Matechuk magnificent at AMP

By John Hopkins

SHUBENACADIE, NS – Cochrane, AB’s Cody Matechuk extended his lead in the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike point standings by qualifying fastest for Sunday’s race with a new record time of 1:09.406 on the Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Saturday.

Matechuk was almost a second and a half clear of the number two qualifier, West Kelowna, BC's Marcel Irnie, who turned a lap at 1:10.876 on his Irnieracing.com Kawasaki ZX-6R. The 15-year-old Matechuk also comfortably beat the class record of 1:10.077 established last year by Jodi Christie.

"We put on new tires and made a little change in the suspension; I changed a few lines and pushed a little harder," Matechuk said. "I think I can do high nines, for sure low 10s in the race."

His closest rival in the championship, Sebastien Tremblay of Longueuil, Que. set the fourth fastest time of 1:10.983 on his A. Perusse Kawasaki / Kawasaki ZX-6R. Matechuk now has 211 points to the 177 of Tremblay heading into Sunday's penultimate race of the season.

"My goal is to wrap it up this weekend," Matechuk added. "All I can do is try and get maximum points, but if I have to push too hard to win, I'll settle for second place."

Tremblay did well to get on the front row after a crash on Friday left him with a damaged bike and caused him to miss the Saturday morning practice session.

Billy Shields of Unionville, ON qualified third on his BnE Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 with a time of 1:10.901.

Local ace Ron Munroe of Beaver Bank, NS qualified fifth fastest at 1:11.187 on his Honda CBR600RR.

Jeremie Hade Precourt of Granby, Que. claimed his third straight pole position in the Suzuki SV650 National Cup with a time of 1:13.143. Rob Busby of Brantford, ON qualified second at 1:13.207 and points leader Rafael Archambault of St-Colomban, Que. is third on the grid with a 1:13.214, meaning Busby gains a point on Archambault in the standings and now trails him by 32 points, 228-196.

Phiippe Masse of St-Dominique, QC completes the front row, which is covered by just 0.418 secs.

Warman, SK’s Bodhi Edie gained two points on series leader Steven Nickerson by qualifying on pole for the Honda CBR125R Challenge race. Edie turned a lap at 1:28.240, also under the previous class record.

Hamilton, ON's Nickerson will start third on Sunday and now has 320 points to Edie's 283.

Karl Robitaille of Ste-Julie, QC splits the two title contenders on the grid thanks to a flying final lap of 1:28.262 in the qualifying session, which brought him to within 0.022 secs. of Edie.

Matechuk also qualified fastest for the Pro Cycle ARL Amateur Superbike Regional at AMP with a time of 1:10.086 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Shields was second fastest and his BnE Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 teammate Efram Ellenbogen of Belleville, ON placed third.

Amateur Sport Bike Qualifying Results
1. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:09.406
2. Marcel Irnie, West Kelowna, BC (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:10.876
3. Billy Shields, Unionville, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:10.901
4. Sebastien Tremblay, Longueuil, QC (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:10.938
5. Ron Munroe, Beaver Bank, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 1:11.187
6. Efram Ellenbogen, Belleville, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:11.223
7. Joey McRae, Orangeville, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:12.001
8. Jeffery Dion, Granby, QC (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:12.296
9. Vicki Schouten, Richmond, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:12.589
10. Stephane Beaupre, Quebec, QC (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:12.811
11. Justin Ford, Oyster Bed, PEI (Yamaha YFF-R6) 1:12.900
12. Scott Redden, Hatchet Lake, NS (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:13.263
13. Clarke LaPrairie, Kanata, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:15.278
14. Matthew Raymond, Cornwallis, NS (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:15.494
15. Stephen Clark, Hampton, NB (Honda CBR600RR) 1:15.682
16. Amy Karthaus, Brantford, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:16.450
17. Charles Legere, Sackville, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 1:16.794
18. Vanessa Gareau-Dominguez, Montreal, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:17.025
19. Peter Hico, Halifax, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6RR) No Time

Suzuki SV650 Cup Qualifying Results
1. Jeremie Hade Precourt, Granby, QC 1:13.143
2. Rob Busby, Brantford, ON 1:13.207
3. Raphael Archambault, St-Colomban, QC 1:13.214
4. Philippe Masse, St Dominique, QC 1:13.561
5. Lee Kuhn, Hamilton, ON 1:15.248
6. Joe Rodrigues, Weston, ON 1:16.698
7. Chris Dopke, Cambridge, ON 1:16.757

Honda CBR125R Challenge Qualifying Results
1. Bodhi Edie Warman, SK 1:28.240
2. Karl Robitaille Ste-Julie, QC 1:28.262
3. Steven Nickerson Hamilton, ON 1:28.559
4. Ed Sorbo Mentone, CA 1:31.619
5. Ryan Roche Pickering, ON 1:32.174
6. Leah Vignale Kemptville, ON 1:36.536
7. Young Jae Kim Mississauga, ON 1:37.577
8. Austin O'Leary Falmouth, NS 1:42.165
9. Veronika Larson Halifax, NS 1:43.013
10. Toni Nesbitt Saint-Lazare, QC 1:44.648