Matechuk dominates Amateur qualifying

By John Hopkins

CALGARY, AB – Points leader Cody Matechuk of Cochrane, AB was in stunning form in qualifying for round three of the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike event, part of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship weekend at Race City Motorsport Park on Saturday.

The 15-year-old eclipsed Brett McCormick's class track record with a time of 1:19.878 on his Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600. McCormick's mark was a 1:19.941 set in 2006.

Matechuk's effort came on his final lap of the qualifying session and put him almost three seconds clear of his nearest challenger, Longueuil, QC's Sebastien Tremblay.

"My biggest goal was getting the lap record," said Matechuk, who leads Tremblay in the Amateur Sport Bike standings by six points, 103-97. "The bike is working good. It's been more a case of me getting on the gas earlier and carrying more corner speed.

"In the race I hope to be able to get a good start and run a consistent pace. That's the plan."

Tremblay turned a lap at 1:22.004 on his A. Perusse Kawasaki / Kawasaki ZX-6R and Calgary’s Thomas Bodrovics was third fastest at 1:22.905 on the Majik X / Mountain Toys Racing Suzuki GSX-R600.

The front row for Sunday's race is completed by Joey McRae of Orangeville, Ont., who recorded a lap at 1:23.069 on the Envy Rides Yamaha YZF-R6.

In other action at Race City, Hamilton’s Steven Nickerson was fastest in qualifying for the Honda CBR125R Challenge with a time of 1:47.150. His main championship rival Bodhi Edie of Warman, Sask. was second quickest with a time of 1:47.676. Nickerson now leads Edie by a single point, 104-103 heading into Sunday's opening half of a doubleheader weekend. The CBR125R class will also compete Monday on the 1km Varsity Chrysler Speed Park adjacent to Race City.

The front row for Sunday's race is completed by Karl Robitaille of Ste-Julie, QC and Edmonton's Christopher Mah.

Granby, QC’s Jeremie Hade Precourt will start from pole position in Sunday’s Suzuki SV650 National Cup after recording a time of 1:26.576 in qualifying.

Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike Qualifying Results
1. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:19.878
2. Sebastien Tremblay, Longueuil, Que., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:22.004
3. Thomas Bodrovics, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:22.905
4. Joey McRae, Orangeville, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:23.069
5. Marcel Irnie, West Kelowna, B.C., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:23.255
6. Efram Ellenbogen, Belleville, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:23.289
7. Amy Karthaus, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:23.810
8. Todd Starchuk, Calgary, Alta., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:23.854
9. Trevor Berhardt, De Winton, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:24.067 9
10. Billy Shields, Unionville, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:24.117
11. Chris Trickett, Red Deer, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:24.871
12. KJ Gamblin, Sherwood Park, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:26.112
13. Ryan Middleton, Calgary, Alta., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:26.210
14. Chris Crump, Bragg Creek, Alta., Buell 1125R, 1:28.601
15. Claude Bergeron, Calgary, Alta., Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.139
16. Colin Purcell, Kelowna, B.C., Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.192
17. David Murray, Edmonton, Alta., Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:31.238
18. Vicki Schouten, Richmond, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:24.905*
19. Alex Irving, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:34.181
20. Gary Lee, Calgary, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:35.853
* -- Penalized one row for pit lane infraction

Honda CBR125R Challenge Qualifying Results
1. Steven Nickerson, Hamilton, Ont., 1:47.150
2. Bodhi Edie, Warman, Sask., 1:47.676
3. Karl Robitaille, Ste-Julie, Que., 1:48.320
4. Christopher Mah, Edmonton, Alta., 1:49.743
5. Ryan R. Appenrodt, Quesnel, B.C., 1:51.311
6. Dylan Jones, Delta, B.C., 1:51.321
7. Ryan Roche, Pickering, Ont., 1:51.885
8. Jay Fox, Calgary, Alta., 1:54.146
9. Vincent Tighe, Calgary, Alta., 1:54.397
10. Chris Wilson, Airdrie, Alta., 1:56.844
11. Kelsey Giacchetta, Calgary, Alta., 1:57.278
12. Leah Vignale, Kemptville, Ont., 1:59.336
13. Kim Young Jae, Mississauga, Ont., 2:01.456
14. Samantha McManus, Calgary, Alta., 2:02.188

Suzuki SV650 National Cup Qualifying Results
1. Jeremie Hade Precourt, Granby, Que., 1:26.576
2. Raphael Archambault, St-Colomban, Que., 1:27.181
3. Philippe Masse, St-Dominique, Que., 1:27.689
4. Kurtis Joki, De Winton, Alta., 1:30.030
5. Emerson Lefurgey, Calgary, Alta., 1:32.944
6. Lee Kuhn, Hamilton, Ont., 1:33.323