McBain edges Szoke at Mosport

From Professional Motorsports Productions

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Cochrane, AB’s Clint McBain scored his second victory of the 2008 Parts Canada Superbike Championship as he edged Jordan Szoke in a thrilling battle at Mosport International Raceway on Sunday.

For the second straight day a lead pack of five to six riders battled for the top spot around Mosport’s 3.9km (2.459-mile) road circuit, with three different bikes taking a turn at the front.

Riding the Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000, McBain grabbed the lead from Szoke’s Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R on lap 10 of the scheduled 20-lap race, and was leading on lap 12 when the race was stopped due to rain.

The results were taken back to the completion of 11 laps, with McBain beating Szoke by 0.306 seconds. Right behind them Kevin Lacombe (Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Racing Yamaha YZF-R1) edged Chris Peris (Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000) in a photo finish for third.

“It’s tough when the weather’s like this; it really plays on a rider,” said McBain, who also scored a win at Mosport last season. “We made some changes after yesterday’s race and that gave us a little bit extra on the back straight.”

On Saturday Szoke beat McBain by just 0.058 secs. for the Superbike win but was unable to repeat the feat on Sunday.

“The bike was perfect. I felt really comfortable and I felt like I was having to take the fewest risks,” said the Brantford, ON rider, who led two of the 11 laps. “But with weather like this you never can tell. I should have tried to lead every lap.”

Szoke did manage to extend his lead in the Parts Canada Superbike standings, however. With just three races in the seven-round series remaining the two-time defending champion has 196 points to the 158 of Lacombe. The series resumes with another doubleheader at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS Aug. 8-10.

“We have a great points lead heading into Halifax, and that’s the main thing,” Szoke said.

Lacombe started from pole position and led three laps in the middle of the race before being shuffled back to third by Szoke and McBain on lap eight. The Granby, QC rider then battled back and forth with Peris, who moved up from sixth on the opening lap.

Francis Martin of Sherbrooke, QC finished fifth on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 after placing third on Saturday. The top five finishers crossed the line within a second of each other.

Matt McBride of Mississauga, ON was sixth on the third of the factory Suzukis, despite receiving a five-second penalty for a jump start. McBride clung to the back of the lead train for the first half of the race before dropping slightly off the pace.

Scarborough, ON’s Chris Murray-Audain was a lonely seventh on the One Stop Dealer Services Kawasaki ZX-10R, but behind him five riders battled over eighth spot.

Granby, QC’s Karl Daigle came out on top of the fight on his Perusse Kawasaki ZX-6R, just ahead of the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R of Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier. They both passed the Fundy Power Sports Kawasaki ZX-10R of Truro, NS rider Andrew Dunlap on the final lap of the race.

Race Results
1. Clint McBain, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11;
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 11;
3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., Yamaha YZF-R1, 11;
4. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11;
5. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, Que., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11;
6. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11;
7. Chris Murray-Audain, Scarborough, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 11;
8. Karl Daigle, Granby, Que., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 11;
9. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, B.C., Buell 1125R, 11;
10. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 11;
11. Jeremy Stepper, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11;
12. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11;
13. Dave Young, Woodstock, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11;
14. Franklyn Dominguez, Santo Domingo, D.R., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 11;
15. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que., Honda CBR1000RR, 11;
16. Terry Steeves, Dartmouth, N.S., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 11;
17. Sean Heydorn, Stouffville, Ont., Honda CBR600RR, 11;
Did Not Start
Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask., Kawasaki ZX-10R;
Csaba Werner, North York, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000;
Matthew Cooper, Guelph, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R1;
Stephan Chabot, Oshawa, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R6;
Martin Ricard, Montreal, Que, Kawasaki ZX-10R;
Dan Henri, Ottawa, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R6;
Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R600;
Dean Plater, Ottawa, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R1;
Elie Daccache, Ottawa, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-6R;
Louie Raffa, St-Marthe, Que., Yamaha YZF-R6
Margin of Victory: 0.306 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:22.329 by McBain on lap 7

Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke, 196; 2. Kevin Lacombe, 158; 3. Clint McBain, 150; 4. Francis Martin, 125; 5. Chris Peris, 93; 6. Jeremy Stepper, 84; 7. Steve Crevier, 81; 8. Andrew Dunlap, 76; 9. Chris Murray-Audain, 73; 10. Ross Millson, 71;
11. Franklyn Dominguez, 67; 12. Matthew McBride, 54; 13. Marie-Josee Boucher, 43; 14. Csaba Werner, 42; 15. Karl Daigle, 40; 16 tie. Brett McCormick, 31; John-Ross MacRae, 31; 18. Terry Steeves, 26; 19. Dave Young, 25; 20. Dave Stokowski, 21;
21. Zenon Nelson, 20; 22. Peter Holzinger, 19; 23. Matt Cooper, 15; 24. Brian Blaauwendraat, 13; 25. Sean Heydorn, 12; 26. Dan Henri, 8; 27. Brad Gavey, 6; 28 tie. Andrew Carruthers, 4;
Steve Bourdeau, 4; 30 tie. Michael Barnes, 2; Mark MacDonald, 2;
32 tie. Richard Maurice, 1; Cory Canfield, 1