Van Winkle becomes youngest pro champ in CSBK history
Andrew Van Winkle (45) not only won the innaugural Pro Twins championship, but became the youngest rider in CSBK history to win a National championship in the process. [Photo: Rob O'Brien / CSBK]
Only a select few teenagers have ever taken home a pro #1 plate in CSBK’s 43-year history, but none of them have done so as young as Andrew Van Winkle.
The recently-turned 16-year-old smashed the previous record by securing the inaugural Bickle Racing Pro Twins championship on Sunday, overtaking an injured Jeff Williams to clinch the historic title.
While Van Winkle himself would admit it came against a small crop of competitors in the first year of the class, there’s no questioning how impressive the feat is. Only four teenagers have ever won a pro title before; Jordan Szoke (Superbike), Alex Dumas (Superbike), and Jodi Christie (Sport Bike) all did it at 19 years old, while Tomas Casas held the record by winning the Sport Bike crown at 18 in 2017.
Van Winkle has now cleared that mark by almost two full years, becoming a pro champion before even being able to legally drive in Ontario.