With KTM and Ducati abandoning the Thunder and Sport Twin classes for 2009, Championship organisers have widened the old Pro 600 Sport Bike class to include large displacement Twins, such as Buell and BMW HP2 machines, into the new Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class. The large twins must weigh at least 400 pounds and deliver no more than 140 horsepower on the official series dyno, while the minimum weight for 600cc fours is 350 pounds and maximum horsepower is 125.

The Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike category calls for a minimum weight is also 400 pounds for the twins while maximum horsepower is 135 hp, as opposed to limits of 350 pounds and 118 hp for the 600s. Twins of 750cc and under and Triumph's 675 triple were already eligible for the Sport Bike classes.

The Superbike class will see the return of the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada Buell 1125R twin cylinder Superbike, ridden by crowd favourite and six-time Canadian Superbike Champion Steve Crevier, who will benefit from more powerful engines this year to go along with the smooth handling chassis and his all-out riding style.

BMW Motorrad Canada is stepping up it's racing program for 2009, entering two-time Canadian Champion Francis Martin and Michael Ferreira on HP2 Sportbikes in the Sport Bike Pro class, as well as testing the new S 1000 RR Superbike in preparation for an attack on the Superbike class in 2010.

Add a returning Kevin Lacombe on Yamaha machines, reigning champion Jordan Szoke on Kawasaki rockets, and young Brett McCormick on Team Suzuki Blackfoot Picotte Racing GSZ-R machines, and we can see the pot heating up now!

See you all at the opener in Calabogie.