Szoke edges Christie in Sport Bike

By John Hopkins

CALGARY, AB -- Jordan Szoke qualified fastest for this weekend’s second and third rounds of the national Pro Sport Bike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park with a time of 1:17.329 on his Waznie Racing / Ciclo Werks BMC / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR on Friday.
       
The four-time defending class champion set his best lap just past the halfway point of the 40-minute session.
       
Jodi Christie turned in the second fastest time at 1:17.488 aboard the Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda-backed CBR600RR and Cody Matechuk placed third at 1:18.967 riding his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600.

Christie led the session at the halfway point before Szoke put on a new rear Pirelli DOT SC1 and dropped a couple of tenths of a second off his time.

"We made a big change before we went out for the session," said Szoke, who leads the Pro Sport Bike standings after his win in the Circuit ICAR season opener. "The bike didn't feel a whole lot better but we set faster times.

"We lengthened the wheelbase because we were having some issues getting into the corners. But now we're pushing the front a little."

Szoke's time was well off his class lap record of 1:16.780, a fact he attributed to the increased bumpiness of the Race City circuit.

"I worked hard to get to a 17.3," he explained. "It's not so much there are more bumps in the corners, but the bumps that are there are bigger this year. With a 600 that's a big issue because it's all about corner speed. The track is well prepared, but you can't fight Mother Nature."

Christie continued his fine form by being the only rider to stay within touch of Szoke's times.

"We're fighting over tenths of a second," Szoke pointed out. "Obviously it's going to be a tough race. Jodi's proven to be very consistent and I don't expect him to be anywhere but right there."

Matechuk had paced the morning practice session but had a fall in Superbike prequalifying that left him with an injured left hand. Later in the afternoon he admitted he was still trying to get his head back in the game.

Calgary's Rob Darlington was an impressive fourth in Pro Sport Bike qualifying with a time of 1:20.947 on the Hard Nox Racing / Redline Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6.

Dave Estok of New Smyrna Beach, FL completed the top five qualifiers with a time of 1:21.058 riding the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R. Estok suffered a fall in turn 3 six minutes into the session but came back out on his back-up bike to crack the top five for this weekend's pair of races.

His teammate Darren James is not in Calgary. The North Vancouver rider is competing in the second round of the XR1200 series supporting the British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park.

Pro Sport Bike Qualifying Results
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, 1:17.329, Honda CBR600RR
2. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON, 1:17.488, Honda CBR600RR
3. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB, 1:18.967, Suzuki GSX-R600
4. Rob Darlington, Calgary, AB, 1:20.947, Yamaha YZF-R6
5. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL, 1:21.058, Buell 1125R
6. Trevor Bernhardt, Calgary, AB, 1:21.552, Suzuki GSX-R600
7. Sebastien Tremblay, Sherbrooke, QC, 1:21.762, Honda CBR600RR
8. Matthew Elder, Calgary, AB, 1:21.779, Suzuki GSX-R600
9. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, ON, 1:21.916, Suzuki GSX-R600
10. James Collins, Kaladar, ON, 1:22.166, Yamaha YZF-R6
11. Tom Bodrovics, Calgary, AB, 1:23.618, Suzuki GSX-R600
12. Chad Swain, Calgary, AB, 1:24.386, Kawasaki ZX-6R
13. Curtis Lindenbach, Calgary, AB, 1:24.391, Honda CBR600RR
14. Greg White, Raleigh, NC, 1:24.933, Kawasaki ZX-6R
15. John Crump, Bragg Creek, AB, 1:26.990, Buell 1125