Welsh wins but Szoke takes title

By John Hopkins

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – Jordan Szoke wrapped up the Pro Sport Bike title in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Saturday, although he lost his shot at a perfect season when he crashed while trying to take the lead on the final lap.
     
Instead victory went to Alex Welsh, who led all 18 laps on his Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Team Kawasaki ZX-6R. Jean-Francois Cyr of Ste-Adele, Que. took second on the CyRacing Suzuki GSX-R600, 16.296 secs. behind, with rookie Cody Matechuk third on his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600.
     
Szoke restarted to cross the line fourth on the Waznie Racing / BMC Ciclo Werks / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR and clinch the title with 302 points to the 233 of Jodi Christie, who crashed earlier in the race and finished 11th on his Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR.

The title was Szoke's fifth straight in the Pro Sport Bike class, tying him with Nova Scotia's Don Munroe for the most titles in the category and the most in succession.

"I still feel a little bummed because I wanted to give the team another win," said Szoke at the podium, after a quick trip to medical following the race. "But what a great accomplishment, tying a legend like Don Munroe."

Szoke had qualified on pole but was beaten into the first turn by Welsh, who was making his first start of the season on the ZX-6R. While the Uxbridge, Ont. rider kept his cool at the front three Hondas battled close behind him, with Szoke mixing it up with Christie and Frank Trombino on the ProStar Motorsports / Sturgess Cycle CBR600RR.

Christie took second from Szoke on the backstraight on lap five after the championship leader had a big moment. But two laps later the 18-year-old from Keene, Ont., who has been Szoke's toughest challenger this year, crashed in turn one, putting Szoke back in second with Trombino harrying him. The Kleinburg, Ont. rider then took over second place at the start of lap 11, only to crash moments later in turn nine. It was an unfortunate turn of events for Trombino, who had worked his way up from fifth on the opening lap and turned the race's fastest lap, a 1:08.436 on the fifth tour.

Trombino's demise left Szoke on his own to battle Welsh. On the final lap they ran side-by-side down the backstraight but Welsh was able to hold his lead. That left Szoke to try an inside pass entering the turn nine right-hander. The Honda rider had a big wobble, recovered and then made a desperate lunge, only to nick Welsh's rear wheel and crash into the air fence.

From there Welsh was able to cruise to his first ever national victory.

"I saw Jordan coming up on the last lap," said the 22-year-old Welsh. "I had the line up the hill so there was nothing he could do there. Then I felt a bump and that was it.

"I've had rough weekends both times I've been here in the past. In 2008 I had two crashes and last year I left here with a broken pelvis, so the place hasn't been that fun for me in the past."

Had Szoke been unable to restart he would not have clinched the title, but he managed to get the Honda going and roll across the line in fourth.

"It was one of those weird races," the Brantford, Ont. rider admitted. "I tried everything I could but this track is really hard to pass on. I thought I had a move on the backstraight, then I had a run on him going into turn nine, but I got into a wiggle."

The crashes in front of him allowed Cyr to claim a superb runner-up finish, running what is essentially a one-man program this year.

"I'm having the most fun I've ever had racing," said the beaming Ste-Adele, Que. rider.

Matechuk's third place finish gave him some breathing room in third place in the Pro Sport Bike standings heading into Sunday's season finale.

Fellow rookie Kenny Riedmann made a superb charge from last on the 14-rider grid to claim fifth place on his Compulsion Racing / Pro 6 Cycle Triumph Daytona 675. A serious engine problem had taken him out of qualifying on Friday but Riedmann showed no ill effects in the race, coming out on top of a battle with the Fundy Powersports Kawasaki ZX-6R of Andrew Dunlap and Todd Scott on the ProDev Racing Honda CBR600RR.

"I knew I had to get up to the front quickly," the Belfountain, Ont. rider said. "I made some passes going into turn one, just staying late on the brakes, and my pass of Dave Estok in turn nine [on lap 11] wasn't really planned at all."

Pro Sport Bike Results
1. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 18 
2. Jean-Francois Cyr, Ste. Adele, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 18 
3. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB (Suzuki GSX-R600) 18 
4. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 18
5. Kenny Riedmann, Belfountain, ON (Triumph Daytona 675) 18
6. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 18
7. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 18
8. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL (Buell 1125R) 18 
9. Billy Shields, Unionville, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 18
10. James Collins, Kaladar, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 18 
11. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 18 
12. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 18 
13. Matthew Leahey, Halifax, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 17
Did Not Finish
Frank Trombino Kleinburg, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 10
Time of Race: 20:45.403
Margin of Victory: 16.296 seconds
Fastest Lap: 1:08.436 by Frank Trombino on lap 5

Pro Sport Bike Standings
1. Jordan Szoke, 302
2. Jodi Christie, 233
3. Cody Matechuk, 188
4. Dave Estok, 173
5. Jean-Francois Cyr, 150
6. Scott Rupert, 116
7. James Collins, 114
8. Frank Trombino, 103
9. Kenny Riedmann, 82
10. Darren James, 79
11. Greg White, 57
12. Trevor Bernhardt, 54
13. Alex Welsh, 53
14. Sebastien Tremblay, 44
14. Curtis Lindenbach, 44
14. Elie Daccache, 44
14. Tom Bodrovics, 44
18. Stephane Chabot, 42
19. Andrew Dunlap, 40
20. Matthew Elder, 36
21. Billy Shields, 33
22. Matthew Leahey, 29
23. John Crump, 27
24. Chad Swain, 25
25. Todd Scott, 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