Redemption for McBain at Race City

By John Hopkins

CALGARY, AB -- Local hero Clint McBain gained redemption for his Calgary disappointment of last season by winning the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsports Park in convincing fashion on Sunday.

The Cochrane, AB rider took the lead from Jordan Szoke on lap 5 of the 22-lap race and pulled away to claim his third victory on home turf.

Last year McBain seemed set to pick up a win in front of his home crowd only to crash a few corners from the finish.

"I'm really happy," said McBain. "It's like the feeling I had when I won my [Pro 600 Sport Bike] Championship [in 2002]. After what happened last year, to do this in front of everybody couldn't be better. It seemed like it was my turn."

McBain's Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 wound up 9.259 secs. ahead of the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R of Szoke, with Kevin Lacombe third on an overheating Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Racing Yamaha YZF-R1.

Despite taking the lead off the start Szoke knew he was in trouble early as he struggled with handling problems. The two-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champ had elected to go with Pirelli's hardest tire and found it ill-suited to the conditions.

On lap 6 Szoke had a big moment exiting the final corner, which let McBain make a slight break. Szoke then had trouble getting through lapped traffic, which allowed McBain to increase his lead further.

"I'm not taking anything away from Clint, but I didn't have the set-up," Szoke said. "It's not like me to be slowing down near the end of the race."

Nevertheless Szoke increased his lead in the Parts Canada Superbike standings to 14 points over Lacombe, 99-85.

McBain, who missed the season opener due to a separated shoulder, moved into fourth in points with 55, four behind Francis Martin, who finished sixth in Calgary.

Szoke finished up about six seconds clear of Lacombe, who emerged on top of a nearly race-long four-way battle for the final podium spot.

Peris led this quartet most of the way on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000, the Calgary rider getting a good start to even run in front of McBain briefly. But as the race entered its last 10 laps Lacombe started moving forward from sixth, and finally passed the Suzuki in turn 5 on lap 21.

"I wasn't sure if I'd be able to finish the race," Lacombe admitted. "Right from the start I knew I had a problem. The temperature was at 108, 109, 110 degrees, and usually it's at 80. But in the last few laps I knew if I pushed hard the guys in front of me might have problems with their tires."

Peris settled for fourth and said he also struggled with the handling of his bike on the hard Pirellis.

Brett McCormick was fifth on the second Canadian Kawasaki Motors ZX-10R after passing Martin's Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Performance GSX-R1000 on the final lap.

Matt McBride was seventh on the third factory Suzuki, while Jeremy Stepper (Stepper Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000) came out on top of a racelong battle with fellow Calgary racer Dave Stokowski (Calgary Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R) for eighth.

Banff, AB's Peter Holzinger rounded out the top 10 on another Suzuki after his early race sparring partner Steve Crevier retired the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R with mechanical troubles.

Race Results
1. Clint McBain, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., Yamaha YZF-R1, 22;
4. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
5. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
6. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, Que., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
7. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
8. Jeremy Stepper, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
9. Dave Stokowski, Calgary, Alta., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
10. Peter Holzinger, Banff, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
11. Karl Daigle, Granby, Que., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 22;
12. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
13. Franklyn Dominguez, Santo Domingo, D.R., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21;
14. John-Ross MacRae, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R750, 21;
15. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que., Honda CBR1000RR, 21;
16. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21;
17. Brad Gavey, Calgary, Alta., Honda CBR1000RR, 21;
18. Andrew Carruthers, Millarville, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21*
19. Terry Steeves, Dartmouth, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21;
20. Richard Maurice, Okanagan Falls, B.C., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21;
21. Todd Scott, Bedford, N.S., Suzuki GSX-R750, 21;
22. Karl Meema, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 20;
Did Not Finish
Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, B.C., Buell 1125R
Did Not Start
Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R600
Brian Blaauwendraat, Truro, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R
Steve Bourdeau, Verdun, Que., Suzuki GSX-R600
Jesse Sherstan, Stoney Plain, Alta., Yamaha YZF-R6
Margin of Victory: 9.259 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:16.523 by McBain on lap 5

Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke, 99;
2. Kevin Lacombe, 85;
3. Francis Martin, 59;
4. Clint McBain, 55;
5. Jeremy Stepper, 52;
6. Franklyn Dominguez, 38;
7. Steve Crevier, 37;
8. Ross Millson, 35;
9 tie. Chris Peris, 32;
Andrew Dunlap, 32;
11 tie. Brett McCormick, 31;
John-Ross MacRae, 31;
13. Matthew McBride, 25;
14. Csaba Werner, 23;
15 tie. Dave Stokowski, 21;
Chris Murray-Audain, 21;
17. Marie-Josee Boucher, 20;
18. Peter Holzinger, 19;
19. Karl Daigle, 17;
20. Matt Cooper, 15;
21. Brian Blaauwendraat, 13;
22. Zenon Nelson, 12;
23 tie. Dan Henri, 8;
Terry Steeves, 8;
25. Brad Gavey, 6;
26 tie. Andrew Carruthers, 4;
Steve Bourdeau, 4;
28 tie. Michael Barnes, 2;
Mark MacDonald, 2;
30 tie. Richard Maurice, 1
Cory Canfield, 1