Szoke wins again in Pro 600

By John Hopkins

CALGARY, AB -- Jordan Szoke scored his second straight win of the year in the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike class at Race City Motorsports Park on Sunday on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Szoke beat the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 of Chris Peris by just 0.630 secs. in the race, which was shortened by 14 laps due to a crash by Jesse Sherstan.

Kevin Lacombe completed the podium in a close third aboard his Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.

Sherstan was not seriously injured in his fall.

Szoke took the lead for the first time on lap 3 and traded the top spot with a Lacombe a couple of times before moving ahead for good on lap 13.

"It sucks to win that way [with a red flag] but I feel we had the race in our hands," Szoke said. "I knew it would be tough at the end but I felt really good. I was comfortable with the pace."

After leading the first two laps Brett McCormick slipped to fourth on the second factory Kawasaki while Andrew Nelson completed the top five on his Nelson Racing Yamaha.

Nelson rode his NCR-Ducati 848 to victory in the 16-lap Canadian Thunder feature at Race City, beating the Ducati 749R of Calgary’s Chad Pasowisty by 2.520 secs. with New Smyrna Beach, FL’s Dave Estok third on the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R.

Nelson's teammate, opening round winner Valter Bartolini of Bologna, Italy crashed his NCR-Ducati 848 on lap 11 while in the lead.

"We kind of lucked out in that race," said Nelson, who started from pole but was fourth at the end of the first lap after a poor start. "I had a terrible start, I'm not very good at those, but the 848 is an unbelievable bike to ride."

Jim Proulx of Ottawa won the Canadian Sport Twins race on the Buell XB12R normally campaigned by his friend Dan Thomson. After troubles with his own bike, Proulx hopped on Thomson's machine just before the start.

His 18-second triumph over the Buell XB9R of Surrey, B.C.’s Olivier Spilborghs earned him his second straight Tirox Winning Big Award.

Jodi Christie of Keene, ON won the Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike race on his Yamaha YZF-R6, beating the Suzuki GSX-R600 of Calgary’s Patrick Marques by 4.909 secs. Marcel Irnie of Westbank, BC placed third riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Irnie claimed the Performance Under Gear Perfomer of the Race Award for his effort.

Superbike winner Clint McBain’s stepson Cody Matechuk completed a great day for the family by winning the Suzuki SV650 National Cup race, coming out on top of a battle for the victory with Burlington, ON rider John Jarvie. Matechuk edged Jarvie by 0.882 secs.

Nicky Poon of London, Ont. finished third.