John Hopkins / Photo by Tim McGill
BOWMANVILLE, ON – Alex Welsh of Uxbridge, ON completed a sweep of this weekend’s Pirelli Pro Sport Bike races at Mosport International Raceway but Jodi Christie clinched the title with a second place finish on Sunday.
Riding the Z1 CycleTech / Kenwood Suzuki GSX-R600 Welsh passed Christie's Jodi Christie Racing / Cameron Cycle / Blue Streak Racing Honda CBR600RR at the end of the backstraight on the final lap and held off the Keene, ON rider by 0.154 secs. at the line for Sunday's race win.
Woodbridge, ON’s Frank Trombino placed third on the Suzuki Canada / Hindle / Sturgess Cycle Suzuki GSX-R600, just 0.327 secs. behind while Bodhi Edie of Warman, SK finished fourth on his Edie Racing / Acceleration Racing / Honda Canada Honda CBR600RR, 0.424 secs. back after another dramatic race at the front.
Christie came into the race needing a podium finish to guarantee him his first career national Pro title but he ended up spending most of the race in the lead, staying in front for 11 of 14 laps.
"I felt like I had a good pace," said Christie, who grabbed the lead from Welsh on lap two and threatened to break away on his own. "I knew there were a couple of points up for grabs for leading the most laps, and I was trying for the win, but I didn't want to do anything too risky in the last few corners. We've worked too hard all season."
Christie managed to open a lead of almost a second early on as he strung together laps in the mid 1:24 range but was reeled back in by his pursuers after Welsh established himself in second place. The Suzuki rider put together a spectacular final lap after dropping to third place, passing Trombino before getting Christie in turn eight and setting the race's fastest lap at 1:23.837.
"That's one of the best races I've ever been in," Welsh said after his third win of the year. "Yesterday I was getting pretty good drives out of Moss's [leading onto the backstraight] but today it seemed like the other guys were right there. But I knew I was pretty strong into eight and I got a good drive on the last lap."
Christie ended the season with 327 points to the 316 of Welsh.
Trombino had run as high as second and was particularly impressive into turn 10, making a couple of bold moves down the inside. His podium finish tied Trombino with Edie in the final class standings, although the Suzuki rider got the higher position thanks to his two race wins.
"Jodi, Alex and Bodhi are smaller and lighter than me, and they made it hard for me on the backstraight," Trombino admitted. "But my Suzuki was great for me in Moss Corner."
Edie had been a victim of Trombino's in turn 10, losing third place there on lap 12.
"Frank was really strong on the brakes," Edie said. "I tried to get back by him but just couldn't do it."
The Saskatchewan rider was named Pro Rookie of the Year, however, for his fine freshman campaign.
Kenny Riedmann had been part of the lead scrap most of the way on his Riedmann Racing / Sturgess Cycle / Pro 6 Triumph 675 but lost touch in the final couple of laps and settled for fifth at the finish.
Race Results
1. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 14 laps in 19:46.713
2. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) +0.154 secs.
3. Frank Trombino, Woodbridge, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) +0.327
4. Bodhi Edie, Warman, SK (Honda CBR600RR) +0.424
5. Kenny Reidman, Belfountain, ON (Triumph 675) +1.737
6. Jim Proulx, Ottawa, ON (Buell 1125R) +46.774
7. Sylvain Dery, St-Colomban, QC (Yamaha YZF-R6) +47.158
8. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) +1 Lap
Did Not Finish
Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 4 Laps
Did Not Start
Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC (Honda CBR600RR) No Time
Fastest Lap: 1:23.837 by Alex Welsh on lap 14
Point Standings
1. Jodi Christie, 327
2. Alex Welsh, 316
3. Frank Trombino, 234
4. Bodhi Edie, 234
5. Sylvain Dery, 186
6. Raphael Archambault, 182
7. Marie-Josee Boucher, 105
8. Jeremie Hade Precourt, 101
9. Kenny Riedmann, 93
10. Sean Huffman, 90
11. Andrew Nelson, 76
12. Jim Proulx, 50
13. Zenon Nelson, 44
14. Joey McRae, 40
14. Darren James, 40
14. Martin Grande, 40
17. Vicki Schouten, 36
18. Jean Francois Cyr, 34
19. Ron Munroe, 27
BOWMANVILLE, ON – Alex Welsh of Uxbridge, ON completed a sweep of this weekend’s Pirelli Pro Sport Bike races at Mosport International Raceway but Jodi Christie clinched the title with a second place finish on Sunday.
