Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Corona Extra Suzuki is planning on fielding two-time Canadian Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke in the 2003 AMA season alongside returning riders Jimmy Moore and Adam Fergusson.

“That’s the plan,” said Corona Extra Suzuki team principal Tim Saunders Wednesday.

Szoke rode with the Corona team at the beginning of the 2002 AMA season, scoring a close second-place finish in the Superstock race at Daytona behind winner Moore, and finished third in the Superstock race at California Speedway to take the AMA Superstock Championship points lead.

But Szoke ran into visa problems trying to enter the United States to race at Sears Point in May. Szoke’s visa troubles lingered and the 23-year-old Canadian decided to race in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. Szoke ran away with that title, his second, on a Coors Light-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Later in the year, Szoke teamed up with his replacement, Fergusson, on a Corona Extra Suzuki GSX-R1000 to finish 10th overall at the Suzuka 8-hours Endurance World Championship race.

“Everything’s been resolved,” said Saunders when asked about Szoke’s visa troubles. “All that issue is behind him, or at least I have it on good authority that it’s behind him.”

Saunders added that his team has agreed to terms with American Suzuki, saying, “We’re just waiting to sign contracts.”

Which riders will be riding in which classes is still up in the air, however. “That’s up to Suzuki’s negotiations with the riders. Obviously, we’ll be in the same classes (Formula Xtreme, Superstock) as before,” said Saunders, who explained that American Suzuki contracts directly with some riders, and determines which classes they will compete in.