The fourth round of the 2011 Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK), held at Saint-Eustache, ended with Raphael Archambault taking fifth place in the Pirelli Pro Sport Bike category. The young rider holds the same rank in the championship’s standings.
The result however, explained only half of Raphael’s smile after the weekend’s race. For the first time since he started his professional career, he fought hard with an established veteran, Jean-François Cyr, rather than picking up the leftovers. “The race was just too short for me to pass him’’, said Raphael. “Plus it is so narrow, the occasions to overtake are rare’’, he added.
That explains why Raphael’s only passing manoeuvre happened at the start. From sixth on the grid, he took Jeremie Hade Precourt’s fifth place. Then, rookie started reeling the veteran in. The race ended and because Cyr and Raphael’s laptimes were almost identical, the lead was almost intact.
When competition is so fierce, the difference between two riders often boils down to details. Practice makes perfect they say. This weekend, chasing down those details, Raphael spent nearly four hours on track, edging ever closer to the front of the pack. ‘Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best’ sums up Raphael’s approach of the learning process. “I took time to do a full race simulation during Sunday morning’s free practice’’, he emphasized. “I do everything I can to be fast, then relax.’’
Relaxing, Raphael won’t be now. The task ahead is round 5 of the 2011 CSBK. A long journey to the track awaits Raphael and his team, since the race is held in Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Motorsport Park, near Shubenacadie, August 5-7.
Raphael’s racing is made possible thanks to Suzuki Canada, Parts Canada, Alpinestars, Elka Suspension, Hinson Racing, HJC, Hotbodies Racing, Accelerated Technologies, K&N Filters, Motorex, Picotte Motosport, Town & Country Céramiques et Pierres, Vortex and Yoshimura.
For more, visit www.csbk.ca.