Making history and breaking records is turning into an annual occurrence for AJ Van Winkle.
The 17-year-old sport bike racer earned himself another spot in the history books taking victory at the R.A.D. Torque Raceway in Edmonton, AB, last weekend (June 21-23).
The Chilliwack product made his debut in the Sport Bike class in what was the third round of this year’s Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship. Having made the step-up from the Pro-Twins class, the young rider was seen as an underdog heading into the weekend.
It was the first time Van Winkle had ever raced his Suzuki GSXR600 sport bike, and also his first time at the Edmonton-based racetrack. He quickly acclimated to the new environment though, streaking his way to a fifth place finish in the weekend’s opening practice session on a bike that boasts 15 less horsepower than others in the class.
He carried that form over, qualifying in the top three in his first ever Sport Bike qualifying session – just four tenths off the pace of front row qualifier Elliot Vieira – before finishing fifth in his first race to secure his first haul of championship points.
Unlike the upper Superbike class, the Sport Bike races run their second race using the same qualifying order from the first. Van Winkle once again started from the second row of the grid for the Sunday race, before finding his way into the lead and never looking back.
Van Winkle took victory in the 18-lap race by a margin of four seconds to cement himself in the history books as the youngest ever rider to win a Sport Bike race. The win also makes him one of only two drivers in the history of the class to win in just their second race.
“Last year’s experience riding in a professional class for the first time taught me a lot and that things on track can change quite quickly,” said Van Winkle following his race-win. “So I just came into this race ready to do my best, to keep pushing myself and to be grateful for this incredible opportunity.”
Van Winkle made his professional debut last year competing in the Pro-Twins class where he went on to claim the title, making him the youngest ever champion in the history of Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship. He admitted he entered the this year's series with tempered expectations following the big step-up, but vowed to enter every race with same level of enthusiasm that he always has.
The impressive start to his professional career comes just three years after being the youngest ever racer to obtain a racing licence from the Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club, before earning his expert-level racing licence just a year later.
With the win, Van Winkle collected a total of 38 points on the weekend to find himself eighth in the championship standings and the 17-year-old is already focused on the next round.
“I’m pumped,” said Van Winkle. “Every time I get on track with these other great riders, I learn and grow and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings.”
The series now heads to the East Coast with round four of the championship set to take place at the Atlantic Motorsport park in Mill Village, NS, from July 12-14.
