By John Hopkins / Photo by Bob Szoke
BOWMANVILLE, ON – Brett McCormick celebrated his 20th birthday in style by clinching his first Canadian Superbike Championship by Parts Canada title with a dramatic victory at Mosport International Raceway on Saturday.
The radX / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR rider passed the Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Team Kawasaki ZX-10R of Jordan Szoke in the last turn and held on for a 0.053-sec. victory.
The win was the sixth of the season for the Saskatoon rider and put him in an uncatchable position in the Canadian Superbike Championship standings with just Sunday’s season finale left to run. He now has 328 points to the 266 of Szoke with a maximum of 52 points available on Sunday.
“I’m a bit speechless right now,” McCormick said. “It’s been an amazing season with an amazing team. I’m shaking; it’s a bizarre feeling.”
McCormick completed the 20 laps around the 3.957km track in 27 minutes, 24.935 seconds for an average speed of 173.201km/h.
Szoke grabbed the holeshot and by the end of the opening lap he and McCormick had pulled clear of the rest of the field. The five-time defending Superbike champion led 17 laps despite occasional challenges from McCormick, who led laps 11-12.
Szoke led as two leaders headed into the turn 10 right hander, the final corner before the finish line. McCormick made a dive to the inside and snuck ahead. Szoke tried to power back in front but couldn’t quite make it.
“It was a super-fun race and it’s great to battle for the championship like that,” McCormick said. “His bike had a little bit more motor than mine but I was a bit quicker through the corners and that made for a great race.”
Szoke said his bike ran just short of fuel as he and McCormick raced through the final few corners.
“It’s just one of those things,” he admitted. “Brett ran wide out of turn eight and I tried to get inside him and I just had no power. But no excuses. Brett deserves the number one plate; he’s a great talent. I’m glad I was able to give him a battle today.”
While McCormick has clinched the Canadian Superbike title he goes into Sunday’s final round with a chance to complete a perfect season, something only done once previously, by Szoke last season.
In another tremendous battle Andrew Nelson came out on top of a four-rider scrap for the final podium spot. The rider of the Nelson Racing / GymMax / Monette Sports BMW S1000RR made up for a horrible start that saw him complete the opening lap in seventh spot to snatch third from Michael Ferreira by just 0.380 secs.
“It was a good battle with Mike,” said the Kars, Ont. rider, who also gained sole position of third place in the Canadian Superbike point standings. “I think I saved just enough rear tire to get good drives down the backstraight at the end.”
Mississauga, Ont.’s Ferreira settled for fourth on the radX / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR while Jodi Christie of Keene, Ont. was a close fifth on his Jodi Christie Racing / Cameron Cycle / Blue Streak Racing Honda CBR1000RR, which put him alone in fifth spot in the series standings.
Matt McBride of Mississauga, Ont. was at the back of this group on his Riders Choice / BMW Toronto Motorrad BMW S1000RR.
Uxbridge, Ont.’s Alex Welsh was also part of the third place battle after making an impressive charge from 13th on the grid to sit third by lap three. But he crashed his Z1 CycleTech / Kenwood Suzuki GSX-R1000 in turn five on lap nine.
Race Results
1. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask. (BMW S1000RR) 20
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 20
3. Andrew Nelson, Kars, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 20
4. Michael Ferreira, Mississauga, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 20
5. Jodi Christie, Keene, Ont. (Honda CBR600RR) 20
6. Matt McBride, Mississauga, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 20
7. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, Que. (BMW S1000RR) 20
8. Sebastien Tremblay, Sherbrooke, Que. (BMW S1000RR) 20
9. Matt Cooper, Guelph, Ont. (Yamaha YZF-R1) 20
10. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que. (Honda CBR1000RR) 20
11. Francois Dumas, St-Raymond, Que. (BMW S1000RR) 20
12. Frank Trombino, Woodbridge, Ont. (Suzuki GSX-R600) 20
13. Rob Busby, Brantford, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 20
14. Franklyn Dominguez, Hudson, Que. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 20
15. Billy Shields, Unionville, Ont. (Yamaha YZF-R1) 20
16. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 20
17. Steve Walker, Carleton Place, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 20
18. Martin Ricard, Montreal, Que. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 19
19. Dean Plater, Cumberland, Ont. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 19
Did Not Finish
Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, Ont. (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 8
Did Not Start
Bodhi Edie, Warman, Sask. (Honda CBR600RR)
Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, Que. (Suzuki GSX-R600)
Kenny Reidman, Belfountain, Ont. (Triumph 675)
Darren James, North Vancouver, BC (Buell 1125R)
Time of Race: 27:24.935
Margin of Victory: 0.053 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:24.472 by Brett McCormick on lap 3
Lap Leaders: Jordan Szoke 1-10, Brett McCormick 11-12, Szoke 13-19, McCormick 20
Point Standings
1. Brett McCormick, 328*
2. Jordan Szoke, 266
3. Andrew Nelson, 194
4. Michael Ferreira, 187
5. Jodi Christie, 170
6. Alex Welsh, 141
7. Marie Josee-Boucher, 106
8. Rob Busby, 105
9. Franklyn Dominguez, 99
10. Frank Trombino, 97
11. Francis Martin, 96
12. Steve Walker, 87
13. Matt McBride, 78
14. Sebastien Tremblay, 63
15. Sylvain Dery, 38
16. Jean-Francois Cyr, 25
16. Bodhi Edie, 25
18. Ron Munroe, 21
18. Matt Cooper, 21
20. Ross Millson, 18
21. Francois Dumas, 17
22. Billy Shields, 16
23. Sean Huffman, 8
24. Martin Ricard, 4
25. Dean Plater, 2
* -- Clinched Championship
