Farquhar takes superb four-timer at Skerries Ryan Farquhar’s superb 2012 season showed no signs of slowing down at the weekend when the KMR Kawasaki rider took four wins from five starts at the Skerries 100 road races. Flyin’ Ryan took victories in the Grand Final, Supersport 600cc, Supertwins and Moto 450cc races to take his win tally to the season to a stunning 30. With heavy rain severely affecting conditions during Friday evening’s practice sessions, race day dawned bright and sunny although the adjacent fields and paddock remained extremely muddy! Due to this, Ryan opted to just take out his 600cc machine for the opening Superbike race and, naturally down on power compared to the 1000cc machines, he finished in a somewhat unusual 5th place. From that moment on, he was never beaten though with his first victory coming in the following Supersport 600cc race after a battle with Michael and William Dunlop. The latter crashed out on the fifth lap and with the result taken at the end of the fourth lap, Ryan took the win by 0.173s from Michael. After an easy victory in the Moto 450cc race, Ryan’s hat-trick was completed in the 7-lap Supertwins race where he was pushed hard by team-mate Jamie Hamilton. The pupil pressured the master hard in the early laps but, aided by a new lap record, Ryan slowly edged away and took the chequered flag over five seconds clear. That just left the Grand Final where Ryan again went head to head with Michael Dunlop with the latter leading the way for much of the 8-lap race. However, Ryan, who used his ZX-10R Superstock machine for the race, was just biding his time and made his move on the final lap to duly take his fourth win of the day, this time by 1.71s. Hamilton’s successful day continued when he took a fine fifth after earlier finishing seventh in the Superbike race. Speaking later, a delighted Ryan said; “A few people were saying I had it easy at the Bush and Mid Antrim races with a lack of opposition so, with Michael and William being here today, I was really fired up and out to prove a point. The weather on Friday left the whole paddock a bit of a mud bath so I decided to take the wee 600 out for the first Superbike race as I didn’t want to mess the big bikes up with the Southern 100 so close. I was never going to be in contention but it was a good fifth and I followed this up with a win on the same bike in the Supersport race. William and Michael were with me the whole time but I just kept my head down and it was a shame William crashed out as it was a great race. The 450cc race was straightforward enough but Jamie really kept me honest in the Supertwins race and I had to work hard for that one – maybe I’m teaching him too much! I’d done a bit more work to the bikes and they were working so, so well.” “That just left the Grand Final and with conditions drying up all the time in the paddock, I decided to take the Stocker out. It hadn’t turned a wheel since the TT and was set up for the Mountain Course but a couple of warm up laps allowed me to get dialled in. The bike was working well, the sun was shining and after sitting behind Michael for a few laps I waited until the last lap to make a move so that he didn’t have time to come back at me – it worked a treat so to come away with four wins is brilliant. A big thanks to Vauxhall for lending me a van and also to Millers Oils who I’m using this year. The gap between the Bush and Skerries allowed me to strip the bikes down and give everything a refresh and seeing how well all the components still looked is a testament to the quality of their product. There’s no let-up at the moment with the meetings coming thick and fast so I’m off to the Southern 100 now where I’ll have the Superbike, Superstock and Supertwin machines to use. We’re awaiting a few parts for the big bike but, hopefully, there’ll arrive on Tuesday and we can give a good account of ourselves on the Island.” Practice for the Southern 100, held on the 4.25-mile Billown course, commences this evening (Monday) with races taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. More, from a press release issued by Waznie Racing: Szoke Leads Canadian Superbike Championship Jordan Szoke rocketed to top of the box during Round #2 of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship, held at Autodrome St Eustache, to claim the points lead in the premiere superbike class. The Autodrome circuit is new to CSBK schedule last season after taking a 9 year hiatus. The series has revisited the 1.93 km racetrack after vast facility and track improvements. “I like this track and have a lot of fun here.” says Szoke “Alan (Lebrosse) has invested a lot of time and effort into the facility and it shows.” Szoke started clawing back his points deficit after Round One in Shannonville found him 14 points out of the series lead. Jordan claimed pole position during Round Two with a lap of 45.113 averaging 141.248 km/hr. This put him just 0.101 shy of the lap record. “I knew we had it in us to get it (the record).” says Szoke “It’s pretty cool that we have managed to go this fast consistently on a new bike right away.” Szoke is new to the BMW brand for 2012 after Kawasaki pulled back their racing efforts. Szoke rode his Waznie Racing / Parts Canada / BMW Motorrad Canada S1000RR to claim the lead on lap 20 of the 22 lap race scoring victory by 1.995 seconds. This positions Szoke with 97 points in the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship. A comfortable 11 point cushion over second place, with two out of the six scheduled races completed. Szoke also received the KICKER Kick Ass Pass of the Race Award for his imperious move on lap 20 at the end of the back straightaway to take the lead. “I didn’t get the best of starts, but strategically made my way up to the front.” says Szoke “After our disappointing second place here last year, I was extra motivated to make a move early and try to gap the field.” When asked about his preparation for 2012 Szoke commented “I really have to take my hats off to Parts Canada this season, they’ve invested all their efforts into their riders this year, and without their support I wouldn’t have been here. They are true to their slogan and I can’t thank them enough.” Szoke also mentioned, “BMW really stepped up and created an amazing program not only for myself, but the rest of the riders in the series. Their brand representation is in perspective to their passion and enthusiasm for the sport and I am privileged to represent them.” To watch coverage of Round Two of the Mopar Superbike Race held at Autodrome St Eustache watch CSBK TV. Superbike Race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLAVkFo9IP4&feature=youtube_gdata_player Superbike Podium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT6tpF2rhIo&feature=youtu.be Follow Szoke during Round Three held at Atlantic Motorsports Park in Shubenacadie Nova Scotia July 20th-22nd. For ticket information contact: Atlantic Roadracing League Phone: (902) 488-0380 Email: [email protected] Website:www.atlanticmotorsportpark.com Jordan Szoke would like to thank: Waznie Racing Inc, Parts Canada, BMW Motorrad, Alpinestars, HJC, Akrapovic, Pirelli, Motul, BlackfootDirect.com, Vortex, Hotbodies, DID, Oakley, NGK, BK Designs, RobbieO Enterprises, Medical Data Carrier, Ohlins, Hot Lap, ViSalusSport.com, Stomp Grip, Chickenhawk, Strodes, Bicycle Works, photobOb, Just Transmissions, Gas Gas Pacific More, from a press release issued by AW7R/Kenwood Electronics Suzuki Team: WELSH HIT THE PODIUM AND THE AW7R/KENWOOD ELECTRONICS TEAM IS BACK IN THE HUNT Toronto, ONT- Alex Welsh and the AW7R/Kenwood Electronics Suzuki team finished in 2nd position following a race long battle at Autodrome St-Eustache. Autodrome St-Eustache has been a track that Alex Welsh has enjoyed and gone well at in the past. Starting from the outside of row 1, Welsh blasted off the line to take the lead as the pack navigated the 22-lap race early on. After some early shuffling, Welsh’s GSX-R 1000 eventually settled into second place behind Jordan Szoke as the pair were deadlocked for the entire race. On lap 17 and approaching lapped traffic, Welsh made his move on the inside of the final corner where he would lead the next 3 laps until Szoke regained the top spot near the end of lap 20. Lapped traffic would ultimately play its role as Welsh got stuck behind two riders nearing the final lap allowing Szoke to open a small gap that Alex was unable to close. Welsh would finish in 2nd position and moves up to 3rd place in the championship. For the second consecutive race, Welsh also set the fastest lap of the race at 45.413 seconds on his 8th tour. Alex Welsh “I knew coming into this race the start was going to be key. I accomplished my goal of getting off the line clean and was able to put in consistent laps trailing Jordan for most of the race. As I started to see the lappers coming up I decided I had better have a go at it and see what happens. Jordan was able to get a drive down the back straight and squeak by me and he just happened to get through two riders nearing the final lap that caused me to get boxed in. I knew right then our chances were shot but overall I was still proud of myself and the team putting together a pretty decent race and a great show for the crowd. We’re still in this thing and I’m looking forward to heading out east next week.” The AW7R/Kenwood Electronics Suzuki team will take this weekend to regroup before the series rejoins for the 3rd round of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, July 20-22. To find out more, you can follow Alex at the following social media outlets to get the latest information, content and prize giveaways. Twitter.com/AlexWelsh7 Facebook.com/AlexWelsh7 Youtube.com/AlexWelsh7 Alex Welsh is supported by: AW7R Inc, Kenwood Electronics Canada, Suzuki Canada, Parts Canada, Alpinestars, HJC Helmets, Vass Performance Cycle, Z1 Cycletech, Motorex, FMF Exhausts, Flexiglass, Ballistic Batteries and Drippinwet.com