Riding the Z1 CycleTech / Kenwood Suzuki GSX-R600 Welsh passed Christie's Jodi Christie Racing / Cameron Cycle / Blue Streak Racing Honda CBR600RR at the end of the backstraight on the final lap and held off the Keene, ON rider by 0.154 secs. at the line for Sunday's race win.
Woodbridge, ON’s Frank Trombino placed third on the Suzuki Canada / Hindle / Sturgess Cycle Suzuki GSX-R600, just 0.327 secs. behind while Bodhi Edie of Warman, SK finished fourth on his Edie Racing / Acceleration Racing / Honda Canada Honda CBR600RR, 0.424 secs. back after another dramatic race at the front.
Christie came into the race needing a podium finish to guarantee him his first career national Pro title but he ended up spending most of the race in the lead, staying in front for 11 of 14 laps.
"I felt like I had a good pace," said Christie, who grabbed the lead from Welsh on lap two and threatened to break away on his own. "I knew there were a couple of points up for grabs for leading the most laps, and I was trying for the win, but I didn't want to do anything too risky in the last few corners. We've worked too hard all season."
Christie managed to open a lead of almost a second early on as he strung together laps in the mid 1:24 range but was reeled back in by his pursuers after Welsh established himself in second place. The Suzuki rider put together a spectacular final lap after dropping to third place, passing Trombino before getting Christie in turn eight and setting the race's fastest lap at 1:23.837.
"That's one of the best races I've ever been in," Welsh said after his third win of the year. "Yesterday I was getting pretty good drives out of Moss's [leading onto the backstraight] but today it seemed like the other guys were right there. But I knew I was pretty strong into eight and I got a good drive on the last lap."
Christie ended the season with 327 points to the 316 of Welsh.
Trombino had run as high as second and was particularly impressive into turn 10, making a couple of bold moves down the inside. His podium finish tied Trombino with Edie in the final class standings, although the Suzuki rider got the higher position thanks to his two race wins.
"Jodi, Alex and Bodhi are smaller and lighter than me, and they made it hard for me on the backstraight," Trombino admitted. "But my Suzuki was great for me in Moss Corner."
Edie had been a victim of Trombino's in turn 10, losing third place there on lap 12.
"Frank was really strong on the brakes," Edie said. "I tried to get back by him but just couldn't do it."
The Saskatchewan rider was named Pro Rookie of the Year, however, for his fine freshman campaign.
Kenny Riedmann had been part of the lead scrap most of the way on his Riedmann Racing / Sturgess Cycle / Pro 6 Triumph 675 but lost touch in the final couple of laps and settled for fifth at the finish.
Race Results
1. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 14 laps in 19:46.713
2. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) +0.154 secs.
3. Frank Trombino, Woodbridge, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) +0.327
4. Bodhi Edie, Warman, SK (Honda CBR600RR) +0.424
5. Kenny Reidman, Belfountain, ON (Triumph 675) +1.737
6. Jim Proulx, Ottawa, ON (Buell 1125R) +46.774
7. Sylvain Dery, St-Colomban, QC (Yamaha YZF-R6) +47.158
8. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) +1 Lap
Did Not Finish
Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 4 Laps
Did Not Start
Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC (Honda CBR600RR) No Time
Fastest Lap: 1:23.837 by Alex Welsh on lap 14
Point Standings
1. Jodi Christie, 327
2. Alex Welsh, 316
3. Frank Trombino, 234
4. Bodhi Edie, 234
5. Sylvain Dery, 186
6. Raphael Archambault, 182
7. Marie-Josee Boucher, 105
8. Jeremie Hade Precourt, 101
9. Kenny Riedmann, 93
10. Sean Huffman, 90
11. Andrew Nelson, 76
12. Jim Proulx, 50
13. Zenon Nelson, 44
14. Joey McRae, 40
14. Darren James, 40
14. Martin Grande, 40
17. Vicki Schouten, 36
18. Jean Francois Cyr, 34
19. Ron Munroe, 27
