Szoke edges McBain for pole

From Professional Motorsports Productions

CALGARY, AB – Two-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Jordan Szoke edged Cochrane, AB’s Clint McBain for the fastest time in qualifying for the second round of the national series, sponsored by Blackfoot Suzuki, at Race City Motorsport Park on Saturday.

Riding his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R the Brantford, ON rider turned a lap of one minute, 15.900 seconds around the 3.2km (2.0-mile) Race City road circuit in the Pirelli SuperPole session.

McBain, who was the last rider on the track in the single-bike qualifying session, could only manage a 1:15.970 on his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 after breaking the track record with a 1:15.751 in pre-qualifying.

It was Szoke’s first pole position of the 2008 season after he was narrowly edged to the top spot at the season opener at Calabogie Motorsport Park by Kevin Lacombe last month. He claimed the $500 Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award and earned four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, extending his series lead.

“I really wanted that,” said the 29-year-old Szoke, who has won more Superbike nationals at Race City than any other racer. “After losing by so little at Calabogie it’s nice to win by a little.

“I was surprised. My lap felt slow. I wasn’t as aggressive on the throttle as I could have been in a few places but I think I was carrying good corner speed. But it’s awesome; I can’t complain.”

McBain will be making his first start of the 2008 Parts Canada Superbike season in Sunday’s 22-lap feature race after missing the season opener with a separated shoulder.

“I left a lot on the table,” admitted the two-time Race City Superbike race winner. “I wasn’t sure how much to push into turn 1 and I braked too much. I know I could have gone faster, I did this morning. But one lap doesn’t win a race, or a championship.”

Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe qualified third on his Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Yamaha YZF-R1 with a time of 1:15.992 and Saskatoon’s Brett McCormick will complete the front row for Sunday’s race after recording a time of 1:16.446 on the other Canadian Kawasaki Motors ZX-10R.

“I had a problem going into the bowl, my bike stayed in second gear,” said Lacombe. “I went off line and I wasn’t able to get into the right gear for the last turn. Without that mistake I’m sure I could have got the SuperPole.”

Calgary’s Chris Peris placed fifth on the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a time of 1:16.529. He will be joined on the second row for Sunday’s race by teammates Francis Martin of Sherbrooke, QC and Mississauga, ON’s Matthew McBride.

The Calgary duo of Dave Stokowski on his Calgary Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R and Jeremy Stepper riding the Stepper Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 qualified eighth and ninth, respectively. Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Steve Crevier completed the Pirelli SuperPole qualifiers in 10th on his Deeley Harley-Davidson / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R.

Superbike Qualifying Times
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:15.900
2. Clint McBain, Cochrane, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:15.970
3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:15.992
4. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, SK, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:16.446
5. Chris Peris, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:16.529
6. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:17.167
7. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:17.479
8. Dave Stokowski, Calgary, AB, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:18.067
9. Jeremy Stepper, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:18.884
10. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Buell 1125R, 1:19.621
11. Peter Holzinger, Banff, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:19.386
12. Karl Daigle, Granby, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:20.004
13. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:20.606
14. John-Ross MacRae, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:20.860
15. Ross Millson, Hamilton, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:21.124
16. Brad Gavey, Calgary, AB, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:21.251
17. Franklyn Dominguez, Santo Domingo, D.R., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:21.318
18. Jesse Sherstan, Stoney Plain, AB, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:21.508
19. Terry Steeves, Dartmouth, NS, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:21.833
20. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:21.834
21. Andrew Carruthers, Millarville, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:21.910
22. Richard Maurice, Okanagan Falls, BC, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:22.206
23. Steve Bourdeau, Verdun, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:22.679
24. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:22.864
25. Karl Meema, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:23.007
26. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:24.236
27. Brian Blaauwendraat, Truro, NS, Kawasaki ZX-10R, No Time