Motourage

Parts Canada has announced its support of Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Teams’ Alex Welsh and Kawasaki-sponsored rider Vicki Schouten for the upcoming 2010 season of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

Competition Systems Kawasaki’s Alex Welsh

Welsh, a promising talent in Canadian road racing, is not unfamiliar with taking the podium after receiving the 2008 HJC Pro Rookie of the Year award and having several top-three finishes in 2009 in the Superbike and Pro Sport Bike classes.

Riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, Welsh will be a tough competition in Canadian Superbike racing in 2010, and Parts Canada is proud to be involved with such a talented force.  CEO of Parts Canada, James Danyluk, offered, “Alex has shown great talent and exemplary sportsmanship in previous years, and we’re happy to be supporting his efforts this season.”

Kawasaki rider Vicki Schouten

Vicki Schouten, in addition to receiving the #1 plate on the Women’s Cup Challenge in 2009, raced to a respectful third place finish in the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike Championship.  Although she has only four seasons of road racing behind her, Schoutten has proven herself to be a serious competitor on the bike and an excellent role model off the track. She brings tremendous spirit and professionalism to the sport and Parts Canada is excited to be part of her 2010 season of the Pro Sport Bike and Superbike National Championships.

The Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Team has announced that Alex Welsh of Uxbridge, Ontario will pilot its Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R in the 2010 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

Primary sponsors of the team will be Canadian Kawasaki Motors and Parts Canada.

“Kawasaki has a long and successful history of racing in Canada and the team is thrilled that they have entrusted us to carry on that tradition,” said team owner Mike Crompton. “We are also very pleased to have Parts Canada on board. They have put so much into this series and sport that we all enjoy. Their support will be a great asset to our team.”

The 21-year-old Welsh is one of the hottest new talents in Canadian motorcycle road racing. He was the 2008 HJC Pro Rookie of the Year in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship and last summer joined the Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory team.

Despite missing one race due to injury, he finished seventh in the Superbike class on a Ninja ZX-10R with a top finish of third at Mosport International Raceway. He placed fourth in the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike standings with four podium results to his credit, including a runner-up finish at Mosport, riding Kawasaki’s ZX-6R Ninja.

“Alex showed great promise and team spirit in 2009,” Crompton added. “All the crew is looking forward to concentrating its efforts with him and look forward to a successful 2010 season.”

The crew will consist of Harald Surian, a multi-time championship-winning tuner, who will look after trackside set-up and suspension. Richard Winter, whose immaculate Ninja ZX-6R Sport Bikes have won the past four Canadian national titles, will be the in-house builder and tuner. Crompton will handle engines and logistics. He has some 40 years of experience in the Canadian motorcycle industry, supplying engines and race equipment to some of the country’s leading competitors.

For the past several years, Canadian Kawasaki Motors has run its national road race program in-house. Last summer the squad claimed its fourth straight titles in the Parts Canada Superbike and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike divisions. Crompton had been the crew chief for the Kawasaki program through its run of success.

“Work has begun in preparation for the new season and we will be ready for testing soon,” he added.

The 2010 Parts Canada Superbike Championship opens May 28-30 at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec