CALGARY, Alta. (June 28) Two-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Jordan Szoke edged Cochrane, Alta.’s Clint McBain for the fastest time in qualifying for the second round of the national series, sponsored by Blackfoot Suzuki, at Race City Motorsport Park on Saturday. Riding his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R the Brantford, Ont. rider turned a lap of one minute, 15.900 seconds around the 3.2km (2.0-mile) Race City road circuit in the Pirelli SuperPole session. McBain, who was the last rider on the track in the single-bike qualifying session, could only manage a 1:15.970 on his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 after breaking the track record with a 1:15.751 in pre- qualifying. It was Szoke’s first pole position of the 2008 season after he was narrowly edged to the top spot at the season opener at Calabogie Motorsport Park by Kevin Lacombe last month. He claimed the $500 Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award and earned four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, extending his series lead. “I really wanted that,” said the 29-year-old Szoke, who has won more Superbike nationals at Race City than any other racer. “After losing by so little at Calabogie it’s nice to win by a little. “I was surprised. My lap felt slow. I wasn’t as aggressive on the throttle as I could have been in a few places but I think I was carrying good corner speed. But it’s awesome; I can’t complain.” McBain will be making his first start of the 2008 Parts Canada Superbike season in Sunday’s 22-lap feature race after missing the season opener with a separated shoulder. “I left a lot on the table,” admitted the two-time Race City Superbike race winner. “I wasn’t sure how much to push into turn 1 and I braked too much. I know I could have gone faster, I did this morning. But one lap doesn’t win a race, or a championship.” Granby, Que.’s Kevin Lacombe qualified third on his Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Yamaha YZF-R1 with a time of 1:15.992 and Saskatoon’s Brett McCormick will complete the front row for Sunday’s race after recording a time of 1:16.446 on the other Canadian Kawasaki Motors ZX-10R. “I had a problem going into the bowl, my bike stayed in second gear,” said Lacombe. “I went off line and I wasn’t able to get into the right gear for the last turn. Without that mistake I’m sure I could have got the SuperPole.” Calgary’s Chris Peris placed fifth on the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a time of 1:16.529. He will be joined on the second row for Sunday’s race by teammates Francis Martin of Sherbrooke, Que. and Mississauga, Ont.’s Matthew McBride. The Calgary duo of Dave Stokowski on his Calgary Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R and Jeremy Stepper riding the Stepper Racing Suzuki GSX- R1000 qualified eighth and ninth, respectively. Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Steve Crevier completed the Pirelli SuperPole qualifiers in 10th on his Deeley Harley-Davidson / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R. In other action at Race City, Lacombe qualified on pole for Sunday’s Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike race with a time of 1:17.524 on his Yamaha YZF- R6. Kawasaki teammates Szoke and McCormick placed second and third with times of 1:17.585 and 1:17.947, respectively. Kars, Ont.’s Andrew Nelson qualified on pole for the Canadian Thunder class on his NCR-Ducati 848 with a time of 1:19.196 ahead of teammate Valter Bartolini of Bologna, Italy, who recorded a best lap of 1:19.583. New Smyrna Beach, Fla.’s Dave Estok was third fastest with a 1:21.258 on the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R. Olivier Spilborghs of Surrey, B.C. was fastest in the Canadian Sport Twins class with a time of 1:25.877 on his Ruthless Racing Buell XB9R. Mississauga, Ont.’s Patrick Chartrand was second at 1:28.559 aboard the NCR- Ducati PS1000LE and A.J. Simiana of Bowmanville, Ont. was third with a 1:29.690 on his Ducati S2R. Keene, Ont.’s Jodi Christie qualified fastest in the Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike class with a time of 1:21.980 aboard his Yamaha YZF- R6. Calgary’s Patrick Marques was second at 1:22.477 riding a Suzuki GSX- R600 and Marcel Irnie of Westbank, B.C. was third with a 1:23.076 on a Kawasaki ZX-6R. John Jarvie of Bulrington, Ont. qualified fastest for the Suzuki SV650 National Cup with a time of 1:27.132, just edging Cochrane, Alta.’s Cody Matechuk, who turned a 1:27.164. London, Ont.’s Nicky Poon was third quickest at 1:27.859. Feature races for all national classes will be held Sunday afternoon. Practice begins at 9:00 a.m. with the first race set to go at 1:00 p.m. Calgary, Alta. (June 28) Starting line-up for Sunday’s second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsports Park, sponsored by Blackfoot Suzuki, showing starting position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time: 1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:15.900; 2. Clint McBain, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:15.970; 3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:15.992; 4. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:16.446; 5. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:16.529; 6. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, Que., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:17.167; 7. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:17.479; 8. Dave Stokowski, Calgary, Alta., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:18.067; 9. Jeremy Stepper, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:18.884; 10. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, B.C., Buell 1125R, 1:19.621; 11. Peter Holzinger, Banff, Alta., Suzuki GSX- R1000, 1:19.386; 12. Karl Daigle, Granby, Que., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:20.004; 13. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:20.606; 14. John-Ross MacRae, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:20.860; 15. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:21.124; 16. Brad Gavey, Calgary, Alta., Honda CBR1000RR, 1:21.251; 17. Franklyn Dominguez, Santo Domingo, D.R., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:21.318; 18. Jesse Sherstan, Stoney Plain, Alta., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:21.508; 19. Terry Steeves, Dartmouth, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:21.833; 20. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que., Honda CBR1000RR, 1:21.834; 21. Andrew Carruthers, Millarville, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:21.910; 22. Richard Maurice, Okanagan Falls, B.C., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:22.206; 23. Steve Bourdeau, Verdun, Que., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:22.679; 24. Todd Scott, Bedford, N.S., Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:22.864; 25. Karl Meema, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:23.007; 26. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:24.236; 27. Brian Blaauwendraat, Truro, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, No Time
Szoke Wins Canadian Superbike Superpole At Race City
Szoke Wins Canadian Superbike Superpole At Race City
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