Szoke on Mosport Sport Bike pole

By John Hopkins

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. – Jordan Szoke claimed pole position for this weekend’s pair of Pro Sport Bike races in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship event at Mosport International Raceway without turning a wheel on Friday.

With heavy rain falling through most of the morning qualifying for Pro Sport Bike was cancelled and what was supposed to be the afternoon qualifying session was turned into a practice period.

As a result, practice times from Thursday afternoon will be used to set the grid for this weekend’s pair of races, putting Szoke on pole with a time of 1:23.664. However, since no official qualifying session was held no qualifying points will be awarded.

“Not to get the points does kind of suck,” said Szoke, who comes into the weekend leading Jodi Christie by 32 points, 164-132 in the Pro Sport Bike standings. “I feel we had the bike to get the pole.”

Qualifying points are generally awarded to the four front row starters, with pole position worth four points.

Szoke was also disappointed not to get more dry track time on his Waznie Racing / BMC Ciclo Werks / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR.

“It was so hot yesterday we were off on speed where we wanted to be,” the Brantford, ON racer explained. “It would have been nice to see how the bike worked in faster track conditions.”

Thursday’s temperatures were reportedly in the low to mid 30s Celsius, with high humidity making it feel even warmer.

Christie will line up second in this weekend’s races on the Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR after setting a fastest lap of 1:24.119 on Thursday afternoon.

“I’m pretty happy with the bike,” said the 17-year-old from Keene, ON, who has finished second to Szoke in all three series races so far this year. “We’re close enough to where we want to be. We should be able to hang with Jordan and I think we can keep his pace.”

Third on the grid will be Frank Trombino on the ProStar Motorsports / Sturgess Cycle Honda CBR600RR, although the Kleinburg, ON racer’s time of 1:26.764 was just over three seconds off Szoke’s best.

The front row on Saturday and Sunday will be completed by Ste-Adele, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr aboard the only non-Honda in the top four, his CyRacing Suzuki GSX-R600 with a time of 1:26.784.

HJC Pro Rookie of the Year points leader Cody Matechuk of Cochrane, AB leads off the second row on his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 with a time of 1:26.911. Next up are fellow rookie Kenny Riedmann of Belfountain, ON on the Compulsion Racing / Pro 6 Cycle Triumph 675 Daytona and Truro, N.S.’s Andrew Dunlap aboard the Fundy Power Sports / RAT Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Although Szoke and Christie had a substantial margin on the field in terms of practice times, just over one second covered Trombino in third down to 10th place Darren James on the Ruthless Racing / Deeley Harley-Davidson Racing Buell 1125R.

Pro Sport Bike Line-Up (based on Thursday PM Practice Times)
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 1:23.664
2. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 1:24.119
3. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON (Honda CBR600RR0 1:26.764
4. Jean-Francois Cyr, Ste. Adele, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:26.784
5. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:26.911
6. Kenny Riedmann, Belfountain, ON (Triumph 675 Daytona) 1:27.100
7. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:27.418
8. Stephane Chabot, Oshawa, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:27.431
9. James Collins, Kaladar, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:27.466
10. Darren James, North Vancouver, BC (Buell 1125R) 1:27.844
11. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:28.054
12. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:28.056
13. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL (Buell 1125R) 1:28.065
14. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC (Honda CBR600RR) 1:28.065
15. Greg White, Raleigh, NC (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:30.844
16. Genevieve Lesieur, Quebec City, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:31.643
17. Adam Roberts, Milford, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:33.006
18. Brad Clarke, Mississauga, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:33.887
19. Matthew Leahey, Halifax, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 1:37.925