Two Podium Finishes for Jodi Christie in Final Canadian Superbike Rounds
Keene, ON —August 19, 2015 — The final two rounds of the 2015 Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship took place at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this past weekend, with Jodi Christie ending the season second in Hindle Pro Sport Bike points and third in Mopar Pro Superbike points aboard his Honda Canada/Accelerated Technologies equipment.
Jodi and the team arrived at CTMP with a mathematical chance of retaining the Canadian Superbike Championship for the year, but the focus was on the Hindle Pro Sport Bike class, where Jodi was just 10 points behind leader Kenny Riedmann. Taking qualifying and bonus points into account, 108 points were up for grabs over the weekend doubleheader. During the first official day of practice and qualifying, thunderstorms resulted in just a few dry laps of practice, and qualifying was postponed to Saturday. Jodi eventually qualified second on the Honda CBR600RR in Pro Sport Bike, and with very little Superbike practice still managed fifth on the grid with his CBR1000RR SP for the Superbike class.
In Saturday’s drama-filled Sport Bike final, Jodi was part of a three-rider lead group right from the first lap. The three ran nose-to-tail for the entire race, and on the final lap it was Riedmann with the win and Jodi in second place. The result left Jodi further behind in the point standings, but still with a chance of winning the championship on Sunday. The Superbike feature on Saturday was just as exciting, with as many as five riders in a drafting pack for the lead almost the entire 20-lap race. Jodi ran as high as second several times, and at the checkered flag finished in third; Jordan Szoke won the race, clinching the 2015 Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship.
The team worked diligently on Saturday night to find every last bit of speed for Sunday’s championship finales, making improvements to both bikes. On Sunday morning, Jodi was quickest in the Sport Bike practice and second-quickest in Superbike practice. In the Sport Bike final, it was again a group of riders contesting the lead, with as many as six riders in the lead pack for much of the race. Jodi looked in good shape to challenge for the lead in the closing laps, but unfortunately an electrical problem slowed his CBR600RR on the last lap and he dropped to seventh at the flag. Kenny Riedmann won the race, and locked up the 2015 Hindle Pro Sport Bike Championship, with Jodi finishing in second for the year.
Just as in Saturday’s Superbike race, Jodi was in the thick of a four-rider scrap for the lead in the opening laps of Sunday’s feature and led several times at the start/finish line. While challenging for the lead at the end of the Mario Andretti Straight on lap 8, however, he caught a false neutral and crashed in the high-speed corner, fortunately unhurt. The DNF meant Jodi would finish third in year-end points.
Jodi Christie: It was a trying weekend at CTMP, I rode my best in each race and had some great battles! Coming off a rough weekend and a difficult year in my eyes, I just have to thank the people working so hard to allow me to chase my dreams of racing motorcycles for yet another season: All of my team members for doing everything in their power to provide me with bikes that I am confident on; Honda Canada, who has been backing me since 2009 and without their continued support I wouldn’t be here racing; and all of my sponsors for making this year’s effort possible. I am so proud to represent them all and have the best bikes possible!
I had a very fun weekend at CTMP and look forward to racing here again next season. As for this summer, it’s time for a few fun races at Flat Track Canada and MMRS, and then I plan to have a strong off-season and come back with an even more competitive program for 2016!
John Sharrard – Crew Chief, Accelerated Technologies: It was a difficult end to a difficult season. In Saturday’s Pro Sport Bike race, Jodi was held up by a competitor who jumped the start on a very fast motorcycle. Trying to draft and pass our main rival Kenny Riedmann on the Triumph, Jodi was repeatedly passed by this competitor who was later assessed a five-second penalty. We finished a frustrating second in the race. Later, in Superbike, it was a four-rider war for the lead with Jodi, Kenny, Jordan and newcomer Alex Welsh on the new Yamaha R1 battling for the lead. Alex fell partway through the event and left Jodi to finish a very close third place.
Saturday night, our crew worked deep into the night implementing some changes that we thought would help us on Sunday. In Sunday morning’s practice, Jodi was clearly the quickest in the 600 session and very nearly quickest in Superbike. The changes were working. In the Sport Bike race, Jodi was battling for the lead when two laps from the end we had an aftermarket component fail that affected our charging system, ruining our battery. The battery started to die and the bike began to lose power as the fuel injection system failed. Jodi finished a disheartened seventh. We were all confident he was about to win that 600 race. Later in the afternoon, Jodi got a great start in Superbike and quickly moved to the front. He passed Jordan and Kenny numerous times, leading most of the laps we witnessed. Then, passing again for the lead off the ultra-fast back straightaway, Jodi ran wide after missing a shift, and lost the front end, crashing unhurt but completely destroying our second superbike. He was riding brilliantly at the time and his CBR1000RR SP was also working phenomenally well, able to draft and pass the BMW and Kawasaki equipment.
