Szoke holds off Christie for win

By John Hopkins

CALGARY, AB – Jordan Szoke held off Jodi Christie to take his second consecutive win in the Canadian Pro Sport Bike championship at Race City Motorsport Park on Saturday.

The pair traded the lead before Szoke grabbed first place for good on lap 12 of the 16-lap race. The Waznie Racing / Ciclo Werks BMC / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR rider finished just 0.194 secs. ahead of Christie's Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda-backed CBR600RR.
       
Cody Matechuk took third on his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600, claiming his first podium finish in only his second Pro start.

Szoke started from pole but Matechuk grabbed the holeshot and Christie had the lead by the end of the opening lap. Szoke worked his way into second by lap two and then erased a gap of just over a second to Christie. The 17-year-old from Keene, ON had the edge down Race City's long drag strip front straight but Szoke was able to make up for it in the corners.

Szoke led at the start of the final lap but Christie drafted ahead of him along the front straight. Szoke was able to reply, however, squeezing inside the teenager through the infield before the back straight.

"It could have gone either way," Szoke admitted. "Jodi's got 25 pounds on me, so I had to make up the difference in the infield. My years of experience coming here may have helped in the end. I know how to set guys up. I've been racing longer than he's been alive, I think."

Christie admitted he was surprised by Szoke's move for the win.

"I didn't leave him a lot of room but he found something," said Christie, who like Szoke was using an engine tuned by Scott Miller of Fast Company. "I was going to try something in the last few corners, but there were some lappers there and I thought better of it.

"But it was a good battle and it was cool to be up there fighting for the lead."

Brantford, ON's Szoke now leads Christie by 22 points in the Pro Sport Bike standings, 112-90.

Matechuk was unable to hold onto the two Honda riders, admitting that he was still getting over his crash in Superbike prequalifying on Friday morning.

"The bike's good, it's all up to me now," said the 2009 Amateur Sport Bike champion. "I've got to get my head into it and find some speed. Tomorrow maybe I'll be able to stay with them."

Dave Estok ran a quiet race to fourth on his Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R, his best finish in the class. The New Smyrna Beach, FL rider bounced back from a crash in qualifying on Friday that he almost repeated in the race.

"In turn two I clipped the kerb with the engine cases again and I almost threw it away," he admitted. "I wasn't totally happy with the way the bike was handling but I think that comes down more to the rider than the bike. I need to get more confident. Dave Oakley and the guys did a great job getting the bike back together after Friday."

Sebastien Tremblay and Trevor Bernhardt engaged in a stirring battle for fifth over the second half of the race. Riding the ProStar Motorsports / Sturgess Cycle Honda CBR600RR Tremblay just hung on for the spot after the two had run side-by-side most of the way through the Keyhole at the end of the final lap.

It was a solid result for the Sherbrooke, QC rookie, who is still feeling the effects of a foot injury suffered before the start of the season.

Bernhardt settled for sixth on the Majik X Suzuki GSX-R600 after a solid ride for the Calgary racer.

Poor Rob Darlington qualified fourth on his HardNox Racing / Redline Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6 but muffed his start badly and then crashed exiting the Bus Stop on lap three. The Calgarian remounted a lap down and doggedly ran to the finish, turning the fifth fastest lap in the process.

Race Results
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 20:45.585
2. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON, Honda CBR600RR, +0.194
3. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB, Suzuki GSX-R600, +26.176
4. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Buell 1125R, +40.503
5. Sebastien Tremblay, Sherbrooke, QC, Honda CBR600RR, +1:04.110
6. Trevor Bernhardt, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R600, +1:05.380
7. Chad Swain, Calgary, AB, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +1:13.514
8. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, +1:15.128
9. Tom Bodrovics, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R600, +1 Lap
10. James Collins, Kaladar, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, +1 Lap
11. Matthew Elder, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R600, +1 Lap
12. Curtis Lindenbach, Calgary, AB, Honda CBR600RR, +1 Lap
13. Greg White, Raleigh, NC, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +1 Lap
14. John Crump, Bragg Creek, AB, Buell 1125R, +1 Lap
15. Rob Darlington, Calgary, AB, Yamaha YZF-R6, +1 Lap

Time of Race: 20:45.585
Margin of Victory: 0.194 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:17.262 by Jordan Szoke on lap 5

Point Standings
1.Jordan Szoke, 112
2. Jodi Christie, 90
3. Cody Matechuk, 68
4. Dave Estok, 57
5. Sebastien Tremblay, 44
6. Scott Rupert, 42
7. James Collins, 40
8. Jean-Francois Cyr, 39
9. Frank Trombino, 32
10. Kenny Riedmann, 28
11. Trevor Bernhardt, 27
12. Chad Swain, 25
13. Darren James, 23
14. Tom Bodrovics, 21
15. Matthew Elder, 17
15. Marie-Josee Boucher, 17
17. Curtis Lindenbach, 15
18. Greg White, 13
18. Alain Campagna, 13
20. John Crump, 12
20. Billy Shields, 12
22. Rob Darlington, 11