McBain wins big at AMP

From Professional Motorsports Productions

SHUBENACADIE, NS – Clint McBain kept his Parts Canada Superbike Championship title hopes alive with a dominant victory in the penultimate round of the series at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Sunday.

The Cochrane, AB rider grabbed the lead off the start on his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 and stayed in front for all 22 laps, finally finishing 6.201 seconds ahead of the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R of Brett McCormick.

“We made a change just before the start of the race and went with a harder front tire,” McBain said after his third victory of the season. “That allowed me to use the front a little bit more and conserve the rear.”

Series leader Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON placed third on the other Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R and takes a 42-point lead over McBain to the final round at Shannonville Motorsport Park Aug. 29-31.

“I’m getting closer. All I can do at Shannonville is what I did today,” said McBain, who has 245 points to the 287 of Szoke, with 56 points available at the final round. “Jordan’s a smart guy and he has a lot of experience. But racing is racing and there are a lot of other good guys out there.”

After starting from pole position the 16-year-old McCormick held second spot all the way to equal his best career finish. The Saskatoon rider was nursing rib injuries sustained at the previous round at Mosport International Raceway.

“We made a change to the bike this morning and it was really comfortable for me,” McCormick said. “But I wish I was healthier. About 10 laps in I could feel the pain in every transition.”

After winning Saturday’s opening race in the doubleheader weekend at AMP, Szoke ran a lonely third on Sunday and crossed the line just over 10 seconds behind McBain.

“I was out there running for the championship,” said Szoke, who was trying to lock up his third straight Parts Canada Superbike title and fifth overall. “I just didn’t want to do anything stupid. I never actually planned to be on the podium today.”

Szoke’s Saturday win was his 26th career national Superbike triumph, putting him in a tie with Steve Crevier for the most all-time national wins.

Chris Peris claimed fourth on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R750.

The Calgary rider spent most of the race embroiled in a battle with his teammate Francis Martin and Steve Crevier on the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R, but Crevier and Martin crashed out in the Carousel just three laps from the end.

Matt McBride finished fifth on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000, just ahead of rookie Brian Blaauwendraat of Truro, NS aboard the T.R. Petroleum Enterprises / Lougheed’s Heating Oils Honda CBR600RR.

After breaking his wrist in a fall on Saturday, Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe rode bravely to seventh on his Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 and held onto third in the championship with 205 points.

Ross Millson of Hamilton, ON (RMP Motorsport Suzuki GSX-R1000), Stillwater Lake, NS’s Bill Clark (Sackville Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R) and Truro, NS rider Andrew Dunlap (Fundy Power Sports Kawasaki ZX-10R) completed the top 10.

Race Results
1. Clint McBain, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22 laps;
2. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
3. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
4. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R750, 22;
5. Matt McBride, Mississauga, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
6. Brian Blaauwendraat, Truro, N.S., Honda CBR600RR, 22;
7. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., Yamaha YZF-R1, 22;
8. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
9. Bill Clark, Stillwater Lake, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
10. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
11. Franklyn Dominguez, Hudson, Que., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
12. Todd Scott, Bedford, N.S., Honda CBR600RR, 22;
13. Gene McKay, Halifax, N.S., Honda CBR600RR, 21;
14. Dave Young, Woodstock, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21;
15. Mark MacDonald, Sydney, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21;
Did Not Finish
Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, Que., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 19;
Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, B.C., Buell 1125R, 19;
Terry Steeves, Dartmouth, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 6;
Jeremy Stepper, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 0;
Did Not Start
Karl Daigle, Granby, Que., Kawasaki ZX-6R;
Cory Canfield, Oakfield, N.S., Suzuki GSX-R600;
Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que., Honda CBR1000RR;
Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R750;
Dan Durckovic, Carleton Place, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R1
Time of Race: 25:17.340
Margin of Victory: 6.201 seconds
Fastest Lap: 1:08.445 by Clint McBain on lap 6

Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke, 287; 2. Clint McBain, 245; 3. Kevin Lacombe, 205; 4. Chris Peris, 162; 5. Francis Martin, 154; 6. Ross Millson, 115; 7 tie. Andrew Dunlap, 110; Matthew McBride, 110; 9. Brett McCormick, 109; 10. Steve Crevier, 104;
11. Jeremy Stepper, 96; 12. Franklyn Dominguez, 92; 13. Chris Murray-Audain, 73; 14. Brian Blaauwendraat, 65; 15. Marie-Josee Boucher, 43; 16. Csaba Werner, 42; 17. Dave Young, 41; 18. Karl Daigle, 40; 19. Bill Clark, 38; 20. Terry Steeves, 36;
21. John-Ross MacRae, 31; 22. Todd Scott, 28; 23. Dave Stokowski, 21; 24. Zenon Nelson, 20; 25 tie. Peter Holzinger, 19; Gene McKay, 19; 27. Matt Cooper, 15; 28. Mark MacDonald, 14; 29. Sean Heydorn, 12; 30. Dan Henri, 8;
31. Brad Gavey, 6; 32 tie. Andrew Carruthers, 4; Steve Bourdeau, 4; 34. Michael Barnes, 2; 35 tie. Richard Maurice, 1; Cory Canfield, 1