Super Series Grand Finale, A Thrilling Championship Weekend
Shannonville, ON, September 12, 2022 – The 2022 Super Series season concluded this past September 10–11 weekend, culminating the first full season since 2019. Over the course of the year, over 150 riders came out to test themselves against some of the best Pro and Amateur riders in Canada.
With a different track layout featured during every championship weekend, this final event had to be on the favourite of most, the Pro Track. The 2.47 km circuit allows for fast laps, and with the diversity of riders’ experience, motorcycle make, model and age, everyone got a chance to showcase their talent. This grand finale weekend was adrenaline-charged and did not disappoint the crowd.
The Pro-Am Sportbike feature race was the first to see the green flag. Point leaders Drew Weber and Jordan Decarie needed to keep their focus and complete the race in order to maximize their championship points. Off the start, Alex Coelho rocketed to the front ahead of Weber who tucked in behind and played it safe. Over in the AM category, Decarie launched off after Weber leaving the rest of the AM field jockeying it out behind him. When the checkered flag waived, Coelho and Decarie held on for the victories in Pro and AM respectively. Weber and Jose Azevedo completed the Pro podium, while Eric Quintin and Wes Barnes rounded out AM.
Next up was Lightweight Sportsman, where fans enjoyed episode number one of the Hidvegi vs. Nesbitt duel. Istvan Hidvegi had a phenomenal season thus far in 2022 and looked to cap it off with another victory, while VRRA and Super Series veteran Grant Nesbitt wanted to make the most of his first Super Series start of 2022. The skilled riders swapped positions back and forth, but when the checkered flag flew Hidvegi held off Nesbitt for the win. Jean-François Cloutier, who also joined the Super Series for the first time this season, finished third in class.
Despite a series of mechanical issues preventing him from collecting any points in Novice class since July, Ryan Dunwoodie got back into the winner’s circle in dominating fashion. Season rival Alexis Beaudoin followed just 0.043 seconds behind, while in third place was Kevin St-Germain who scored his first podium.
Weber claimed the win in Heavyweight Sportsman with Wes Barnes in second. The third place was grabbed by the Monctonian Vincent Wilson during his first appearance at a Super Series event.
The Lightweight Superbike race featured the second episode duel between Hidvegi and Nesbitt, won by Istvan Hidvegi and this time by a fair distance. David Buckland arrived third followed by Neil Stanavech.
Elie Daccache continued a dominating season with a victory in Pro Superbike, with Coelho and Eros Mukja on the podium with him, respectively in second and third. Matt Vanderhorst held off Jack Newman and Jordan Decarie to take the victory in AM Superbike.
Nesbitt finally picked up win number one of the weekend in Lightweight Production in a tense battle with Eric Quintin. The two fought hard trading the lead multiple times. However, Nesbitt came out on top with Cloutier finishing the podium.
The day ended with Daccache claiming Sprint Cup, ahead of Coelho and Vanderhorst.
On the final race day of the 2022 campaign, the looming threat of weather caused the races to be shortened from twelve to eight minutes to hopefully run every race in the dry. This small change to the schedule resulted in a fantastic afternoon filled with the best racing battles of the season.
The Pro-AM Sportbike final race picked up right where it left off with Coelho and Decarie claiming the wins in dominating fashion. Weber and Azevedo completed the Pro podium, while Rob Massicotte and Quintin completed the AM podium.
Nesbitt grabbed his first win of the day in Lightweight Sportsman, holding off Cloutier and Buckland in a fantastic performance. Wilson was hoping to become the first Atlantic Canadian winner in the Super Series this season by holding off Beaudoin until the Quebec rider sailed to the inside in corner 2 taking the lead away and stealing the win, his fourth of the season. Wilson and Dunwoodie rounded out the Novice class podium.
Weber claimed the win in Heavyweight Sportsman replicating the podium finish from the previous day with Barnes and Wilson. In Lightweight Superbike, Nesbitt got to the checkered first, followed by Cloutier and Buckland.
Daccache, Coelho and Mukja repeated their performance of Saturday on the Pro Superbike podium while Jack Newman took the win in AM Superbike in front of Vanderhorst and Decarie.
Nesbitt capped off his day with a third and final win in Lightweight Production and this time Cloutier was second and Quintin in third. The final checkered flag of the season was given to Daccache in the Sprint Cup final with a margin of victory of 22.606 seconds over Newman. Mukja completed this final podium.
All race results can be found on the Super Series website.
The 2022 Super Series Champions will be crowned during the first Year-end Celebration since 2019. The even will be held in October in the new Shannonville Event Centre.
As the Super Series concludes its 2022 racing campaign, we would like to thank all series officials, Shannonville staff, volunteers, CRCA marshals, STAT MEDIC, BRS Suspension, Kennedy Motorsports and Inside Motorcycles for their contribution to our season.
A special thanks to all the spectators and social media fans that support and inspire us to deliver a great show. We are looking forward to coming back in 2023 with another action-packed racing season!
Photography by Alexandre Brisson
Alex Gallacher, Super Series Communications