Szoke leads the way at Race City

From Professional Motorsports Productions

CALGARY, AB – Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON was the pacesetter in practice Friday for this weekend’s third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park.

The three-time defending national champion, with eight Race City Superbike wins to his credit, toured the 3.2km (2.0-mile) track in a time of one minute, 15.236 seconds on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors / Kawasaki ZX- 10R.

Current Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Brett McCormick of Saskatoon was second quickest at 1:15.500 riding the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Kars, ON rider Andrew Nelson placed third on his Nelson Racing / Yamaha YZF-R1 with a time of 1:16.772.

"The times are coming quite easily for me,” said Szoke, who thought he could have gone quicker without a mistake on his fastest lap. “I made one too many downshifts into turn one and got sideways. But the rest of the lap was fantastic.”

The winner of the most recent series round in Mirabel, QC, McCormick will be trying for his fifth straight Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award in Pirelli SuperPole qualifying on Saturday.

“We’re probably going to make some changes overnight,” said the 17- year-old. “But we’re going in a really good direction and so far this year it’s been pretty easy to find a good set-up with this bike.”

Calgary’s Mike Zottmann set the fourth fastest time of 1:16.851 on the Mountain Toys Racing / Majik X / Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Clint McBain of Cochrane, AB, last year’s winner of this race, was fifth fastest at 1:16.953 riding the Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing / Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In other action at Race City, Szoke was also fastest in practice for the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class with a time of 1:17.173 on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. Points leader McCormick was next best at 1:17.973 riding a Suzuki GSX- R600 and Nelson was third with a time of 1:18.540 aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6.

Cody Matechuk of Cochrane, AB set the pace in practice for the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike division with a time of 1:20.689 on his Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing / Suzuki GSX-R600.

Hamilton, ON’s Steven Nickerson was fastest in the Honda CBR125R Challenge at 1:48.373. The class has two races this weekend, one on the Race City road course on Sunday and the other on the adjacent Varsity Chrysler Speed Park Monday afternoon.

Jeremie Hade Precourt of Granby, QC led Suzuki SV650 practice at 1:27.266.

Action continues at Race City on Saturday with qualifying for all classes. Races in all national classes will go Sunday.

For ticket information go to www.calgarysuperbike.com.

Superbike Practice Times
1. Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 1:15.236 Kawasaki ZX-10R
2. Brett McCormick (Saskatoon, SK) 1:15.500 Suzuki GSX-R1000
3. Andrew Nelson (Kars, ON) 1:16.772 Yamaha YZF-R1
4. Mike Zottmann (Calgary, AB) 1:16.851 Suzuki GSX-R1000
5. Clint McBain (Cochrane, AB) 1:16.953 Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Kevin Lacombe (Granby, QC) 1:17.125 Yamaha YZF-R1
7. Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 1:18.104 Buell 1125R
8. Peter Holzinger (Banff, AB) 1:18.161 Suzuki GSX-R1000
9. Alex Welsh (Uxbridge, ON) 1:18.568 Kawasaki ZX-10R
10. Dave Stokowski (Calgary, AB) 1:19.423 Kawasaki ZX-10R
11. Royce McLean (Coaldale, AB) 1:20.007 Yamaha YZF-R6
12. Ross Millson (Hamilton, ON) 1:20.055 Suzuki GSX-R1000
13. Dave Estok (New Smyrna Beach, FL) 1:20.282 Buell 1125R
14. Brad Gavey (Calgary, AB) 1:20.782 Honda CBR1000RR
15. Darren James (North Vancouver, BC) 1:20.878 Buell 1125R
16. Jodi Christie (Keene, ON) 1:20.903 Honda CBR600RR
17. Mitch Rathje (Calgary, AB) 1:21.275 Suzuki GSX-R1000
18. Marie-Josee Boucher (Montreal, QC) 1:21.621 Honda CBR1000RR
19. Jesse Sherstan (Stony Plain, AB) 1:21.973 Yamaha YZF-R6
20. Tony Kasper (Becker, MN) 1:22.167 Yamaha YZF-R6
21. Sean Huffman (Kemptville, ON) 1:22.469 Suzuki GSX-R1000