Szoke regains winning form

By John Hopkins

SHUBENACADIE, NS -- Normal service was restored to the Pro Sport Bike class of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Sunday.

After seeing his bid for a perfect season in the class come to an end with a fourth place result on Saturday, Jordan Szoke was back on top of the box in Sunday's season finale, taking his Waznie Racing / BMC Ciclo Werks / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR to a 4.396-sec. victory over the Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Team Kawasaki ZX-6R of Alex Welsh.

Jodi Christie completed the podium riding the Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR.

Szoke had already clinched a fifth straight title in the class with his Saturday result and ended the year with six victories from seven races.

"I won the championship, and that was the main thing," the 31-year-old from Brantford, ON said. "It's been a wicked, wicked, wicked year for us."

As in Saturday's race Welsh got the drop on the field from the outside of the front row and led from Szoke and Christie in the early laps. But on lap 11 of the 18-lap race the champion was able to get by on the Roller Coaster section at the back of the course and immediately pulled away. Szoke turned his fastest lap of the race, a 1:08.515 on the 13th tour.

"I got a really good start then all of a sudden this green bike [Welsh] swooped across in front of me," Szoke said. "I think Jodi and I had a much quicker pace but he was really strong in the braking areas, his bike was really stable. But he was slower through the Roller Coaster."

Welsh couldn't match Szoke's pace and settled for the runner-up finish to back up a win on Saturday.

"I thought I would give him a bit of time in the lead and see where he was strong at," the Uxbridge, ON rider said. "But he just put his head down and gapped me. I just didn't have it for him today, and after yesterday I knew Jordan would be strong."

Christie lost his shot at second spot when he ran off the track in turn one on lap 14. The 18-year-old from Keene, ON crossed the line 10 seconds behind Szoke but locked up second in the final Pro Sport Bike standings with 270 points to Szoke's 352.

Christie had crashed in turn one in Saturday's race.

"I haven't been having a great time with turn one," he admitted. "I did the same thing in practice this morning. I got in a bit later and backed it in a bit too much and had to run it off the track. But I was happy to bring it back on the track in front of the next group. I would have had a lot more work to do if I had got stuck behind them."

Jean-Francois Cyr of Ste-Adele, QC took fourth on the CyRacing Suzuki GSX-R600, holding off the Acceleration Racing Suzuki of top rookie Cody Matechuk. The Cochrane, AB rider had lost ground to Cyr in the middle of the race but closed back up in the waning laps.

"I upped the pace a little and he was fading too," said Matechuk, who placed third in the final Pro Sport Bike standings with 217 points. "I got through some traffic a little better too. I think one more lap I could have had him, but I guess every racer says that."

Dave Estok was sixth on the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R and the New Smyrna Beach, FL rider took fourth in points with 200.

Race Results
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 18 Laps
2. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) +4.396
3. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) +10.002
4. Jean-Francois Cyr, Ste. Adele, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) +13.625
5. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB (Suzuki GSX-R600) +13.859
6. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL (Buell 1125R) +28.891
7. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS (Honda CBR600RR) +35.401
8. Billy Shields, Unionville, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) +57.333
9. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) +1:07.235
10. James Collins, Kaladar, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 17 Laps
11. Matthew Leahey, Halifax, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 17 Laps
Did Not Finish
Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 13 Laps
Kenny Riedmann, Belfountain, ON (Triumph Daytona 675) 6 Laps
Did Not Start
Frank Trombino Kleinburg, ON (Honda CBR600RR)
Time of Race: 20:44.075
Fastest Lap: 1:08.515 by Jordan Szoke on lap 13

Final Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke, 352
2. Jodi Christie, 270
3. Cody Matechuk, 217
4. Dave Estok, 200
5. Jean-Francois Cyr, 182
6. Scott Rupert, 137
7. James Collins, 133
8. Frank Trombino, 103
9. Alex Welsh, 97
10. Kenny Riedmann, 82
11. Darren James, 79
12. Greg White, 57
13. Billy Shields, 56
14. Trevor Bernhardt, 54
15. Todd Scott, 50
16. Matthew Leahey, 46
17. Sebastien Tremblay, 44
17. Curtis Lindenbach, 44
17. Elie Daccache, 44
17. Tom Bodrovics, 44
21. Stephane Chabot, 42
22. Andrew Dunlap, 40
23. Matthew Elder, 36
24. John Crump, 27
25. Chad Swain, 25
26. Genevieve Lesieur, 23
27. Marie-Josee Boucher, 17
28. Alain Campagna, 13
29. Rob Darlington, 11
30. Adam Roberts, 8
31. Brad Clarke, 6