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David McKay closed the RACEMoto Eastern Ontario regional season at Shannonville Motorsport Park by taking the top Pro Superbike prize and the sponsor’s cash reward, capping a busy run of late-season results. The weekend also doubled as a 50th‑anniversary reunion for the track, bringing vintage machines and former champions back to the circuit.
McKay holds off regional champion to take Shannonville win
Riding his AYVA/Snow City Cycle Honda CBR1000RR‑R SP on Bridgestone national‑spec rubber, David McKay left Shannonville with the event’s top Pro Superbike payout — a $2,500 cheque from Economy Lube plus Tire. McKay entered the weekend fresh from a finale win in the SOAR Regional Series at Grand Bend and as a front‑runner on the Pro Superbike national tour.
Friday testing was eventful. McKay slid off at Turn 1 in the morning; his bike vaulted a tyre barrier but suffered only minor damage. Rival Eli Daccache, who had already clinched the Eastern Regional title on his Pirelli‑backed Milwaukee Yamaha YZF‑R1, also crashed later that day. His Yamaha sustained airbox damage that allowed debris into the engine, forcing a late‑night rebuild with help from fellow competitors and a Yamaha Canada representative.
On Saturday’s Heat race McKay and Daccache traded scraps early before McKay opened a gap and took the win by about four seconds. In Sunday’s 14‑lap Feature McKay launched cleanly and pulled clear of the field. Daccache finished second, roughly seven seconds adrift. Rookie Carter Matson rounded out the podium in third, with veteran Francis Martin fourth and Matt Van Der Horst fifth. The highest‑placed Supersport entry was Matt Simpson on his Blackstock Suzuki in sixth.
McKay posted a fastest lap near 1:05.4 on the cool track, while Matson and Martin ran laps in the low 1:07s. McKay described the victory as a satisfying end to a hectic stretch of races and welcomed the sponsor’s support.
A 50‑year reunion of riders, machines and memories
The weekend at Shannonville served as a formal commemoration of the circuit’s origins as Nelson International Raceway, which staged its first events on Oct. 10, 1976, on a seven‑turn layout. Organizers staged a Saturday evening cookout and a live‑stream interview, and the paddock featured many classic bikes and well‑known competitors from the track’s five decades.
Among the vintage entries was three‑time Canadian Superbike champion Francis Martin, who came out of retirement to ride a Coors Light liveried, first‑generation Suzuki GSX‑R1000 — the same model he campaigned at Shannonville 25 years earlier. Builder Scott Miller had reclaimed the machine recently; modern 17‑inch wheels and current Bridgestone slicks were the main updates. Six‑time Canadian Pro SBK number one Steve Crevier and David Percival also appeared on historic Yamaha FZR750RR 0W01 machines during the demonstrations.
Support classes: tight battles and familiar names
- Sprint Cup: Eli Daccache dominated, finishing about 22 seconds ahead of Carter Matson; Matt Simpson was third.
- Pro 600 Supersport: Drew Weber took the win on a Yamaha, with Eric Quintin second and Martin Perreault third.
- OPP Racing Pro Supersport (Heavyweight): Matt Simpson won on a Blackstock Suzuki GSX‑R750, followed by Marco Sousa and Marissa Kasnya.
- Middleweight: Justin Marshall edged Hans Van Sleuwen by 0.3 seconds; Stefan Tanasic finished third.
- Lightweight: Benjamin Hardwick won on a KTM Supermoto, with Stefan Tanasic second and Jager Stockill third.
- Amateur Superbike: J.S. Lefebvre prevailed narrowly over Glenn Brown; Parker Sabine‑Craig was third.
- Joe Rocket Amateur 600 Supersport: Sarah Wilken won by two seconds from Julien Montpetit and Nolan Eadie.
- Novice class: Kyle Fenn finished first ahead of Jason Jones and Robert Graham.
Other notable results included Ernest Berhard in seventh on his Farnham‑sponsored Yamaha YZF‑R1, who pulled clear of Marco Sousa and occasional starter Drew Weber late in the main race. Overall the weekend mixed competitive regional racing with a strong dose of nostalgia, honoring Shannonville’s five decades of two‑wheel history.
