New Season, New Number!
May 3, 2010- Kahuna Powersports Kawasaki rider Vicki Schouten kicked off the 2010 race season this past weekend at Shannonville Motorsports Park with some new sponsors and a new number. Schouten, who won the Women's Cup Challenge Expert championship and finished 3rd overall in the National Amateur Sport bike class in 2009, has moved up to the Pro ranks for 2010. She brings with her some new sponsors and a new race number. The former Amateur number 78 will be competing with the Pro number 40 plate for 2010.
Schouten is also pleased to announce that with continued premier support from Canadian Kawasaki and Kahuna Powersports, Parts Canada has also come on board as a premier sponsor to support Schouten’s 2010 racing program. Parts Canada will outfit Vicki with Alpinestars gear including custom leather suits hand crafted in Italy, as well as Alpinestars boots, gloves, back protector and under gear. Schouten will also be wearing Parts Canada distributed HJC helmets for 2010 and using other products distributed by Parts Canada. “I’m really excited to have Parts Canada on board this year,” said Vicki, “they really do a lot to support the sport and all the gear they sell is top notch, and I’ve always loved the Alpinestars gear for safety and comfort and am excited to be using their product!” Additional sponsors include Motul, Galfer brakes, Auto Trim Design, Peak Centre for Human Performance and Bickle Racing.
Vicki’s racing efforts for 2010 will focus primarily on the Parts Canada National series where she will compete in the Pro600 and Pro Superbike classes, as well as select rounds of the Womens’ Cup Challenge. Schouten will also continue to compete in select rounds of the RACE Superseries at Shannonville Motorsports Park.
Joining Schouten’s team for 2010 at select RACE Regional events will be novice racer George Stroumboulopoulos, who Schouten will be coaching and mentoring throughout the season. “George has been really great to work with,” explains Vicki “he listens and takes everything in; he’s a quick study and I’m having a lot of fun working with him at the Shannonville regional series.”
Jason Sterling will assume duties of lead mechanic and technician for Schouten at all regional and national events, while Kawasaki’s Harald Surian and Pro6 Cycle’s Sandy Noce will be tuning Vicki’s suspension at National and regional events respectively. “I am really lucky to have Jason come on board as lead mechanic,” said Vicki, “he works really hard and is keen to help and I think we are going to have a fun season!”
Schouten made her Pro debut this past weekend at Shannonville Motorsports Park for Round #1 of the RACE Superseries where she finished a respectable 8th place in Pro600 and 11th in Pro Superbike.
Look for Vicki to be competing in two weeks time at Round #2 of the RACE Superseries at Shannonville Motorsports Park May 14-16, 2010.
