Former pro motorcycle racer and industry insider, Ross Millson, has officially confirmed the transfer of ownership for Professional Motor Sports Productions, Inc. (PMP), the operator of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship.
“Negotiations to acquire rights to PMP began in 2022 and finalized prior to the Bridgestone tire test at Jennings in March 2023. With support from my wife, Sabrina, we agreed to continue facilitating and developing racing in Canada. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to develop the national championships, taking advantage of recent growth, particularly on the broadcast television side,” explains Millson.
“I have known Colin Fraser since I started road racing at Shannonville Motorsport Park more than twenty years ago and appreciate the efforts he and his team have made to keep the series alive, especially during recent COVID events. We aim to take things to the next level, with the help of our competitors, stake holders, and dedicated staff.”
Millson’s first duties with the CSBK National series came in 2015, when he organized a program that helped Amateur racers from the east attend the national event in Edmonton, AB, through a transportation service conducted with Brooklin Cycle Racing of Pickering, ON.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced an abbreviated CSBK season in 2020, Millson joined the working event staff as an official member of the national series effort.
“I am happy that we have reached a deal to have Ross continue the development of our CSBK,” Fraser said. “It is a real challenge to run a national championship, and he understands all the elements involved. We have made some big steps recently that I believe we have put CSBK on a solid footing moving forward.”
Professional Motor Sports Productions began in 1994, with the purpose of producing television coverage of the Canadian National Superbike Series, primarily on TSN in Canada (The Sports Network), as well as additional broadcasters such as Speedvision in the United States.
The Canadian motorcycle manufacturer group requested that PMP take over all operations of the national superbike tour in 1996, meaning that PMP has produced the events at-track and for broadcast distribution for the past 27 years.
Until recently, PMP has been run by co-founder Colin Fraser, who has worked with superbikes in Canada since the first race of that class at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in September 1978, then called Mosport International Raceway.
The first official Canadian National Superbike race was in Edmonton in June of 1980 at the long-gone Edmonton International Speedway, and the category has continued at a national level since.
“It is important to me that the history and legacy of the 43 years of the CSBK tour is recognized, supported and ongoing, and Ross is the right person for that challenge,” explains Fraser.
Fraser will continue with the CSBK team as an Executive Producer with the Bridgestone CSBK national championship tour.
CSBK will work to expand Canadian racing nationally, and continue to develop and promote young Canadian talent. With the addition of new series sponsors and the continued support of existing partners, racers and fans can look forward to many more successful seasons on track.
For more information on the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca.
Main picture: Ross Millson (centre) speaking with 14-time CSBK champion Jordan Szoke (left) and tech official Fred Benjamin (right) at Grand Bend Motorplex. Photo credit: Rob O’Brien / CSBK.
Source: Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship
