSuperbike race. It was also his first podium finish at the UlsterGrand Prix. The Australian rider, who had only been with the team ashort time, claimed seventh place in the Superstock race.
Peter Hickman: “It’s been a bit of a stop-startmeeting with the weather conditions making it difficult for everyone,and we ended up losing three of our scheduled races, but to come awaywith a total of two wins and a second place has been very pleasing. Itcould have been three wins, as I felt really comfortable in theSuperstock race and was just biding my time behind Dean before makingmy move on lap five. As soon as I got by I opened up a lead, but, withthe red flag coming out and the result going back a lap, I had tosettle for second. It’s swings and roundabouts though as good fortunesmiled on me in the Superbike race, being awarded the win. It’s such ashame the rain brought an end to the day, but I’m happy for myself andfor the team that we got the results we did, whilst it’s also nice towin races at each of the International road races.”
David Johnson: “Taking the weather into considerationand the limited time we had to prepare, I really think it’s been asuccessful week working with the Tyco BMW boys. The team worked hardto make me comfortable on the bikes and in the team and, despite theweather, I’m pretty pleased to have taken a third place back toAustralia. I feel very honoured to have been given the chance to ridethe BMW HP4 RACE for the Tyco BMW team and to give the bike its firstever international road racing podium is a real buzz.”
MotoAmerica at the Sonoma Raceway, USA.
The MotoAmerica (MA) paid a visit to the Sonoma Raceway (USA) at theweekend. The BMW S 1000 RR claimed a podium finish in the Superstockclass race: Travis Wyman (USA / Weir Everywhere Racing) secured thirdplace. Chad Swain (USA /Hustle Hard Racing) crossed the line in fifth position.
BMW rider Danny Eslick (USA / Scheibe Racing) finished in seventh andeighth in the two Superbike class (MA SBK) races.
