Matechuk wins thrilling XR1200 event

By John Hopkins

MIRABEL, QC -- Cody Matechuk held off six-time Canadian Superbike champion Steve Crevier in a thrilling battle for the win in the opening round of the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup at Circuit ICAR on Sunday. The race was part of the first weekend for the Canadian Superbike Championship by Parts Canada.

Matechuk had qualified on pole aboard his Privateers Harley-Davidson-backed entry and at the start of the race the Cochrane, AB teenager bolted into the lead with Crevier and Darren James close behind. Crevier grabbed the top spot on lap 8 of the 14-lap race, only to have Matechuk snatch it back two laps later. While James dropped back from the lead battle, Crevier hung close and at the finish the margin of victory was only 0.168 secs.

"We got in some track time on Thursday and that helped a lot," Matechuk said. "We made a change after qualifying last night and that definitely helped. I knew someone was there with me, I wasn't sure if it was Darren or Steve. It doesn't matter who I'm racing with, I want to go for the win."

Matechuk received the Performance Under Gear Performer of the Race for his winning effort and also set the race's fastest lap, a 1:28.922 on the penultimate tour.

Riding the MotoSport Plus of Kingston-backed entry, Crevier often showed Matechuk a wheel into turn one, and the Maple Ridge, BC racer may have lost his best shot at the win on the last lap, when the leaders encountered a gaggle of slower traffic.

James appeared to lose ground in lapped traffic on lap 11 and finished 7.640 secs. behind the top two on his Ruthless Racing / Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada XR1200. The North Vancouver racer was proudly flying the flag of his hometown Canucks on his transporter as they prepare to play for the Stanley Cup, starting Wednesday.

Fourth spot went to Samuel Proulx of Magog, QC after a quiet run on his Sherbrooke Harley-Davidson-backed machine, and Chris Harmon was fifth from lap two on aboard his XR1200 backed by Vision Harley-Davidson out of Repentigny, QC.

Stacey Nesbitt won a soggy second round of the Honda CBR125R Challenge on Sunday. The 14-year-old St-Lazare, QC rider moved up from fifth on the grid to lead at the end of the opening lap and she stayed in front the rest of the way for her first career series win.

Saturday's race winner Eric Green initially hounded Nesbitt and briefly took the lead on lap eight, only to crash out of the race seconds later.

Seth Van Dongen of Belle River, ON was second, 27.087 secs. behind and Stoney Creek, ON's David MacKay placed third. All three podium finishers enjoyed career high results, and it was MacKay's first ever weekend in the CBR Challenge.

Nesbitt now leads the class standings after two races with 81 points, 12 more than Austin Shaw-O'Leary, who finished second on Saturday but placed sixth on Sunday.

XR1200 Cup Race Results
1. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB, 14 laps in 20:57.538 
2. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC +0.168
3. Darren James, North Vancouver, BC +7.640
4. Samuel Proulx, Magog, QC +52.995
5. Chris Harmon, Bracebridge, ON +1:13.492
6. Olivier Spilborghs, White Rock, BC +1:25.066
7. John Ross MacRae, Calgary, AB +1 Lap
8. Costa Mouzouris, Montreal, QC +1 Lap
9. Lee Kuhn Jr., Hamilton, ON +1 Lap
10. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON +1 Lap
11. Dan Thomson, Carleton Place, ON +1 Lap*
12. Steve Hoffarth, Orangeville, ON +2 Laps
13. Gump Harrison, Ailsa Craig, ON +3 Laps
* -- penalized for jump start
Fastest Lap: 1:28.922 by Cody Matechuk on lap 13
All riders aboard Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycles

XR1200 Cup Point Standings
1. Cody Matechuk, 56 
2. Steve Crevier, 44
3. Darren James, 40
4. Samuel Proulx, 33
5. Chris Harmon, 29
6. Olivier Spilborghs, 27
7. John Ross MacRae, 25
8. Costa Mouzouris, 23
9. Lee Kuhn Jr., 21
10. Elie Daccache, 19
11. Dan Thomson, 17
12. Steve Hoffarth, 15
13. Gump Harrison, 13

Honda CBR125R Challenge Race Results
1. Stacey Nesbitt, St-Lazare, QC 10 laps in 21:42.947 
2. Seth Van Dongen, Belle River, ON, +27.087
3. David MacKay, Stoney Creek, ON, +56.166
4. Scott Lingelbach, Wellesley, ON, +1:01.289
5. Leah Vignale, Kemptville, ON, +1:14.251
6. Austin Shaw-O'Leary, Falmouth, NS, +1:15.651
7. Cedric Martineau, Ste-Catherine, QC, +1 Lap
8. Timothy Kennedy, Richmond Hill, ON, +1 Lap
9. Lauren Hill, Halifax, NS, +1 Lap
10. Sean Smith, Calgary, AB, +1 Lap
11. Matt Chandler, Richmond Hill, ON, +2 Laps
Did Not Finish
Eric Green, Richmond, ON, 7 Laps 
Karolina Pelc, Guelph, ON, 5 Laps 
Sam McManus, Calgary, AB, 2 Laps
Fastest Lap: 2:07.366 by Karolina Pelc on lap 5
All riders on Honda CBR125R motorcycles

Honda CBR125R Challenge Point Standings
1. Stacey Nesbitt, 81
2. Austin Shaw-O'Leary, 69
3. Seth Van Dongen, 65
4. Scott Lingelbach, 64
5. Cedric Martineau, 62
6. David MacKay, 56
7. Leah Vignale, 54
8. Eric Green, 52 
9. Timothy Kennedy, 36
10. Lauren Hill, 36
11. Sean Smith, 36
12. Matt Chandler, 29
13. Sam McManus, 27
14. Karolina Pelc, 21