SZOKE EARNS CALGARY SWEEP
CALGARY, AB – Jordan Szoke scored his second Parts Canada Superbike victory of the weekend on Sunday, claiming the third round of the series at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park.
In a repeat of Saturday’s thrilling event, the Brantford, ON racer battled with Huntington Beach, CA resident Owen Weichel for most of the 16-lap race. Szoke put his Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the lead for good on lap 12 and held on for a 2.716-sec. victory over Weichel’s Kawasaki ZX-7RR.
In an equally dramatic duel, Calgary’s Tim Easton, riding the Walt Healy Suzuki GSX-R1000, edged the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 of Toronto’s Michael Taylor for third place.
“Winning yesterday took a lot of pressure off me,” said Szoke, who also swept both ends of a doubleheader at Race City two years ago. “We’re trying to win a championship and now we’ve got a solid points lead.”
Szoke grabbed the lead off the start and pulled away in the early laps. But Weichel closed the gap and took the lead in the Chicane on lap 9. The two traded the lead on the front straight on lap 11 before Szoke made the decisive pass at the start of lap 12.
Easton moved up from sixth after the first lap to take third from Taylor on lap 8. Taylor regained the spot from the Race City Superbike champion at the start of the final lap, only to have Easton pass him back in the Chicane.
Szoke’s win gives him a 29-point lead over Weichel in the Parts Canada Superbike standings heading into the fourth round of the seven-race series at Autodrome St-Eustache, near Montreal July 5-7.
In other action at Race City Calgary’s Clint McBain delighted the hometown fans by winning both the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike and Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike features.
In Open Sport Bike McBain rode his Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a two-second victory over Taylor’s Yamaha. Francis Martin placed third on the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki GSX-R1000.
McBain led all the way in 600 Sport Bike on his Suzuki GSX-R600, finishing 9.942 secs. ahead of the Kawasaki ZX-6R of Weichel. Another Calgary rider, Chris Peris, placed third on a Honda CBR600F4i.
McBain has swept all four races in the two national support classes this season.
This weekend’s Superbike races will be televised on TSN Saturday, July 6 at 1:30 pm and Sunday July 28 at 1:00 pm EDT. Action from Race City will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.
Results of Sunday’s third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park:
1.Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000
2. Owen Weichel, Huntington Beach, CA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR
3. Tim Easton, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000
4. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1
5. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000
7. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1
8. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1
9. Nick Ienatsch, Irvine, CA, Honda CBR954RR
10. Philip Onisto, Bolton, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000
11. Bruce McDonald, Mt. Albert, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6
DNF. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Honda CBR954RR
DNF. John Brundl, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR954RR
DNF. Ugo Levert, Lorraine, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000
DNF. David Klassen, Vancouver, BC, Suzuki GSX-R750
DNF. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1
Margin of Victory: 2.716 secs.
Fastest Lap: Owen Weichel, 1:25.464 on lap 7
Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings following the third round at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary:
1.Jordan Szoke, 150
2. Owen Weichel, 121
3. Kevin Lacombe, 91
4. Frank Trombino 79
5. Francis Martin, 70
6. Jean-Francois Cyr, 69
7. Michael Taylor, 61
8. Philip Onisto, 59
9. Darryn Wilbur, 56
10. Benoit Pilon 50
11. Bruce McDonald 49
12. Tim Easton, 49
13. Ugo Levert 29
14. David Klassen 27
15. John Brundl 23
16. Nick Ienatsch, 21
17. Michael Leon 21
18. Matthew McBride 19
19. Dave Young 17
20. Clint Hines 13
21. Dave Hodge 12
22. Mike Desmarais 10
23. Steve Crevier 4