McCormick sizzles in Sport Bike

By John Hopkins

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Brett McCormick shattered the lap record in Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class qualifying at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Saturday with a time of 1:04.590 in qualifying on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R600. The previous record was a 1:05.020 set by Andrew Nelson last year.

Jordan Szoke was next quickest at 1:04.860 aboard his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6R and Kevin Lacombe set the third best time of 1:05.029 riding his Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R6.

McCormick’s effort brought him to within 15 points of Szoke in the Pro Sport Bike standings, 303-288 heading into Sunday’s race. A second place finish for Szoke in the race would assure him of a fourth straight Pro Sport Bike title.

"The bike's unreal; I feel like I could do 100 laps at that pace," McCormick said. "I know the set up's there for the race. I just need a good start and we'll take it from there."

The Saskatoon rider moved into the top spot with a time of 1:04.963 just before the halfway point of the 30-minute session. The 18-year-old from Saskatoon then put on a new tire and dropped his time again with just over five minutes to go.

Szoke got into the 1:04 range with three minutes remaining in the session but an issue changing gears spoiled his shot at pole.

"It was possibly something with the shifter, maybe it was me, but I couldn't get it into sixth gear," said the Brantford, ON racer. "Then coming off the backstraight, I screwed that up. But I can't complain, second was what I was aiming for. I'm trying to control myself too; the bike's better than what I'm doing."

Lacombe moved into third in the final minute of the session then topped that time on his last lap after struggling with handling issues earlier in the weekend.

His late effort bounced Alex Welsh to the fourth spot, but the 21-year-old from Uxbridge, ON did an admirable job considering he was riding with a broken pelvis. Welsh turned a lap at 1:05.708.

"It's not really a physical liability, more of a mental thing," said Welsh, who was injured in a crash at Atlantic Motorsport Park last month. "I don't expect any problems in the race. We have a pretty good set-up on race tires."

HJC Pro Rookie of the Year champion-elect Jodi Christie heads the second row for Sunday's race on his Honda Powerhouse Dealers of Ontario / Roz-Gar Racing Honda CBR600RR. He will be joined by Kars, ON's Nelson (Nelson Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) and the A. Perusse / Chaine Performance Kawasaki ZX-6R of Roxton Pond, QC's Kar Daigle.

Qualifying Results
1. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, SK, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:04.590
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:04.860
3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:05.029
4. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:05.708
5. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:05.841
6. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:05.922
7. Karl Daigle, Roxton Pond, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:05.955
8. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Buell 1125R, 1:06.128
9. Matt McBride, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:06.337
10. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Buell 1125R, 1:06.453
11. Tony Kasper, Becker, MN, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:07.122
12. Martin Grande, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:07.171
13. Darren James, North Vancouver, BC, Buell 1125R, 1:07.311
14. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:07.375
15. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC, Honda CBR600RR, 1:07.559
16. Michael Ferreira, Mississauga, ON, BMW HP2, 1:08.007
17. Louie Raffa, Ste-Marthe, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:08.638
18. Alain Campagna, Mascouche, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:08.804
19. Olivier Spilborghs, White Rock, BC, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.497
20. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.609
21. Genevieve Lesieur, Quebec, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, No Time