McCormick takes first ever Sport Bike victory

By John Hopkins

MIRABEL, QC – Brett McCormick led every lap of the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike race on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 at Circuit ICAR on Sunday to claim his first career victory in that class and take over the points lead from Jordan Szoke.

Szoke finished second on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors / Kawasaki ZX-6R, 3.061 secs. behind while Andrew Nelson completed the podium on his Nelson Racing / Yamaha YZF-R6.

“It was a pretty awesome race and the team’s been working really hard,” said McCormick, who now has 101 points to Szoke’s 99. “I busted out a bit of a gap and was able to put down some fast laps early.”

Szoke started alongside the 17-year-old McCormick on the grid and the pair were side-by-side in the run down to turn one before McCormick established himself in the lead. The three-time defending class champ stayed close for the first three laps of the 14-lap race before the Saskatoon rider was able to edge clear. McCormick set the race's fastest lap on the fourth tour.

"I thought I had the holeshot but he closed the door on me at turn two," Szoke explained. "It just took me too many laps to get up to speed after that. I haven't been really comfortable all weekend around here."

Nelson battled with a broken rear shock but managed to stay with McCormick and Szoke for the first few laps before settling into a lonely third.

"We went back to the same settings as yesterday, and luckily we managed to get a pretty good start," the Kars, ON rider said.

Kevin Lacombe was fourth on his Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF / Yamaha YZF-R6 after struggling with handling issues and Alex Welsh took fifth aboard a Canadian Kawasaki Motors / Kawasaki ZX-6R despite a late charge from Steve Crevier and Royce McLean.

Crevier, on the Deeley Racing Powered By Buell / Buell 1125R, and the second Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF entry of 14-year-old McLean enjoyed a tremendous scrap, the youngster occasionally getting past his more experienced rival only to have the 43-year-old veteran return the favour.

Karl Daigle had been part of this scrap on the A. Perusse Kawasaki / Kawasaki ZX-6R but faded in the last couple of laps.

After having to pit with a gearshift problem after the warm-up lap Darren James made an inspired charge from the back of the 23-bike field to 14th at the finish on his Deeley Racing Powered By Buell / Buell 1125R.

Pro Sport Bike Race Results
1. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, SK 14 laps, Suzuki GSX-R600     
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON 14, +3.061, Kawasaki ZX-6R      
3. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON 14   +11.445, Yamaha YZF-R6 
4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC 14 +16.744, Yamaha YZF-R6 
5. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON 14 +23.675, Kawasaki ZX-6R 
6. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC 14 +24.558, Buell 1125R      
7. Royce McLean, Coaldale, AB 14, +24.818, Yamaha YZF-R6       
8. Karl Daigle, Roxton Pond, QC 14, +30.505, Kawasaki ZX-6R    
9. J.F. Cyr, Ste-Adele, QC 14, +44.125, Honda CBR600RR 
10. Tony Kasper, Becker, MN 14, +48.238, Yamaha YZF-R6 (Jump Start Penalty)
11. Martin Grande, Montreal, QC, 14 +49.422, Suzuki GSX-R600   
12. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC, 14 +50.842, BMW HP2
13. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON, 14 +56.84, Honda CBR600RR
14. Darren James, North Vancouver, BC, 14 +59.911, Buell 1125R 
15. Michael Ferreira, Mississauga, ON, 14 +1:02.6, BMW HP2     
16. Louie Raffa, Ste-Marthe, QC, 14 +1:22.0, Yamaha YZF-R6     
17. Rob Busby, Brantford, ON, 14 +1:22.3, Kawasaki ZX-6R       
18. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS, 13 +1 Lap, Honda CBR600RR 
19. Alain Campagna, Mascouche, QC, 13 +1 Lap, Yamaha YZF-R6    
20. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, 13 +1 Lap, Kawasaki ZX-6R       
Did Not Finish
Jean Paquet, Chambly, QC, 10, Honda CBR600RR   
Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL, 2, Buell 1125R       
Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC, 0, Honda CBR600RR
Did Not Start  
Genevieve Lesieur, Quebec, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600

Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike Point Standings
1. Brett McCormick, 101
2. Jordan Szoke, 99
3. Kevin Lacombe, 72
4. Andrew Nelson, 68
5. Alex Welsh, 61
6. Steve Crevier, 54
7. Royce McLean, 50
8. Jodi Christie, 34
9. Martin Grande, 32
10. Francis Martin, 27
11. Darren James, 25
12. Karl Daigle, 24
13. Dave Estok, 23
14. Jean-Francois Cyr, 21
15. Matt McBride, 19
16. Tony Kasper, 19
17. Michael Ferreira, 18
18. Marie-Josee Boucher, 17
19. Brian Blaauwendraat, 10
20. Louie Raffa, 8
21. Elie Daccache, 7
22. Rob Busby, 6
23. Dan Henri, 4
24. Todd Scott, 4
25. James Collins, 2
26. Alain Campagna, 2
27. Zenon Nelson, 1