Following in the footsteps of the Second-Generation middleweight rules update started by the World Sanctioning group FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) in 2022, Bridgestone CSBK National Championship organizers Professional Motor Sports Productions Inc. have confirmed further technical revisions for the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike and Scorpion EXO Amateur Sport Bike middleweight categories.
Starting in September of 2023, the Suzuki GSX-R750 will be added to the approved equipment list, allowing the famed “Gixxer” to participate in both the Pro and Amateur Sport Bike categories. During the off season of 2022-2023, CSBK had adjusted the Sport Bike rules to include Ducati’s 955 v2 model, as well as the 903cc Yamaha family of triples.
“Various racing organizations have been busy updating their rules for one of the world’s staple classes,” explains CSBK Technical Manager Fred Benjamin. “With Suzuki’s GSX-R750 permitted in updated form in other countries, it made sense to head in that direction with CSBK.”
At the U.S. season-opening MotoAmerica Daytona 200 last March, Suzuki’s GSX-R750 contested for the win in an event won by the Ducati Desmo Panigale twin. Following that outcome, Suzuki Canada asked if their most famous sportster, launched in 1985, could be considered for the Sport Bike category in Canada.
Initial Dynojet Dyno testing with a current model Suzuki was organized at official tech supplier Brooklin Cycle Racing in Pickering, ON, confirming that the GSX-R750 could fit into the current rules structure. BCR also operate the Official Series Dynojet rear-wheel dyno used at each event in the CSBK tour to tune and confirm performance of bikes competing in the National Championships in all seven classes.
The GSX-R750 will be required to meet the existing standards for the Sport Bike category, with spec fuel and run on the Official scales and Dynojet Dyno immediate post session and race: 125 horsepower and 350 pounds.
Traditional in-line four-cylinder middleweight Japanese entries won at the opening Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike National at Shannonville Motorsport Park, May 20-21: Connor Campbell for Kawasaki in the rain on Saturday and Brad Macrae in the dry on Sunday aboard a Yamaha.
The sole Scorpion EXO Amateur Sport Bike race at S.M.P. went to Triumph triple equipped teen-ager Maverick Cyr. Macrae set the fastest dry race lap for Pro Sport Bike at 1:08.1, white quickest Amateur lap went to Andrew Cooney at 1:08.4 on a Honda CBR600RR.
The reason for the September homologation of the Suzuki GSX-R750 is to offer the chance for the series to gain data during the final round of 2023 at Shannonville Motorsport Park, September 14-17. As mentioned in the winter approval announcements of other middleweights, CSBK reserve the right to adjust the standards once each newly approved machine begins to participate in the Sport Bike category.
For more information on the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca.
Main picture: Suzuki GSX-R750 mounted Tyler Scott earned third on the grid for MotoAmerica’s 2023 Daytona 200 opener with a strong showing in the Time Attack, but a crash put him out of the main event. Photo credit: Colin Fraser / CSBK.
Source: Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship
