Covy Moore/RVP

Airdrie's Chad Swain heads down the front straight at Miller Motorsports Park during the World Superbike weekend May 27 in Utah.

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Rider aiming for big leagues

Local motorcycle racer Chad Swain claimed championships in four different classes at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah this past season, winning 18 of 28 races.

Swain competed in mini-bikes in Calgary, before moving on to the big track at Race City. He competed with the Calgary Motorcycle Roadracing Association for about three seasons before deciding to head south of the border to make a name for himself.

Now living in Calgary, and riding for SPS Performance on a Yamaha R6, 18 wins gave him titles in the Middleweight Superbike Class, Middleweight Supersport Class, Heavyweight Supersport Class and the King of the Mountain Class.

“Being prepared and having a team like the SPS Performance team let me win the championship,” said Swain. “I was able to focus on the riding and not worry about working on the bike.”

While his season was full of success, he did experience a couple of ‘low side’ wrecks, which he said is all a part of his racing style. A low side is when a rider is leaned over turning through a corner and the rear tire slides out from under the bike causing the rider to fall over.

“Making tires work with the chassis, that was the biggest (challenge),” said Swain. “Making the tires last long enough. I ride different from other riders, I like to spin the rear up to get the bike to turn. It is what you have to do in the higher levels, you have to go that extra step to win.”

Now that another season is behind him, Swain is looking into the future and his option for furthering his racing career. One of the team mechanics with SPS Performance helped set up a test session with one of the AMA Road Racing’s, KneeDraggers.com Triple Crown Industries team, and will be at the Infineon Raceway just north of San Francisco Nov. 11 and 12 testing for the team.

The team has been fielding entries for AMA riders Benny Solis and Austin DeHaven in the AMA GoPro Daytona Sportbike class.

“They have some podium results in that series, they have a really good program,” said Swain.

Swain said his ability to win was what gave the team the confidence to bring the Canadian rider on to test its satellite Yamaha bike.

“You can’t teach fast, but you can teach a rider to ride safe,” said Swain. “I have a lot of workability, I have the talent but I have to improve on my consistency.”

Moving from racing weekends in Calgary where you bring your own bike, and prepare it all yourself then head onto the track to race, Swain said he is most looking forward to learning everything he can with the team, and focus strictly on riding .

“I am looking forward to showing up and having a semi (full of bike parts), a couple of bikes just ready to go,” said Swain. “Just going out there and just riding without all the stresses of racing.”