An expanded schedule, reduced age requirement and exciting champion’s top prize are among the improvements unveiled for the Honda CBR125R Challenge for 2009.

The series for aspiring road racers is entering its second season as a support division in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship national tour. Last year’s inaugural champion was 14-year-old Raphael Archambault of St-Colomban, Que., who despite some very close battles managed to sweep all five races.

“The debut season for the Honda CBR125R Challenge provided exactly what we were looking for in an entry level division,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, which organizes the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. “Every race was a nail-biter and some very talented young racers made a big impression.”

The 2009 calendar will consist of seven events, opening at Calabogie Motorsports Park May 22-24 and concluding at Shannonville Motorsport Park Sept. 4-6.

A highlight of the season will be a doubleheader in conjunction with the Parts Canada Superbike round at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park. The Honda CBR125R Challenge competitors will race on the Race City road course Sunday, June 28 and compete on the Varsity Chrysler Speed Park circuit adjacent to the big track the following day. That event will be hosted by the Alberta Mini RoadRacing Association.

Additionally, the Honda series will graduate to the full Mosport International Raceway road course for round five of its series July 17-19 after running on the smaller Development Track last summer.

Other rounds for the Honda CBR125R Challenge include a date at the new Circuit ICAR facility in Mirabel, QC June 12-14 and a return to Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS Aug. 7-9. All races will offer a total purse of $3,000, as in 2008.

In addition to the expanded schedule, efforts have been made to broaden the reach of the series with the lowering of the minimum age requirement from 14 to 13 years old.

And the year-end awards pot has been sweetened by a trip to the Kevin Schwantz School at Barber Motorsport Park in Birmingham, Ala. for the Honda CBR125R Challenge champion. Defending champ Archambault will shortly be making his visit to the racing school run by the 1993 Grand Prix World Champion.

“We think the changes to the 2009 Honda CBR125R Challenge will make the series even more appealing to Canada’s up-and-coming racers,” said Honda Canada’s Kim Moore. “The AMRA is a very successful organization and offers us a strong partnership, and what young racer wouldn’t be thrilled to have the chance to learn from a world champion like Kevin Schwantz?”

The Shannonville-based RACE organization will offer a school for Honda CBR125R Challenge competitors on May 15 at a cost of $250.

For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com