From a press release issued by Honda Canada/Fast Company Racing:

Szoke picks up ground

July 7, 2004

CALGARY, AB Honda Canada / Fast Company’s Jordan Szoke moved up to fourth place in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings after a pair of solid finishes at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park last weekend.

In the first of two 16-lappers around the 2.0-mile road course the two-time Canadian Superbike champ finished fourth on the Honda Canada / Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR, while in the second race he improved to third, scoring his first Superbike podium finish of the season.

After three of eight rounds in the 2004 title chase the Brantford, ON rider has 96 points compared to the 117 of third-place Clint McBain.

“We still haven’t had much time on the bike,” said Szoke of the Superbike, which was only introduced at the start of this year. “The motor and brakes are fantastic, the suspension is awesome. We just haven’t had any time to set it up.”

Szoke’s teammate Andrew Nelson of Kars, ON, also riding a CBR1000RR was ninth in the first race but improved to a career high fifth in the second. He is seventh in points with 73.

“We didn’t change much between races,” the former HJC Pro Rookie of the Year explained. “It’s just a case of me getting used to the big bike, learning how to ride a 1000.”

In Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike action in Calgary, Szoke and Nelson both suffered from poor tire choices in the first race, which was run in unexpectedly warm weather and settled for fifth and ninth, respectively, on their Honda Canada / Fast Company CBR600RR’s. In the wet second race Szoke came back from a poor start to take third while Nelson, winner of the season opener in Shannonville improved to seventh.

Nelson is now fourth in the point standings with 100 while Szoke is right behind in fifth with 92.

“We’re making headway with the CBR1000RR,” said team manager Scott Miller. “We’ve really had very little time with it and every time out we’re learning. The CBR600RR has been great. In that first race we just got caught out with our tire choice.”

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike series reach their halfway point with another doubleheader, this time at Mosport International Raceway near Bowmanville, ON July 16-18.