CSBK Confirm Revised Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike rules, Announce New Pro/AM Class

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Category: CSBK News
Published on Saturday, March 7, 2020 09:28 EST

The Mopar CSBK Canadian National Superbike Championship have confirmed 2020 rules revisions for the popular Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike category, as well as announcing a parallel Pro/AM category celebrating the 40th anniversary of the series at Shannonville Motorsport Park, September 19-20.

Racers involved in Lightweight class racing at 2019 National events were surveyed in the fall of 2019, with almost two thirds of participants responding, allowing an understanding of what rules direction the competitors favored. As well, CSBK staff looked at data collected from both TSN’s Motorcycle Experience Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike races in 2019 and support class activity for similar machines.

In the two-year history of Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike National competition, a range of twin cylinder machines from Kawasaki, Honda’s CBR500R 500cc twin and Yamaha’s R3 have all won races.  Both Championships belong to Yamaha YZF-R3 pilots: teen-aged brothers Jake and Ben Leclair, from Blackstock, ON.

Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike competitors are the most scrutinized racers in the CSBK National tour, with weight, horsepower and other technical checks performed after almost every on-track session.  In 2020, the series will continue to check specs using the official series Dynojet Dyno, provided by Brooklin Cycle Racing.

The major rule adjustments are:

1. For Yamaha 300cc Twins, Kawasaki 250cc and 300cc Twins, and all Honda 250 and 300cc singles:

2. For the Kawasaki 400 Twin, introduced in 2018:

3. For the Honda 500cc Twin:

Click here for the 2020 Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike Rules Package (PDF)

The Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike class will continue to race on spec Dunlop Sportmax Q3 + DOT rubber. A new spec rear will change the racer’s option from the 150/60ZR-17 size to the new 140/70ZR-17 sizing, with a transitional grace period allowed for the opening races at Shannonville.  Tire warmers will once again not be permitted in Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike for 2020.

The new Pro/AM class will offer a more liberal set of standards for a similar range of Lightweight-category machinery, with the option for competitors to apply to use motorcycles not approved for Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike if those machines fit into the competitive model for the class.

As well, Professional level racers will be permitted to join with the Amateurs to compete in the Pro/AM, and competitors can participate in other National classes beyond Pro/AM at Nationals – in Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike activity, racers can only compete in their class during a National weekend, with no “bumping.”  Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike Racers are permitted to participate in Pro/AM during the same National weekend.

Pro/AM races will be held at most National events, with a two race RZ Cup-style shoot out event to determine the class National Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park, September 19-20.  Competitors must place in the top 12 positions at specified Pro/Am races to qualify for the September Shannonville weekend. 

The top ten in points for the similar class at the Shannonville Super-Series will also receive invitations to compete in the two-race September shootout for the title.  The format for this new Championship was developed in support class action at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in August of 2018 and 2019.

The 2020 Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike Championship series will crown a Champion at C.T.M.P. on August 14-16, meaning those AM Lightweight class racers can concentrate on the Pro/AM at Shannonville.  Amateur Superbike and Amateur Sport Bike will also complete their Championship series at C.T.M.P., while Mopar Superbike and Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike will finish their season during the 40th Anniversary event at Shannonville in September.

Details for the Pro/AM required specifications will be confirmed shortly but it is expected that the standards will permit a wider range of equipment:

As well, Pro/Am racers will be permitted to use Dunlop slick tires (KR 448 front and KR 451 rear) and tire warmers; both items not permitted in the Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike category.