Shannonville Motorsport Park has served as the principal location for Ontario motorcycle roadracers since it’s opening on Thanksgiving weekend, 1976. During the 1980’s regional events were run by the locally based RACE organization, before new venue ownership took over in the COVID-interrupted early 2020’s.
This weekend’s opening RACE Moto regional round at Shannonville Motorsport Park marks the 49th straight season of regional motorcycle competition at the popular circuit, home to more national-level races than any other Canadian track. S.M.P. is unique in offering four layouts for competition. The event also serves as an unofficial warm-up for the upcoming Bridgestone CSBK National opener at the same venue, May 14-17.
David Grummett competed as an Amateur and a Pro at Shannonville in the 1980’s and ‘90’s and volunteered at the venue for the recent regional action reboot, along with partner Jill and daughter Allison. In late 2024, this trio formed the RACE Moto organization and took over race activities at Shannonville.
“This is our second year with the series,” explained Grummett prior to regional round one at S.M.P. May 8-10. “Our big focus this year is on our final event, September 25-27, that will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of motorcycle racing at Shannonville, or what was then known as Nelson International Raceway.”
Born in Ireland, John Nelson moved to Canada to pursue his motorcycle interests, opening shops and eventually focusing on Honda. In 1974 his family bought the Shannonville property, just east of Belleville, Ontario, on the main Highway 401 trans-Canada artery, and built a small rental go-kart facility.
That tiny venue was updated in late 1976 in preparation for a successful first regional event. Full time regional racing started in 1977, with Shannonville at one point hosting 13 regional events for two different eastern sanctioning bodies.
“Our aim is to grow the series, and last year we were up about ten percent,” continued Grummett, preparing for this weekend’s opener on the perimeter Pro track layout option. “If we can continue in that direction, we can make the series sustainable.”
The recent top gun in regional Shannonville action has been Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike pilot Eli Daccache, who has dominated the premier feature class action this decade at S.M.P. Last season, Daccache won the Lou-Ann Printing Pro Superbike division title with five of a possible ten Saturday/Sunday victories.
Champ Daccache completed last season with a total of 234 points in Superbike, while runner up Michael Leon (Royal Distributing/Pro 6 BMW S1000RR) netted 153 points, with three wins but a couple of crashes and DNS (Did Not Start) results.
The Almaguin Sprint Cup offers competitors on 1000cc Superbikes a second regional class, and Daccache also won that crown with six victories (out of a possible ten) and 228 points, while Leon was second overall at 147 points and two successes.
Top gun in middleweight Supersport class action was Yamaha YZF-R6 mounted national star Matt Simpson taking the crown with 181 points, ahead of Rob Massicotte (Yam R6) with 153 points.
National middleweight ace Alex Michel joined the Supersport series mid-season, winning a race, and battled Simpson to place third in the points; Michel is expected to compete in the Superbike feature category on a Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja this season, starting this weekend.
The 2026 RACE Moto season kicked off with the traditional eastern Canada opener Test Day and School event at S.M.P. last weekend, with cool weather but a good participant turn-out. Expert instructors Michael Leon, Jordan Decarie, Drew Weaver, Kana Matsumoto, and Toni Sharpless collaborating with attendees.
