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RACE Superseries 2003 Round 1: The McBride Cycle/Kawasaki Season Opener McBride Magnificent! By F.C. WOOD SHANNONVILLE, ON, CANADA, MAY 3-4 Matthew McBride enjoyed a weekend that seemed composed by a friendly scriptwriter. McBride, in his debut ride on the McBride Cycle Riders Club/Canadian Kawasaki-sponsored ZX600RR, scored a thrilling win in the Open Pro class, notching his first win as a Pro. McBride backed up that personal best with a third-place finish in the 600cc Pro final, and then, as icing on the cake, he went to the podium once more in the premier class, taking second in the Dunlop Tires/Pro 6 Cycle Pro Formula final. "This was great," the Mississauga, Ontario, teenager beamed as he tried to stop smiling. "The new Kawasaki is awesome, and I feel really comfortable on it. I'm really happy for the team, and my dad· oh, yeah, and the tires, the Pirellis, worked awesome. It McBride and Andrew Nelson battled for the lead early in the 600cc Pro race. Nelson, on the Z 1 Cycle Tech Honda CBR600R, was joined by factory Yamaha rider J.F. Cyr in his harassment of McBride, and the three stars staged a back-and-forth duel for five frantic laps. As the race wore on, an inspired Joel McDonald, on the Brooklyn Cycle/Cycle World Yamaha R6, suddenly joined the fray, and it became a four-way fistfight for first. McDonald was brilliant in his aggressive drive to the front, taking the lead over McBride with a pass that had the crowd gasping. It was McDonald's first Pro win, and he was overjoyed. "I don't know what to think," McDonald admitted. "I'm real happy, obviously, but I have two more races to run, and I'd like to win another one. This was fun." McDonald was followed home by Cyr in second and McBride in third. In the Open Pro final, Yamaha-mounted McDonald tried to repeat his heroics from the 600cc race, as he once again came from behind to challenge for the lead. Fast starters Nelson and Cyr ran as one for the first three laps, with McBride taking notes in third place. On lap four, McBride had his hands full with a charging McDonald, and their increased pace brought both riders up close to Nelson. Lap five found McDonald at trackside, the victim of a vicious highside; the crash also affected Nelson, who was passed by McBride and Frank Trombino, on the Brooklynn Cycle Yamaha. McBride reeled in Cyr on the last lap, taking the victory in front of an enthusiastic and partisan audience. The Pro Formula final again found McBride running up front, but the youngster had some lessons to learn from a Pro 250cc rider with much experience. Last year's Can-Am Chal- In the Pro 125cc GP, Carrera Leatherssponsored Corey Sherman sprinted to a close win over John Dempsey after a race-long fight. Christian Rose finished third. In the Motorsport Plus Canadian Thunder class, Ducati-mounted Robert Trottier diced with the Buell-mounted duo of Darren James and Jesse Lauder. James was the victor, with Trottier second and Lauder third. Suzuki-mounted Derek Bowker won the Amateur Formula race. Diablo Suzuki rider Yannick Beauregard finished second, and lenge 125cc champion, 'Stuart Nodell, on the Canada Post/Honda RS250, made short work of McBride and the rest of the Pros; once free from the close running of the early laps, he took a dominant win. Trombino raced side by side with McBride as the two fought for second. Incredibly, McDonald had patched up his bike and was yet again in the heroic mode. After a couple of close calls as he closed on the McBride-Trombino duel, McDonald wisely backed off and settled for fourth. Trombino settled for third, and McBride took second. Shannonville: Matthew McBride takes the checkered flag in the Open Pro class at the opening round of the RACE Superseries in Shannonville, Ontario, Canada. eye I e n e vv s JUNE 11, 2003 71