2024 Canadian Superbike Championship Round 1 Results

Cycle News Staff | May 21, 2024

The opening round of the 2024 Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) took place at Shannonville Motorsport Park in Ontario from May 18 to 19, where defending champion Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW’s Ben Young outdueled rivals Sam Guerin and Jordan Szoke for the win on Saturday.

Ben Young 2024 Rnd 1 CSBK Championship — **The CSBK Championship got underway with Ben Young winning both legs. Photo: Rob O’Brien/CSBK**

Young began the day with a stellar victory in the Economy Lube Pro Sport Bike class, returning to his familiar ranks in the GP Bikes Pro Superbike category with a chance to become the first double-winner in the same season since Jodi Christie in 2014.

Instead, Young’s title defense got off to a brutal start, as Szoke grabbed the holeshot with Guerin promptly moving into second. Things would get even worse for Young before they got better, as Trevor Dion shunted the three-time Canada Cup champion into fourth on lap two while Szoke and Guerin escaped out front.

The lead duo would begin to stretch out their advantage before Guerin moved into the lead on lap three, seizing the front in turn eight as he continued his quest for a maiden pro national victory.

Young’s comeback would then begin on lap four, moving back past Dion and on the hunt for Szoke, who in return had continued to battle with Guerin. That would set up a hectic three-way fight for the lead on lap six, which waged on for two laps before Young moved through on his long-time rival Szoke on lap eight.

That would set up the final, decisive battle between Guerin and Young for the middle portion of the race, but Guerin’s impressive defensive effort ultimately caved on lap 13 as Young snatched the lead for the first time and squeezed out a slight advantage, holding firm the rest of the way for the season-opening victory.

Young had it much easier Sunday when he cruised to a comfortable victory over Guerin and Szoke. Young secured a 17-second-gap win over Guerin, the third-largest margin of victory in CSBK Pro Superbike history.

“The BMW was unreal as always today, and really awesome all weekend,” Young said, a stark comparison to the 2023 opener when a fairing issue left him sixth in race two. “It’s a bit of redemption for a year ago, so it’s nice to reward the team for all their hard work and add another win here for the fans.” CN