Szoke takes AMP Superbike pole

By John Hopkins

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – Jordan Szoke continued his dominance of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Friday by claiming pole position for the final two rounds of the 2010 season.
       
The rider of the Waznie Racing / BMC Ciclo Werks / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR1000RR turned a lap of one minute, 7.509 seconds around the 2.56 km (1.6-mile) AMP circuit for an average speed of 141.314 km/h in Pirelli SuperPole qualifying.

With that performance Szoke completed a sweep of the $500 Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award in 2010.
       
The 31-year-old from Brantford, Ont. is trying to clinch an unprecedented seventh Canadian Superbike title and his fifth Parts Canada crown in a row. He extended his lead in the championship by four points to 78 over his nearest challenger, Francis Martin. Szoke now has 272 points to the 194 of Martin with 104 points available in this weekend’s races.
       
Szoke also has a shot at completing a perfect season in the Superbike championship with seven wins from seven races.
       
“I was trying to be careful because I have to keep the championship in mind,” Szoke said. “But I nailed the Roller Coaster a little too good and had to lift out of it a little. There’s still a lot left in the bike and I wish we had one more session, because the track’s really starting to come in.

"I used a soft race tire and it usually takes a couple of laps to come in, so I could have used another lap. I wanted to see a seven flat or even a six."
     
Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ont. qualified second for this weekend’s races with a time of 1:07.751 on the Orion Motorsports / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR and Kleinburg, Ont.’s Frank Trombino set the third best time of 1:08.004 riding the ProStar Motorsports / Sturgess Cycle Honda CBR1000RR.
       
Keene, Ont. racer Jodi Christie completes the front row for the pair of Superbike races after qualifying fourth with a time of 1:08.428 on the Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR.
       
Nelson was quickest in testing on Thursday and turned in his fastest lap of the weekend in Pirelli SuperPole qualifying to put the pressure on Szoke.
       
“I know I have a lot more left,” said Nelson after equaling his best career Parts Canada Superbike qualifying performance. “I didn’t come onto the front straight quick enough on my fast lap, I shut off between turns three and four and I had a wheelie coming to the checkered flag.
       
“I’m looking forward to the race. I’m happy with my lap times and I’m not going to make a single change to the bike – just put gas in it and go.”
       
Trombino was disappointed not to challenge for pole after his bike slipped into neutral exiting turn two on his SuperPole lap.
     
“For sure that cost me half a second right there,” he admitted. “But the bike’s working well and we know how to make fast times. Being on the front row is good enough and we’ll take that. In the end it’s the race that counts."
       
Christie was forced onto his back-up Honda CBR600RR after crashing his primary bike in Pro Sport Bike qualifying earlier in the afternoon. The highside resulted in a bent front brake disc and tweaked front end.
       
“I’m really happy since this is the first time I’ve ridden the bike all weekend,” said the 18-year-old.
       
Uxbridge, Ont.’s Alex Welsh leads the second row of the Superbike grid after turning a lap of 1:08.467 on the Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Team Kawasaki ZX-6R. He will be joined by the pair of radX HD / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RRs ridden by Mississauga, Ont.’s Mike Ferreira and Sherbrooke, Que.’s Martin, respectively.

Welsh was frustrated to miss the front row by just 0.041 secs. Passing is tricky on the tight AMP circuit and starting position is especially critical here.

"I'm not too unhappy with my lap but unhappy to be so close to the front row and not get it," Welsh explained. "I was pretty comfortable with my lap and I didn't have any moments. The set-up is pretty good, especially on race tires."

Ferreira lopped over half a second off of his morning prequalifying time of 1:09.194.

"We made a little change for the warm-up just before SuperPole," he said. "From there it was a matter of going into each corner a little deeper and braking a little deeper. I'm happy with the lap."

His teammate Martin went in the opposite direction, however, and was the only rider taking part in Pirelli SuperPole not to improve on his prequalifying time.

"It was very bad," admitted the two time Superbike champ, who turned a 1:08.321 in the morning. "I was a little wide exiting turn four and then I pushed hard on the backstraight and got into a wobble. I lost lots of time there. I need a really good start tomorrow and I have to run aggressive."

Jean-Francois Cyr qualified eighth on the CyRacing Suzuki GSX-R600 and heads the third row of the grid with top local, Todd Scott ninth on the ProDev Racing Honda CBR600RR.

Kenny Riedmann will start 10th on his Compulsion Racing / Pro 6 Cycle Triumph 675 Daytona after being forced to miss the Pirelli SuperPole session due to engine troubles in Pro Sport Bike qualifying. A failed seal apparently allowed oil into his water tank, causing it to overflow and spilling a mixture of fluid on the track, which led to a crash.

Superbike Qualifying Results
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON (Honda CBR1000RR) 1:07.509 (141.314km/h)
2. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON (BMW S1000RR) 1:07.751
3. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON (Honda CBR1000RR) 1:08.004
4. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 1:08.428
5. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:08.467
6. Michael Ferreira, Mississauga, ON (BMW S1000RR) 1:08.534
7. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC (BMW S1000RR) 1:08.774
8. Jean-Francois Cyr, Ste-Adele, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:09.370
9. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 1:09.780
10. Kenny Riedmann, Belfountain, ON (Triumph Daytona 675) 1:09.893
11. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:09.974
12. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 1:10.062
13. Franklyn Dominguez, Montreal, QC (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 1:10.428
14. Ron Munroe, Beaver Bank, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:11.235
15. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL (Buell 1125R) 1:11.349
16. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, ON (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 1:12.179
17. Matthew Leahey, Halifax, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 1:12.344
18. David Young, Woodstock, ON (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 1:12.495
19. Billy Shields, Unionville, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:12.495