Pro Sport Bike win for Szoke

By John Hopkins

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Jordan Szoke extended his lead in the Pro Sport Bike standings in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship with his fourth win of the season on his Waznie Racing / BMC Ciclo Werks / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR.
     
The four-time defending class champion led all 14 laps from pole position and finished 8.106 secs. ahead of his closest title rival, Jodi Christie. Szoke now leads the Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda Powerhouse rider by 42 points, 216-174 heading into Sunday’s back end of the doubleheader.
     
Frank Trombino completed a Honda sweep of the podium in third on his ProStar Motorsports / Sturgess Cycle Honda CBR600RR.

For once Szoke got a good launch off the line and Christie had a poor start, allowing the Brantford, Ont. rider to make full use of his softer Pirelli SC3 DOT tire.

"I didn't expect that," said Szoke of his clear path to victory. "This is traditionally a draft and pass track. It's tough to break away."

Szoke's only problem in the early laps was a ripped boot.

"It kept getting caught on the rearset and that was slowing me down," the 31-year-old explained. "I couldn't ride as hard at the beginning as I wanted to. But that's racing. You've got to ride around problems."

Szoke had some help from behind as Christie spent most of the first lap trying to recover from his poor getaway from second on the grid, which left him fourth heading into the first turn.

"My mind wasn't focused, I had a knee slider coming off," said the Keene, ON rider of his rough start. "I found myself with four riders in front of me and I had to work hard from the beginning."

The 2009 HJC Pro Rookie of the Year then ran wide exiting turn one and lost a couple of seconds to Szoke, a deficit that he was never able to recover.

"I was just in a panic trying to catch up," he explained. "I think if I get a better start tomorrow [in the second race of the doubleheader] I can be with Jordan. I know I can do the times."

Trombino spent the race in a lonely third to grab his best finish of the season.

"I've got to be happy for the team," said the Kleinburg, ON veteran. "I tried to stay with Jodi but he's a lot lighter than me and I was no match. I just tried to stay consistent from there."

While the top three were spread out the action behind was fierce as four riders duked it out for fourth spot. Kenny Riedmann led the battle most of the way on the Compulsion Racing / Pro 6 Cycle Triumph 675 Daytona, chased by Jean-Francois Cyr's CyRacing Suzuki GSX-R600 and the Deeley Harley-Davidson / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125Rs of Dave Estok and Darren James.

Estok took advantage of the battle between Riedmann and Cyr to get ahead of them heading onto the backstraight. Riedmann got back underneath the Buell under braking for turn eight, and Cyr also came through on the inside.

"He [Cyr] came in real hot," Estok said. "And that pushed Riedmann wide and let me get back under them."

The drama wasn't over yet, as Estok had trouble getting through turn nine and then nearly highsided coming onto the front straight.

"I got on the gas as hard as I could," admitted the New Smyrna Beach, FL rider. "I actually was going over, but I came back down in the seat. I got lucky."

Estok had made a fabulous start, going from 13th on the grid to seventh by the end of the first lap.

Riedmann crossed the line in fifth but was penalized five seconds for a jump start, dropping him to seventh. The Belfountain, ON rider was still the top finishing rookie in the race.

James took fifth as a result, with Cyr sixth.

Cody Matechuk lost a duel with Stephane Chabot for eighth, but Chabot was penalized for a jump start and the Yamaha rider slipped to ninth in the results. Matechuk's eighth on the Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 allowed him to maintain third in the series standings, although Estok is now only seven points behind heading into Sunday's fifth round of the series.

Race Results
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 14 Laps
2. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 14
3. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 14
4. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL (Buell 1125R) 14
5. Darren James, North Vancouver, BC (Buell 1125R) 14
6. Jean-Francois Cyr, Ste. Adele, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 14
7. Kenny Riedmann, Belfountain, ON (Triumph 675 Daytona) 14*
8. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB (Suzuki GSX-R600) 14
9. Stephane Chabot, Oshawa, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 14*
10. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 14
11. James Collins, Kaladar, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 14
12. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 14
13. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 14
14. Greg White, Raleigh, NC (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 14
15. Genevieve Lesieur, Quebec City, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 14
16. Adam Roberts, Milford, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 13
17. Brad Clarke, Mississauga, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 13
18. Matthew Leahey, Halifax, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 13
Did Not Start
Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC (Honda CBR600RR)
* -- Penalized five seconds for jump start

Time of Race: 19:37.183
Margin of Victory: 8.106 seconds
Fastest Lap: 1:23.267 by Jordan Szoke on lap 7

Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke 216
2. Jodi Christie 174
3. Cody Matechuk 128
4. Dave Estok 121
5. Scott Rupert 82
6. James Collins 78
7. Frank Trombino 69
8. Jean-Francois Cyr 66
9. Trevor Bernhardt 54
10. Kenny Riedmann 53
11. Darren James 52
12. Sebastien Tremblay 44
13. Tom Bodrovics 44
14. Curtis Lindenbach 44
15. Greg White 42
16. Matthew Elder 36
17. John Crump 27
18. Chad Swain 25
19. Stephane Chabot 21
20. Elie Daccache 19
21. Marie-Josee Boucher 17
22. Alain Campagna 13
23. Andrew Dunlap 13
24. Billy Shields 12
25. Rob Darlington 11
26. Genevieve Lesieur 10
27. Adam Roberts 8
28. Brad Clarke 6
29. Matthew Leahey 4