Szoke takes pole at Race City

From Professional Motorsports Productions

CALGARY, AB – Jordan Szoke ended Brett McCormick’s run of pole positions in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park on Saturday.

The Brantford, ON racer turned a lap at one minute, 15.126 seconds around the 3.2km (2.0-mile) course on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R during the Pirelli SuperPole session to earn his first $500 Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award of the 2009 season.

Szoke also picked up four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike Championship and closed to within five points of series leader McCormick heading into Sunday’s third round of the season, which is presented by Turple Bros. Ltd. and Suzuki.

Saskatoon’s McCormick was second fastest at 1:15.540 aboard the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 and saw his string of pole positions snapped at four, going back to last season.

“I really shouldn’t complain,” said Szoke, the three-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion who has won eight Superbike events at Race City. “I had some problems on my downshifts into turn one and that lost me a bit of time, but not much. The rest of my lap was going great but I wheelied in the Bus Stop Chicane and that screwed up my drive out of there. I was surprised I managed that good a lap.”

McCormick had been fastest in the morning pre-qualifying session, which established the 10 racers for the Pirelli SuperPole session. His time of 1:15.079 eclipsed the previous track record of 1:15.751 set last year by Clint McBain. He was unable to match that pace later in the day, however.

“I put together not a great lap,” said the 17-year-old, who enters Sunday’s race with 107 points to the 102 of Szoke. “In the fast sections I rushed getting on the throttle. When you mess those up your lap is pretty much caked.

“But I’m not too worried. Our race pace will be in the low [one minute] 15s. We’ll get them tomorrow. We know our set-up and tires will last the whole race.”

Andrew Nelson qualified third fastest on his Nelson Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 with a time of 1:16.294.

“I made two little mistakes but I don’t think I would have been able to take pole anyway,” said the Kars, ON racer, who lies third in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. “I’m riding the bike hard and it seems to be paying off. I think we have a quality race set-up.”

Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe completes the front row for Sunday’s race after turning a lap at 1:16.740 on his Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R1.
       
“We keep improving but we’re struggling like crazy,” Lacombe said. “But we’ll shoot for the podium tomorrow and if possible we’ll go for the win. It will be tough for everybody to make their equipment last for 22 laps.”

Last year’s winner of this race, Cochrane, AB’s Clint McBain qualified fifth fastest on the Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a time of 1:16.843. He will be joined on the second row by Alex Welsh (Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R) and Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, B.C. (Deeley Racing Powered By Buell / Buell 1125R).

Three more Alberta riders fill out the top 10 for Sunday’s 22-lap Superbike race. Mike Zottmann qualified eighth on his Mountain Toys Racing / Majik X Suzuki GSX-R1000 and fellow Calgary racer Dave Stokowski was next up aboard the Blackfoot / Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R. Banff’s Peter Holzinger will start 10th on the Zinger Racing / Toloco Fibreworks Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Qualifying Results (Top 10 established in Pirelli SuperPole)
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:15.126
2. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask., Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:15.540
3. Andrew Nelson, Kars, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:16.294
4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:16.740
5. Clint McBain, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:16.843
6. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:17.017
7. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, B.C., Buell 1125R, 1:17.424
8. Mike Zottmann, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:17.504
9. Dave Stokowski, Calgary, Alta., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:17.590
10. Peter Holzinger, Banff, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:18.664
11. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Buell 1125R, 1:19.146
12. Royce McLean, Coaldale, Alta., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:19.642
13. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:19.677
14. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que., Honda CBR1000RR, 1:19.871
15. Jodi Christie, Keene, Ont., Honda CBR600RR, 1:19.934
16. Mitch Rathje, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:19.955
17. Sean Huffman, Kemptville, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:20.628
18. Brad Gavey, Calgary, Alta., Honda CBR1000RR, 1:20.674
19. Darren James, North Vancouver, B.C., Buell 1125R, 1:20.736
20. Jesse Sherstan, Stony Plain, Alta., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:20.901
21. Tony Kasper, Becker, Minn., Yamaha YZF-R6, No Time