Finishing second overall in Sport Bike and third in Superbike is still a great accomplishment, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of Honda Canada and our other fantastic sponsors. Thanks to each and every one of them for their support, it makes a huge difference to our program. Also I’d like to thank the entire Accelerated Technologies crew: Wes, Andrew, Peter, Michael, Roz, Gary and Olivia. I think they are the smartest, hardest-working group at the track and together we put great equipment on the grid that we can all be proud of. And of course, thanks to Jodi for riding his heart out every time he throws a leg over one of the bikes.
About Jodi Christie Racing
Jodi Christie Racing competes in the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship with support from Honda Canada, Accelerated Technologies, Cameron Cycle, Hindle Exhaust, Bazzaz, Dunlop, Pro 6 Cycle, AiM Sports Data Acquisition, DID Chains, Orient Express, Blue Streak Racing, Motion Pro, Elka Suspension, Motovan, Motul Oil, Zero Gravity, Drift, NGK, Sunstar, Joe Rocket Leathers, Shoei Helmets, Mikey Moto, Bickle Racing, Woodcraft Technologies, Armour Bodies, GBRacing, Vortex, TCX Boots, Ride Rich, K-Tech, Wes Lake, Andrew & Peter Trevitt, and Gary & Roslyn Christie. Follow the team on Facebook (JodiChristieRacing) or Twitter and Instagram (@JCRacing20). For more information about the Canadian Superbike Series and to watch the races online, visit www.csbk.ca.
More, from a press release issued by Statoni Racing:
The 2015 Canadian Superbike Championship concluded with a double header at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, ON Aug 16-17. It has been a tough year on and off the track for Stacey Nesbitt, but one of the goals set at the start of the season was achieved – Sunoco / Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie Of The Year 2015. Stacey finished 6th overall in the final standings in Pro Sportbike and 8th in Pro Superbike on her Statoni Racing Honda CBR600RR. Lap times improved from last year and Stacey took the chequered flag in all rounds.
A huge thank you to Pat Milligan for all the long hours spent preparing the bikes and to Jon Cornwell for great bike set up all year.
Thank you to all the CSBK staff, medical staff, corner workers, the photographers, the fans and supporters for their warm wishes and support.
Support for this round: Statoni Racing, FTR, R&M Electrical
Product support: Honda Canada, Powersports Canada, Arai Helmets America, SpeedAngle, 613 Motorsports, Club Ouest Gym, Lucky Stripe, Entreprises Marty
Thanks to Pat Milligan, Wes Lake, John Sherrard, Dr Chan, Dr Chitte, Doc Walker and everyone that provided support during the year.
To keep up-to-date on Stacey Nesbitt throughout the year visit;
Website www.statoniracing.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Statoni-Racing-Tea…
Twitter https://twitter.com/StatoniRacing
More, from a press release issued by Waznie Racing:
Szoke Claims a Historic 10th Superbike Title with a Perfect Season
Jordan Szoke returned with a vengeance to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this past weekend. The challenging 10-turn 3.957 km (2.459-mile) road course located just outside of Bowmanville Ontario, Canada hosted the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship double header finale.
Last year at this time, Szoke sat with a season ending injury to his right thumb, and watched his 2014 championship slip away. This season he vowed to return with a vengeance.
The first of two races was held Saturday afternoon where Szoke took the lead in the final few corners for the victory. This gave him an insurmountable 99-point lead over the remainder of the field and his 10th historic Canadian Superbike Championship.
“I love coming here,” said Szoke. “Sometimes you get into championship management mode but you end up battling with someone during the race. Why not battle for the lead with someone you know?”
Szoke also claimed victory in the final race of the Mopar CSBK Superbike season on Sunday afternoon completing a perfect season, winning all seven out of seven races. He is the only rider in Canadian Superbike’s 35 year history to command such a feat. Not only once, but twice having scored 7 out of 7 in 2010.
“It’s one thing to win a race; it’s another thing to win a perfect season,” said Szoke after his 52nd Superbike career win. “What an amazing feat for the whole team! Most of the races this year have been wicked just like this one. I’m looking forward to repeating this next year.”
Szoke’s self managed Mopar Express Lane 2015 BMW S1000RR Superbike Team also achieved the highly acclaimed Team of the Year Trophy.
“It isn’t just the efforts of one, but everyones effort to make this team successful. Jon Cornwell, Matt VanTilborg and Derek Uttley keep our machines ultra competitive. My wife Amy Szoke manages the PR and Marketing, Sandy Szoke is head of timing and scoring, Bob Szoke, Brian Couture and Nick Dunlop all provide us with media, and Uwe Karthaus is our go-get-stuff guy. Without everyone’s hard work, along with the support of all our sponsors, we wouldn’t have achieved this award. This trophy is for everyone.” says Szoke while standing atop the podium at CTMP for the third time on one weekend.
Szoke will take his Mopar Express Lane BMW Superbike Team to challenge the Moto America Series double header final event weekend held at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Sept 11-13 2015 near Millville New Jersey, United States.