Michael Taylor won again on Saturday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the opening, invitational weekend of the brand new Kawasaki Ninja 300 Spec series, after a fierce race-long battle for the podium.
“I missed racing last year, and I really love riding here,” said two-time Canadian Superbike champion Taylor of the famed G.P. circuit. “It’s such a technical track.”
Canadian and U.S. Flat Track sensation, and X-Games competitor Doug “Fresh” Lawrence crossed the finish line inches behind for second during his first roadracing event.
“This is my very first time on a roadrace bike,” commented Lawrence on the podium. “I had no idea where the flags were or what lap it was. It’s pretty much the same as mile racing. You use the same strategy. You’re probably not going to break away in the lead. You just drag your eyes across to where you want to be, whether or not you’re going to be there, and use drafting.”
Long time employee of Kawasaki US, Adam Faussett, completed the podium in third.
“I’ve never been here before. I heard about this series six months ago, and when I was invited, I was really happy,” said Faussett, who actually started a U.S. West Coast Ninja 250 Championship five years ago. “The race was incredible. We were changing positions every single corner. But with the caliber or racers we had, you knew that nothing too crazy was going to happen.”
Also challenging for the lead throughout the 10 lap race were former 250 G.P. competitor Adam Roberts - who led much of the race, as well as media racers Pascal Bastien and Costa Mouzouris, with the gap from Taylor at the line only .252-seconds over the entire top six.
Roberts, who is the Social Media director for the Mopar CSBK series, started from pole after setting the fastest time in Saturday morning’s sole, hectic qualifying session.
Race two in the Kawasaki Ninja 300 Invitational weekend is set for Sunday afternoon, using the same starting grid as Saturday’s ten lap Feature.
