Riders such as Dani Pedrosa of MotoGP started their career racing supermoto, and continue to tune their skills riding supermoto in the off-season. High-profile riders such as Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi help validate the reality that skills developed in supermoto are directly related to flat track and road racing success; however, this is not enough to help promote a club like Supermoto Ontario, of which I am the president. In fact, many sport bike riders probably had no idea they could improve their performance by riding supermoto.
You may be hearing about supermoto in Ontario now because there is a club, Supermoto Ontario, promoting the sport we love. Supermoto Ontario is a non-profit club that is helping to promote supermoto racing in Eastern Canada. Other organizations such as Flat Track Canada, RACE, SCORRA, OFTR and SOAR can appreciate the time commitment to get your organization known publicly. Success is based on enthusiasts being involved and reaching out to others for assistance.
Supporters like the North American International Motorcycle Show, Inside Motorcycles and sponsors make it happen. We have been fortunate enough to have sponsors approaching us to team up for successful alliances. EconoPrint, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Toronto Motorsports Park, Mission Cycle, NineOneNine Graphics, Mallette/McLennan Insurance, Lang’s Off-Road and Warp 9 wheels have been behind us, making it possible to have track events. Alliances begin with common ground.
Supermoto Québec and Supermoto Ontario work very close with one another, almost like one club. Relationships are incredibly important for any organization to survive. We have recently seen RACE and SOAR combine their resources to ensure optimal success. I can see this trend happening in other motorsports organizations as well. Quad riders were looking for more thrill on pavement and are now included in our series. This is a classic example of motorsports combining for the benefit of both parties.
70 percent pavement and 30 percent dirt has proved to be a formula to even out lap times for riders of varying backgrounds. The motocross guys kill it on the small jumps, the flat track riders smoke most on the long, flat, sweeping dirt corners, and road racers have a knack for going incredibly fast with confidence around the high-speed paved corners. The unique part of Supermoto is the many motorsport disciplines are all combined into one element, including the fun part of backing it a corner.
Supermoto Ontario has 10 events scheduled for the 2015 season including non-competitive lapping days/evenings and a three-race provincial championship (in addition to the six Canadian National events).
Supermoto is easy to get into; bikes are reasonably priced, MX bikes can be converted, flat track bikes only require adding a front brake, race slicks cost half as much as sport bike race tires and can last numerous events (up to the entire season for a novice rider)… so what is stopping you?
You have heard more about Supermoto because it improves rider skill, confidence, and there is a great bunch promoting it.
- By Keith Fowler, Supermoto Ontario President
Supermotoontario@gmail.com
www.supermotoontario.com