Szoke celebrates rare Mopar CSBK anniversary at AMP
TORONTO, Ont. – Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship points leader Jordan Szoke marks an unusual milestone at this weekend’s Honda Canada and Pro Cycle-sponsored doubleheader at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, N.S.
It was at this venue two years ago, on July 27, 2014, that the Lynden, Ont. racer was last vanquished in Mopar CSBK competition, when Jodi Christie beat him to the checkered flag. After missing the following two races due to injury, Szoke has run off an unbeaten string of 10 straight Canadian Superbike victories, and he will aim to add to that mark in this weekend’s fourth and fifth races in the seven-event 2016 series.
Perhaps more importantly, the 37-year-old will also look to solidify his bid for a second straight Mopar CSBK title, and 11th overall, aboard the Mopar Express Lane / Motovan / BMW Motorrad BMW S1000RR.
Szoke arrives at AMP with a 33-point lead in the Mopar CSBK point standings, 162-129 over Belfountain, Ont.’s Kenny Riedmann, having won all three of this year’s races and claimed the Dalton Timmis Insurance Pole Qualifier Award at the opening two venues, Shannonville Motorsport Park and Autodrome St-Eustache.
A race win is worth 50 points and qualifying fastest earns four, while there is also a two-point bonus for leading the most laps in a race.
Szoke also enjoys a strong history at the hilly 2.56km (1.6-mile) 11-turn race track north of Halifax, having won seven races there, tying him with the legendary Steve Crevier for most wins in the 32 races held at AMP.
As well as lying second in the standings, Riedmann enters this weekend’s doubleheader as the rider who has come closest to ending Szoke’s winning ways. Aboard the Sturgess Cycle / Liqui Moly / Speed And Strength Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja, the 24-year-old has finished second to Szoke in each of the first three races and came within one turn of scoring his first career Mopar CSBK triumph at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last August.
Another potential challenger is Collingwood, Ont.’s Ben Young, current leader of the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year table in the Pro Superbike class. The 23-year-old Young sits third in the overall standings with 109 points after a pair of third-place finishes at Autodrome St-Eustache, where he also led his first Pro Superbike race on the Tim Horton’s / Scot-Build Developments / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR.
Although further down the point standings, fans should also keep an eye on Yamaha riders Kevin Lacombe and Bodhi Edie. Making his return to competition after a three-year absence, St-Cesaire, Que.’s Lacombe was a winner at AMP 10 years ago, one of his three victories at the track. The 33-year-old comes into this weekend eighth in Pro Superbike points on the Motosport St-Cesaire / Motovan / Zox Yamaha YZF-R1S.
The 20-year-old Edie was forced to miss the previous races at Autodrome St-Eustache after a qualifying fall mangled his Trip-Dub Racing / Z1 Cycle Tech / Birkett Freight Solutions Yamaha YZF-R1, but the Warman, Sask. rider was uninjured and aims to resume his promising 2016 campaign at AMP.
This weekend’s racing also includes doubleheader action for the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike, Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike, Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike and Kawasaki Ninja 300 National Spec Series support classes.
Riedmann comes to AMP unbeaten in the Pro Sport Bike class on his Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja as he bids for a third straight class title. He has 112 points to the 77 of Louie Raffa of Ste-Marthe, Que., who finished second at Autodrome St-Eustache on the Raffa Racing / Fog-Off / St-Eustache Motorsport Honda CBR600RR.
Other potential challengers include former Superbike champ Michael Taylor of Toronto, who will be aboard the Triumph Canada / GP Bikes / Goderich Toyota Triumph 675 despite suffering tendon damage in his arm in a fall at St-Eustache, and Peterborough, Ont.’s Tomas Casas on the Peterborough Cycle Salvage / Parts Canada Yamaha YZF-R6.
Montreal’s Jean-Marc Bilger comes to AMP with a narrow lead in the Amateur Superbike class on his BMW S1000RR while Honda CBR600RR rider Chris Brent of Ottawa tops the Amateur Sport Bike standings.
Ile Perrot, Que.’s Eric Quintin has a 288-260 lead over AMP favourite Brandon Pemberton in the Kawasaki Ninja 300 category.
Competition begins on Friday with qualifying, the highlight being the Dalton Timmis Insurance Top 10 Qualifying for the Pro Superbike class.
Feature races in all classes will be held Saturday and Sunday.
Event information is available online at www.atlanticmotorsportpark.com or www.procycleonline.com, or by calling Pro Cycle at (902) 468-2518.
2016 Point Standings
Mopar Pro Superbike: 1. Jordan Szoke (BMW) 162; 2. Kenny Riedmann (Kawasaki) 129; 3. Ben Young (BMW) 109; 4. Michael Leon (BMW) 87; 5. Sebastien Tremblay (Kawasaki) 84
Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike: 1. Kenny Riedmann (Kawasaki) 112; 2. Louie Raffa (Honda) 77; 3. Alex Coelho (Kawasaki) 66
Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike: 1. Jean-Marc Bilger (BMW) 84; 2. Ernest Bernhard (Yamaha) 81; 3. Mathiew Tremblay (Suzuki) 78
Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike: 1. Chris Brent (Honda) 97; 2. Jean-Francois Aubin (Suzuki) 62; 3. Michael Hood (Kawasaki) 60
Kawasaki Ninja 300 Spec National Series: 1. Eric Quintin (Kawasaki) 288; 2. Brandon Pemberton (Kawasaki) 260; 3. Jared Walker (Kawasaki) 228
Recent Atlantic Motorsport Park Superbike National Wins
2015 – Jordan Szoke (BMW S1000RR)
2014 – Jodi Christie (Honda CBR1000RR)
2013 – Jodi Christie (Honda CBR1000RR)
2012 – Jordan Szoke (BMW S1000RR)
2011 – Brett McCormick (BMW S1000RR)
Atlantic Motorsport Park Fast Facts
…Motorcycle dealership Pro Cycle, which is sponsoring this weekend’s event along with Honda Canada, will host its traditional Pro CSBK Party at its new store on the evening of Thursday, July 14. More details are available at www.procycleonline.com.
…The big Mopar “truck” display, last used by CSBK at Edmonton last year and the series’ home at the Motorama show in Toronto in the spring, will be on hand at AMP for the doubleheader.
…The most recent doubleheader at AMP was in 2010, when Jordan Szoke completed his clean sweep of the SBK season for Honda.
Provisional Weekend Schedule
Friday, July 15
1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. – Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike Qualifying
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. – Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike Qualifying
3:25 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. — Dalton Timmis Insurance Pro Superbike Top 10 Qualifier
4:50 – 5:10 p.m. – Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike Qualifying
Saturday, July 16
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – Kawasaki Ninja 300 Spec Series Qualifying
1:30 p.m. – Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike Race (18 laps)
Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike Race (14 laps)
Kawasaki Ninja 300 Spec Series Race (10 laps)
3:00 p.m. – Mopar Pro Superbike Race (22 laps)
Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike Race (14 laps)
Sunday, July 17
11:55 a.m. – Kawasaki Ninja 300 Spec Series Race (10 laps)
1:00 p.m. – Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike Race (18 laps)
Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike Race (14 laps)
3:00 p.m. – Mopar Pro Superbike Race (22 laps)
Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike Race (14 laps)