Szoke fastest in Pro Sport Bike practice

By John Hopkins

CALABOGIE, ON -- Jordan Szoke led the way in practice for the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike division at Calabogie Motorsports Park on Friday with a time of two minutes, 3.129 seconds around the 5.05km track on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6R.

"We have lots to go still," said Szoke, the three-time defending class champion who won at Calabogie last year. "I didn't really have a clean lap today. It's a new bike but it has the same gearbox as the old one and we're running three teeth taller. This bike is carrying a ton of corner speed."

Friday morning practice was spoiled by rain but conditions were ideal in the afternoon, when all the best times were set.

A late surge by Brett McCormick brought him close to the defending class champion as he turned a 2:03.437 on his final lap on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R600.

Lacombe was third with a 2:04.414 on his Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R6.

Sebastien Tremblay of Longueuil, Que. led the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike practice on his Kawasaki ZX-6R with a time of 2:09.385.

Ottawa’s Dan Henri was fastest among the Suzuki SV650 National Cup competitors at 2:23.342, Ryan Roche of Pickering, Ont. paced the Honda CBR125R Challenge field at 2:53.004 and Richmond, Ont.’s Vicki Schouten led Pro Honda Oils Women’s Cup on her Kawasaki ZX-6R with a time of 2:13.925.

Saturday’s action at Calabogie Motorsports Park features qualifying for all national classes. Races are set to go Sunday afternoon.