Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup Enthuses the Shannonville Audience
SHANNONVILLE, Ontario (July 5, 2011) – Shannonville Motorsport Park


Canada Day was marked by qualification rounds of the Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup, as part of the double-header Canadian Superbike Series event hosted in Shannonville, Ontario on July 2.

The qualifiers saw a banged-up Darren James of Ruthless Racing shake off the pain of a late practice session crash on Friday and bravely soldier on, with surprisingly good lap times. As MotoSport Plus of Kingston rider, Steve Crevier, and Privateers Harley-Davidson® of Nova Scotia rider, Cody Matechuk, resumed hostilities, Sherbrooke Harley-Davidson® rider, Samuel Proulx, continued his push to the front of the XR1200® ranks with some impressive lap times, getting the second fastest lap times of the morning session, thus setting the stage for the race battle scheduled in the early afternoon. Going into race one, pole position holder, Steve Crevier, was awarded the Tactical Products of Canada Luminox watch.
As advertised, Round two on Saturday turned out to be a barn-burner, with spectators in the grandstands on the edge of their seats for the entire race. Right off the start, an early four-way battle ensued with Crevier and Matechuk taking the lead in the 16-lap final. The best seat in the house went to Samuel Proulx, who pushed his way into third, ahead of Darren James, who refused to show any signs of letting up. Olivier Spilbourghs, riding for Trev Deeley Motorcycles, got involved in a three-rider battle with Harley-Davidson® de L’Outaouais rider, Elie Daccache, and Vision Harley-Davidson® rider, Chris Harmon. Just behind them, John Ross McRae, riding for the Ruthless Racing Camp, pulled away from Kitchener Harley-Davidson® rider, Steve Hoffarth. Matechuk continued to show Crevier a wheel at every corner, but in the end was unable to make good on his threat to get around and he handed first place to Crevier. This left Matechuk and Crevier leading the series in a points tie. Proulx held his position for third and Darren James earned a hard-fought fourth place finish in the race, as well as the Performance Under Gear “Performance of the Race” Award. 


As soon as the start lights flashed the second half of the double-header weekend at Shannonville Motorsports Park was off to an exciting start with Privateers Harley-Davidson® of Nova Scotia rider, Matechuk, jumping into the early lead of Round three. But hot on his tail was MotoSport Plus of Kingston rider, Crevier. Sherbrooke Harley-Davidson® rider, Proulx, had his hands full as Darren James pushed the young rider through every corner of the tight Shannonville Pro track until technical issues forced James to silence his engine.


When the chequered fabric was aired out at the finish line, it was Steve Crevier with the deciding win in the weekend event. Matechuk chased him all the way to the line for a hard-earned second. Proulx held off the advances of the battling trio behind him to grab his rightful third spot on the podium where he was rewarded for his efforts with the Performance Under Gear “Performance of the Race” Award.


A jubilant Crevier said after the race, “It was a lot of fun. I know a young guy like Cody has a lot of MotoCross experience and he was getting out of the hairpin a lot faster than I was, so I just had to get back around him and do a little blocking so he couldn’t get by me again. I thank Pete Snell for building me a good bike with great brakes and of course, MotoSport Plus of Kingston for making it happen.”


Round four will be held at the Autodrome in Saint-Eustache, Quebec from July 8 to 10. For further information on the series, please refer to www.csbk.ca.

A Busy Grid and an Enthusiastic Audience Are To Be Expected

CONCORD, ONTARIO (April 5, 2011)

Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada is proud to announce a full commitment to running the highly anticipated Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup Series in Canada in 2011. With the potential of veterans such as Steve Crevier participating in the series, the XR1200® Cup Series promises to become a captivating and entertaining show of passion, performance and artistry in racing.
After the recent announcement of the launch of www.csbk.ca, hosted by the newly appointed management company of the Canadian Superbike Championship, Frontline CSBK Inc., Darren James, owner and racer #29 for Ruthless Racing Inc. commented, “To see this XR1200® Series kick off in Canada in 2011 is a dream coming true. I have wanted nothing more than to make sure we start with a full grid, so it’s amazing to see the level of enthusiasm of riders wanting to participate in this new Harley[-Davidson®] Racing series. Who knows, we may have to actually hold qualifiers for the XR1200® Series this time next year! The feedback we have received so far is great. Guys love the fact that they can easily alternate U.S. AMA race dates with our Canadian racing events. I am very grateful for the support that Vance & Hines and Elka Suspension are giving the series. It’s going to be a ton of fun out there!”

Together with the established Floridian Racer #123, Dave Estok, Darren James, Manager of Ruthless Racing Inc., will be competing in two classes this year – the Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup Series and the Pro Sport Bike Class. The two-rider team will be racing on Harley-Davidson® and BuellTM motorcycles, respectively, prepared by Ruthless Racing Inc.
Having won the 1996 Harley-Davidson® 883 World Championship and in the same year the BuellTM Lightning® Championship, Dave Estok brings a wealth of experience, which will prove to be consequential in the upcoming racing season. Dave also has three ASRA Thunder Bike Championships under his belt (2003, 2005 and 2007) and has been participating in the Canadian Superbike Series for the last five years. Most recently, Dave put forth a strong fourth place finish in the Pro Sport Bike Series in 2010.

