The 2021 Canadian Superbike Championship wrapped up this weekend at Calabogie Motorsports Park with Ben Young claiming 2nd place overall.
Coming into the final two races at Calabogie, expectations were high, and Young knew it wouldn’t be an easy battle - Dumas had won the opening two races at the same venue. Within the second practice, Young had improved his times from the first round, showing his hunger for the weekend.
A shortened race weekend meant Young was on track Friday and Saturday only, leaving very little time to work on the set up of the Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW S1000RR. Despite this, Young took 2nd place on the grid, only 0.171 seconds off pole position. This closeness would give an idea of just how competitive the racing would be, and it didn’t disappoint.
Young charged hard off of the line of race one. He maintained a close second position for the entirety of the race. Due to the high speed at such a technical track, Young couldn’t make any attempts to take first stick, and he crossed the line with a solid 2nd place and a blistering fastest lap of 2:00:836, a time which hasn’t been seen in years at Calabogie.
In race two, Young took the hole-shot heading in to the first corner, but unfortunately, the race was red-flagged on the second lap. The restarted race was shortened to an 8-lap dash in which Young had less success getting off the line. Despite heading into turn 1 in 4th place, Young made it into second position in short order though a second behind Dumas in first. Young again took the fastest lap in his chase of first, but ultimately couldn’t take the lead finishing 2nd again.
“It wasn’t quite the season finish we hoped for, but we knew it wouldn’t be easy. Considering that we took a year out in 2020 due to COVID, having a new bike and dealing with some gremlins, we are delighted with 2nd place in the championship. The team and I worked really hard right to the end, and it just makes us hungrier for next year. ”
Young’s partners for his 2021 CSBK Championship season include; BMW Motorrad Canada, Van Dolder's Home Team, Scot-Build Developments Inc, Parts Canada, HJC Helmets, Alpinestars, Motul, Hindle Exhaust, Barrie Trim and Mouldings, Alpha Racing and Vass Performance Cycle.
To keep up-to-date on Ben Young throughout the year visit; www.BenYoungRacing.com, www.facebook.com/BenYoungRacing and on Twitter and Instagram: @benyoung_86