Szoke edges McBain at AMP

From Professional Motorsports Productions

SHUBENACADIE, NS – Two-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Jordan Szoke edged Clint McBain for a dramatic victory in the fifth round of the series at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Saturday.

Riding his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R, Szoke passed McBain heading into turn one on the final lap of the 22-lap race and held on to beat the Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 by just 0.055 seconds.

Calgary’s Chris Peris took third on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R750.

“He [McBain] fought me hard to the end,” said Brantford, ON’s Szoke after his third victory of the season. “He didn’t give it to me. When we got down to the last couple of laps I thought, ‘I’m going for it. This is my win.’”

The victory was Szoke’s 26th career Canadian Superbike triumph, tying him with Steve Crevier for the most all-time wins.

“It’s an amazing feat to match Steve,” Szoke said. “He was so dominant in the ‘90s. I feel like I still have a good 10 years left in me and I can extend that run.”

Szoke also stretched his lead in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings. He now has 250 points to the 193 of Cochrane, AB’s McBain with two races remaining in the seven-race season, including Sunday’s second half of the doubleheader weekend.

Kevin Lacombe, who came to AMP second in the Superbike standings, finished 10th on Saturday on his Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 after sustaining a suspected broken wrist in a fall earlier in the day. The Granby, QC racer is now third in the standings with 180 points.

Szoke and McBain traded the lead throughout the race. After Szoke got the lead from the start McBain grabbed the top spot entering the hairpin on lap four. Three laps later Szoke got inside the Suzuki rider in turn two and the pair ran side-by-side up to corner three before Szoke took control.

Szoke stayed in the lead until lap 21, when McBain passed him in turn two, setting up Szoke’s final lap heroics.

“I thought I had it,” McBain said. “I was tight into turn one but Jordan found some room. I thought I could get him again at the end of the backstraight but I didn’t have quite enough. We came up just a wee bit short today, but we’ll try again tomorrow.”

Peris ran close behind Szoke and McBain for the first half of the race before slipping off the pace.

After starting from his first career pole position 16-year-old Brett McCormick of Saskatoon finished fourth on the other Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Next up were the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing duo of Francis Martin and Matt McBride, with Martin finishing just ahead of his teammate.

Right behind them was Truro, NS’s Brian Blaauwendraat (T.R. Petroleum Enterprises / Lougheed’s Heating Oils Honda CBR600RR) in seventh. Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier placed eighth on the Deeley Harley-Davidson / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R and Ross Millson of Hamilton, ON took ninth aboard his RMP Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Race Results
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22 laps;
2. Clint McBain, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
3. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R750, 22;
4. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
5. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, Que., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
6. Matt McBride, Mississauga, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
7. Brian Blaauwendraat, Truro, N.S., Honda CBR600RR, 22;
8. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, B.C., Buell 1125R, 22;
9. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
10. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., Yamaha YZF-R1, 22;
11. Bill Clark, Stillwater Lake, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
12. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
13. Todd Scott, Bedford, N.S., Honda CBR600RR, 22;
14. Jeremy Stepper, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 22;
15. Terry Steeves, Dartmouth, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
16. Franklyn Dominguez, Hudson, Que., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 22;
17. Gene McKay, Halifax, N.S., Honda CBR600RR, 21;
18. Dave Young, Woodstock, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21;
19. Mark MacDonald, Sydney, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21;
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: 25:15.975
Margin of Victory: 0.055 seconds
Fastest Lap: 1:08.493 by Clint McBain on lap 2

Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke, 250; 2. Clint McBain, 193; 3. Kevin Lacombe, 180; 4. Francis Martin, 154; 5. Chris Peris, 130; 6. Steve Crevier, 104; 7. Jeremy Stepper, 96; 8. Ross Millson, 92; 9. Andrew Dunlap, 91; 10. Matthew McBride, 81;
11. Franklyn Dominguez, 75; 12. Chris Murray-Audain, 73; 13. Brett McCormick, 67; 14. Marie-Josee Boucher, 43; 15. Csaba Werner, 42; 16. Karl Daigle, 40; 17. Brian Blaauwendraat, 38; 18. Terry Steeves, 36; 19. John-Ross MacRae, 31; 20. Dave Young, 29;
21. Dave Stokowski, 21; 22. Zenon Nelson, 20; 23. Peter Holzinger, 19; 24. Bill Clark, 17; 25. Matt Cooper, 15; 26. Todd Scott, 13; 27. Sean Heydorn, 12; 28. Dan Henri, 8; 29 tie. Brad Gavey, 6; Gene McKay, 6;
31 tie. Andrew Carruthers, 4; Steve Bourdeau, 4; Mark MacDonald, 4; 34. Michael Barnes, 2;
35 tie. Richard Maurice, 1; Cory Canfield, 1