SZOKE GRABS POLE”¦BARELY SHUBENACADIE, NS Jordan Szoke edged Kevin Lacombe by the slimmest of margins to claim pole position for the sixth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Saturday. The series points leader turned a fastest lap of one minute, 8.103 seconds on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R, which just beat Lacombe’s mark of 1:08.108 aboard the Team Toyota Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1. “We’ve struggled with suspension issues all weekend but we made some changes at lunch today and now I’ve got a lot of confidence,” said Szoke, who picked up the $500 Vicious-I Pole Position Award for the third time this season. The Brantford, ON racer, who hasn’t lost a Superbike race yet this season, also earned four more points toward the Parts Canada Superbike title chase, while Lacombe got three for qualifying second. That gives Szoke a 68- point lead over Lacombe, 271-203, heading into Sunday’s feature race, meaning Lacombe must gain back 12 points on Sunday to prevent Szoke from clinching his third career Canadian Superbike title. “I put on a little extra push, I took a little more risk,” said Lacombe, who has won two Superbike nationals at AMP, including last season’s. “But every time it seemed Jordan had a little bit more in reserve. But I’ve got a really fast bike for the race, and consistent too.” Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC vaulted from sixth to third fastest on his final lap of the session on the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a time of 1:08.424. “I just pushed a little harder at the end,” said the defending Parts Canada Superbike champion. “It’s impossible to be first into the first corner from the second row. Being on the front row is important.” Kars, ON’s Andrew Nelson completes Sunday’s front row after turning a lap of 1:08.519 on the Z1 Cycletech Yamaha YZF-R1. Less than a second separates Szoke on pole and eighth fastest qualifier Clint McBain. In other action in Shubenacadie, Szoke also moved a point closer to clinching the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike title by claiming pole for Sunday’s race with a time of 1:08.728 on the factory Kawasaki ZX-6RR. His closest rival for the championship, Lacombe was second fastest with a time of 1:08.890 on his Yamaha YZF-R6 and Nelson qualified third at 1:08.907 aboard another Yamaha. Fourteen-year-old Brett McCormick of Saskatoon shattered the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike qualifying record with a time of 1:10.623 on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Ross Millson of Hamilton qualified second at 1:11.561 on his Suzuki GSX-R600 and class points leader Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC was third at 1:12.307 on his Honda CBR600RR. East York, ON’s Paul Penzo qualified fastest for the Thunder (twins) feature with a time of 1:12.225 aboard his Ducati PS 1000 LE. Points leader Dave Bagshaw of Kincardine, ON will start from pole in Sunday’s Suzuki SV650 National Cup feature after qualifying fastest at 1:14.082. Feature races for all five national classes are set to go Sunday. Practice starts at 9:00 a.m. with the first race scheduled for 1:00 p.m. For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com Starting line-up for Sunday’s sixth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS, showing starting position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time: 1.Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:08.103; 2. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:08.108; 3. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:08.424; 4. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:08.519; 5. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:08.524; 6. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:08.532; 7. Pascal Picotte, St- Cecile Milton, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:08.930; 8. Clint McBain, Cochrane, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:09.018; 9. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Kawasaki ZX- 10R, 1:10.140; 10. Jeremy Burgess, Hammonds Plains, NS, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:10.185; 11. Sean Heydorn, Aurora, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:10.665; 12. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:10.676; 13. Stephane Chabot, Oshawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:10.918; 14. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS, Honda CBR600RR, 1:11.011; 15. Jean-Paul Tache, North Bay, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:11.041; 16. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:11.913; 17. Eric Stanley, Halifax, NS, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:12.186; 18. Adam Roberts, Hammonds Plains, NS, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:12.534; 19. Terry Steeves, Bathurst, NB, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:13.242; 20. Rick Langille, Nauwigewauk, NB, Honda CBR600RR, 1:13.342; 21. Larry Orde, Lakefield, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:13.854; 22. Malcolm Mackay, Eastern Passage, NS, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:16.355; 23. Erick Beausejour, Val Senneville, QC, Honda CBR1000RR, No Time; 24. Jesse Sherstan, Stoney Plain, AB, Honda CBR600RR, No Time
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