We direct some love to Canada’s very dedicated motorcycle drag racing scene – acknowledging some series and track champions from 2020…

Toth Echelon!  — Medicine Hat-based Toth Racing — arguably Western Canada’s “first family” for motorcycle drag racing — enjoyed another superb season during 2020.  Led by team patriarch Dave Toth (who is also the President of the MHDRA) – the team collected two major Canadian titles last summer.  Dave (bottom photo above) drove his 1989 Kawasaki Ninja ZX10 1500 cc to a Bike/Sled track championship at the Medicine Hat Drag Strip — the 4th time in his career.  For 2020, Dave notched three wins and one runner-up over that 7 points days season.  Dave’s two racing sons (Riley and Zack) added to team accolades by finishing 1-2 in the final CMDRA Super Bike points standings for 2020. Riley* (top photo) was the Champion aboard a 2000 Kawasaki ZX-11 1500cc — claiming that title for the 4X in his career.

(*Riley’s drag racing history previously includes winning the overall NHRA Summit Racing National Championship for ET Racing – back in 2017!  — Link to that post: HERE)

“Money Maker” Cashes In — London Ontario’s Brandon Satchell finished on top for RCSS Bike/Sled season racing at Cayuga Dragway – Toronto Motorsports Park.  Brandon was racing a 1979 Suzuki GS1000 “Money Maker” which he first acquired back in 2015.  That machine features a 1238cc engine built by Jeremey VanBastalaar, and a chassis originally back-halved by Brad Prong.  Using a shift by button/no auto-shift and digital delay box, Brandon was a picture of consistency while running regularly in the 8.90-9.00 secs target zone at 140 mph.  Brandon won 2X during TMP’s RCSS season chase but also had two event wins in competition at Grand Bend Motorplex.  Previously in his racing career Brandon was credited as the OSCA Extreme Bike Champion in both 2016 and 2017.

C.H.U. Headhunters — Nick Kempers and Landon Swain were the top newsmakers within the motorcycle drag racing arm of Eastern Canada’s Canada Heads Up series – held at St. Thomas Dragway. Kempers (top photo) raced his 2014 model stock wheelbase and stock height Kawasaki ZX14 to the 2020 season title for Street Bikes. Kempers, from Orangeville Ontario, was a high qualifier at all events he attended and scored one season win to take the very competitive title by a hard fought one round win margin. Nick’s quick orange and black entry – which weighs 545 lbs, has personal best runs of 8.73 secs and 177 mph.  Landon Swain was the season winner for the CHU’s Extreme 8.80 class category – qualifying #1 at two races and then posting one event win and one runner-up finish.  Swain’s bike (from Port Stanley) is a 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000- with a stock bore.  This Suzuki is equipped with a nitrous oxide kit which when used provides a strategic additional 50 HP shot.

Some Grand Captures — Mike Maurina enjoyed a very rewarding season at Grand Bend Motorplex during 2020.  Not only did he race to the top in final points for the track’s Bike/Sled class championship — he was also winner for the Ontario Bracket Team Finals – to claim a second Championship jacket!  Mike races a first generation Kawasaki ZX14 which features a 1352 CC  motor.  Mike’s titles came over what arguably was the most competitive season ever for Bike/Sled class racing at Grand Bend Motorplex.  With COVID keeping competitors much closer to home then usual — a typical GBM Thunder Series event averaged some 40-50 entries per event — pretty much all season.