McCormick battles in Superbike debut

By John Hopkins

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Rising Canadian star Brett McCormick was in the wars in his American SuperBike debut at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday.

The Saskatoon rider finished 21st on his Suzuki/Blackfoot/Picotte Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 after running off track in turn one on lap 11 of the 15-lap race. Up to that point he had been in the thick of a multi-bike battle for 15th spot that included as many as five motorcycles at one time.

"It was fun battling with those guys," said McCormick after his race debut on a Suzuki. "I pretty much had them on corner entry speed, up to the apex, but coming out of the corners I just didn't have the same rear grip. And then one time I just went into turn one too deep."

McCormick admitted he was hampered by a compressed schedule. His track time consisted of a pair of one hour practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday morning's half hour qualifying session.

"I would have liked a couple more sessions," said McCormick, who previously raced at Daytona in a SunTrust MOTO-ST event aboard a Kawasaki Versys. "The first session was really about learning the track on the Superbike. I think I adapted to the new bike well, but we had a lot of issues getting the rear to hook up. The Gixxer has an awesome front end. I think I adapted to it quickly. The front end goes wherever I want it."

While McCormick's times on the 2008 GSX-R1000 improved with every session he made a big jump between Wednesday afternoon practice and Thursday morning qualifying, going from a best of 1:44.479 to a 1:42.507.

"I think with a better set up I could have been battling for the top 10 [in the race]," he continued. "I didn't feel like I left anything on the table in terms of riding. I just didn't get the bike set up good enough."

McCormick also had a challenge adapting to the series spec Dunlop tires. His previous experience has been on the Pirelli control tires in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

"I liked the front, but I'm just so used to the Pirellis," he said.

McCormick's next outing on the Suzuki will be at the official Parts Canada Superbike test in Jennings, FL at the end of April.