On the other hand, Darren James has two Canadian National Thunder Bike Championships (2005 and 2006) and a CCS National Thunder Bike Championship in Daytona (2003) under his belt. Teamed up with the renowned Jeremy McWilliams, Darren spent the 2010 season racing for Warr’s Harley-Davidson in the U.K. and participated in the Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Trophy Series in the British Superbike Series. Darren finished fourth overall for the year, while teammate McWillams took the Championship.

Thomas Morin will be returning as Crew Chief of the Ruthless Racing Inc. team, sponsored by Deeley Harley- Davidson® Canada. When asked about the difference in prepping the XR1200® motorcycles for racing verses the BuellTM motorcycles, Thomas noted, “The Harley-Davidson® XR1200® [bikes] are spec bikes so it will really come down to the rider’s skills. Maintaining the motorcycle will be more important than ever! We are looking forward to getting some test days on our bikes soon and getting us and the bikes tuned up and ready to roll out for the first round.”
Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada is now ready to extend high profile, title sponsorship opportunities around the Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup Series in Canada to interested companies.

For further information on sponsorship opportunities or on participating in the Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup Series, please contact Darren James, Manager, Racing Programs, by phone at 604-273-5421 or by e-mail at darrenjames@deeley.com.

About Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada
Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles, Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories, and MotorClothes® apparel, which are provided through a national network of authorized Harley-Davidson® Retailers. Office and distribution warehouse facilities are located in Richmond, British Columbia, and Concord, Ontario.

Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada Media Contact:
Alex Carroni – Public Relations Specialist – (905) 482-4236; email: alexcarroni@deeley.com

Ruthlesss Racing Inc. will ride 2 classes with a 2 man team - excited to be part of the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Class as it appears for the first time in Canada!

Ruthless Racing Inc. is proud to officially announce their continued involvement in the Parts Canada Superbike Series for 2011.  Ruthless Racing Inc. will be running 2 classes this year; the Harley-Davidson XR 1200 Class and the Pro Sport Bike Class.

Darren James, team manager and racer #29 commented, “I am really excited to see this XR1200 Series come to fruition this year in Canada.  It’s the first year this class  runs in the Parts Canada Superbike Series and I have wanted nothing more than to make sure we start with a full grid.  There has been a ton of interest from racers wanting to get on a Harley-Davidson and, come Round 1 at ICAR, I really hope that they all end up on that grid.  A full grid makes for exciting racing and that’s what we want to show the fans. These bikes are all so evenly matched that it really comes down to the rider.  It’s going to be a ton of fun out there!”.

In 2011,Ruthless Racing Inc. will support a 2- rider team consisting of Dave Estok, racer #123 and Darren James, racer #29.  Dave Estok will race on a Ruthless Racing Inc. prepared Buell and Harley-Davidson XR1200.  Estok won the 96’ Harley-Davidson 883 World Championship and in the same year the Buell Lightening Championship. He also has 3 ASRA Thunder Bike Championships under his belt, in 2003, 2005 and 2007.  He has been participating in the Canadian Superbike Series for the last 5 years and put forth a strong 4th place finish in the Pro Sport Bike Series in 2010.

Darren James comes to the grid this year on his Harley-Davidson XR1200 and his Buell, both motorcycles prepared by Ruthless Racing Inc. Darren has to name 2 Canadian National Thunder Bike Championships in 2005 and 2006.  He also won the  CCS National Thunder Bike Championship in Daytona in 2003.  Teamed up with Jeremy McWilliams, Darren spent the 2010 season racing for Warr’s Harley-Davidson in the U.K. and participated in the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Trophy Cup in the British Superbike Series.  Darren finished 4th overall for the year while teammate McWillams took the Championship. 

Thomas Morin will be returning as Crew Chief of the Ruthless Racing Inc. team.  When asked about the difference in prepping the XR1200’s for racing verses the Buells, he noted that “The Harley-Davidson XR1200’s are spec bikes so it will come down to the rider....maintaining the motorcycle will be more important than ever!  It’s down to the nitty -gritty details.We are looking forward to getting some test days on our bikes soon and getting us and the bikes tuned up and ready to roll out for the first round.”

Ruthless Racing Inc. is grateful for the continued support of wonderful sponsors such as  Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, Arai Helmets, Dragon Eyewear, Ogio, Flexi-Glass and Twist Sport Conditioning

For further information about getting involved in the 2011 Harley-Davidson XR1200 Series in Canada, send an email to Darrenjames@deeley.com

Check out more about the team at www.ruthlessracinginc.com