COELHO SNATCHES 2ND OVERHAUL POINTS STANDING IN HIS PRO ROOKIE DEBUT IN SPORT BIKE
Bowmanville, ON. - August 19-21 was the last rounds of the 2016 Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. After a gruelling season, that had witnessed Alex Coelho; 2015 Shoei Helmets Amateur Sport Bike National Champion; vigorously struggling against his health constraint due to a spinal operation in February, we got to see him not only succeed in placing 3rd on the podium in St-Eustache at Round 2 but finish his first Pro season as a Rookie in 2nd place in the overall standing of the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike class.
"I am very pleased and ecstatic with the final result of my debut with the Pro's. I've been struggling with my health, as most might already know, I had a surgery done to my back but unfortunately, it hasn't healed as I would of hoped. Not to mention, the gnarly crash at St-Eustache in the first race of the Mopar Pro Superbike class, on Saturday.”
The crash left Alex with a tear in his right shoulder’s envelope and his Black Sheep Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-6R in very bad shape, which he was able to rebuilt for the Sunday Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike race, but with two slightly bent forks: 1 with 0.010" and the other 0.015", made his task quite harder to get on the podium.
With solid race results in every round and a consistency, while others fell, Alex was able to snatch 2nd place in the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike class.
"I know I was opportunistic but that is racing. My ability to finish my races and constantly competing and overcome pain, paid off.”
So what's next for you? "For now, I'm looking to do my last race of the year in a Moto America event, down in New Jersey Motorsport Park, in September. If I do retire, I want to make sure I get this experience under my belt"
RETIRE...? When asked if he will return next year: "I don't know yet. My health right now is my main objective. I'm not young and don't recuperate as fast" says Alex with a grin!
"I want to thank all my sponsors, that have backed me up: A.C. Grapiques, Liqui Moly and Jason Balaze, Muay Thai Rive-Sud, MPG and Patrice Goyette, SHOEI helmets and Motovan, Hindle Exhaust and the hole team, ELKA Suspensions, Powdercoat P.B., Carrosserie Longueuil. And the one-woman crew, that everyone envies not having in their pits, Amber my girlfriend for all her support and help. Without her, this year would of been impossible, just like last year !"
"A big thanks to all corner workers, medical staff, CSBK and all fans... A special thanks to Nikolas and the Piras family and to Jim aka Fiero Guy"
Alex also thanks: Kenny Riedmann's team - Scott Cameron and Roland Riedmann; Ben Young's team; Jon Cornwall; Wes of Szoke's Team;Dunlop Tires and Pro-6.
A big congratulations to my good buddy Chris Brent for his SHOEI PREMIUM HELMETS AMATEUR SPORT BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP.
From a press release
