March 15 2016
Toronto, Ontario – Popular Pro racer Bodhi Edie will return to the Canadian National Pro Superbike scene in 2016, supported by Trip-Dub Racing, Z1 Tuning and Yamaha Motor Canada. The 20-year-old from Warman, Sask. will compete in the Feature Mopar Pro Superbike class aboard a new Yamaha YZF-R1. It was recently announced that the National Superbike tour will be televised over seven episodes on TSN in 2016.
“I’m super happy to be part of this new team and to get the chance to pilot the new R1,” explained Edie, who last competed at a National in 2013, the year he earned his first Feature class Superbike success at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario. “Everyone involved is really excited about this opportunity; we know it will be very competitive at the front this season.”
Edie shot to fame as a 14-year-old in the Honda CBR125R spec National Championships, before competing aboard a CBR600RR for a season as an Amateur. In 2012 Edie made his Pro Superbike debut, and had a limited schedule of Nationals in 2013.
“Trip-Dub racing is proud to announce that we have teamed with Z1 Tuning to support Bodhi on the National tour,” confirmed Trip-Dub Racing owner Kevin Birkett of Winnipeg.
Birkett runs Birkett Freight Solutions, and has recently supported a Canadian-based racing effort running primarily in Brainerd, Minn.
“We have waited for the right time to step back into the sport and now is the perfect opportunity,” confirmed Zaid Saleemi of Z1 Tuning in Toronto. “I am very excited about the 2016 season, and we are aiming for podium finishes for Bodhi on the new Yamaha R1.
“Yamaha have provided a great motorcycle with the new YZF-R1, so a hungry young talent like Bodhi will have lots to look forward to.”
Working alongside Saleemi on the Edie Pro Feature Class R1 machine will be long time Z1 Team mechanic Payam Shafinia.
The Z1 team has been involved in the CSBK Series for over a decade, entering successful machinery for the likes of popular Pros Andrew Nelson (Yamaha four-cylinder), Alex Welsh (Triumph triple) and Michael Taylor (Ducati twin). Last year Z1 supported Derrick Whyte’s run to the Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike National crown.
The entire Team sends a big thank-you to Yamaha Motor Canada and staffer John Bayliss for all their support in developing this new program for Edie.
The new Edie Team intends to test prior to the start of the 2016 Mopar CSBK National Series at Shannonville Motorsport Park, east of Belleville, Ont., May 27-29.