By John Hopkins / Photo by Bob Szoke
BOWMANVILLE, ON – Brett McCormick’s bid for a perfect season in the Canadian Superbike Championship by Parts Canada fell just short in a wet final round at Mosport International Raceway on Sunday.
In one of the wildest Superbike races seen in many years Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke scored his first victory of the season on the Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Team Kawasaki ZX-10R while a day after clinching his first national Superbike crown McCormick crashed his radX / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR on the final lap.
Matt McBride of Mississauga, ON scored a career high second place finish on his Riders Choice / BMW Toronto Motorrad BMW S1000RR, 15.587 secs. behind Szoke, and Sherbrooke, QC’s Francis Martin completed the podium aboard the Couturier Racing / ProPulsion BMW S1000RR.
“This is one of the greatest wins of my career,” said Szoke, who saw his five-year reign as Canadian Superbike champion end on Saturday. “It’s tough seeing your number one plate taken away, especially after having it for so long but this will make the winter a little easier.”
Szoke completed the 14 lap race around the 3.957km track in 23 minutes, 00.955 seconds for an average speed of 144.417km/h.
Szoke had taken the lead from McCormick’s radX / BMW Motorrad Canada teammate Michael Ferreira on lap five with McCormick moving into second a lap later. The Saskatoon rider hounded Szoke before making his move into the lead in turn one on the final lap, only to crash moments later.
“I didn’t think he would try going into turn one,” Szoke admitted after his 10th career Mosport Superbike win. “After that I looked back and didn’t see anybody else and told myself to just take things easy and not make any mistakes.
"I didn't know who was there behind me but I kept seeing 'plus 0' on my board. I was just trying to be real smooth."
McCormick said he thought it was the right time to make his move.
“It was my first moment the whole race,” explained McCormick, who had won all six races this season heading into Sunday’s finale. “I got to the apex and the back end came around on me.
"I was being cautious behind Jordan but I got screwed a couple of times by lappers, and I didn't want that to happen on the last lap so I thought it would be better to get ahead as soon as possible."
Szoke's win combined with McCormick's DNF meant the Kawasaki rider finished just 10 points back in the final Superbike standings with 318 points to McCormick's 328.
McBride was only 10th after the opening lap but took advantage of drama ahead of him and growing confidence in the wet conditions to move up the order. He took fifth from Andrew Nelson on lap 12 and moved up to fourth a lap later when Ferreira fell in turn five. He was catching Martin hand over fist as they started their last lap and got around the Sherbrooke, QC racer exiting turn three.
“The first few laps the bike wasn’t feeling that great but then as it dried a little the bike felt better and I started making my moves,” McBride said. "In the past I've gotten a little excited early on and fallen down, so this time I wanted to take things easy at first."
Martin completed the podium in his final national Superbike appearance. The two-time Canadian champion had announced his retirement on Sunday morning.
“This is a good way to finish; I’m very happy to finish on the box,” said Martin, who was national champion in 1999 and 2005. “Lap after lap I was more comfortable, but when Matt passed me I tried to follow and almost crashed.”
Nelson of Kars, ON finished fourth on the Nelson Racing / GymMax / Monette Sports BMW S1000RR and wrapped up third spot in the final Canadian Superbike Championship by Parts Canada standings with 226 points.
Mississauga, Ont.’s Ferreira remounted to salvage fifth and took fourth in Superbike points with 216.
In only his second appearance of the season, Hamilton, ON's Ross Millson enjoyed a tremendous ride on his Kawasaki ZX-10R to claim sixth.
Jodi Christie on the Jodi Christie Racing / Cameron Cycle / Blue Streak Racing Honda CBR600RR edged the Z1 CycleTech / Kenwood Suzuki GSX-R600 of Alex Welsh for seventh after a racelong duel.
Among those caught out by the tricky conditions were Frank Trombino, who crashed his Suzuki Canada / Hindle / Sturgess Cycle Suzuki GSX-R600 in turn five on lap eight while lying fifth, and Francois Dumas, who had run as high as fourth on his BMW S1000RR but crashed dramatically on the front straight at the end of lap nine while lying sixth.
The radX / BMW Motorrad Canada squad was named Inside Motorcycles Team of the Year for its championship season.
Race Results
1. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 14
2. Matt McBride, Mississauga, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 14
3. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, Que. (BMW S1000RR) 14
4. Andrew Nelson, Kars, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 14
5. Michael Ferreira, Mississauga, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 14
6. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 14
7. Jodi Christie, Keene, Ont. (Honda CBR600RR) 14
8. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, Ont. (Suzuki GSX-R600) 14
9. Billy Shields, Unionville, Ont. (Yamaha YZF-R1) 14
10. Franklyn Dominguez, Hudson, Que. (Kawasaki ZX-10R) 13
11. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que. (Honda CBR1000RR) 12
12. Rob Busby, Brantford, Ont. (BMW S1000RR) 11
Did Not Finish
Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask. (BMW S1000RR) 13
Francois Dumas, St-Raymond, Que. (BMW S1000RR) 9
Frank Trombino, Woodbridge, Ont. (Suzuki GSX-R600) 8
Sebastien Tremblay, Sherbrooke, Que. (BMW S1000RR) 2
Did Not Start
Matt Cooper, Guelph, Ont. (Yamaha YZF-R1)
Bodhi Edie, Warman, Sask. (Honda CBR600RR)
Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, Que. (Suzuki GSX-R600)
Kenny Reidman, Belfountain, Ont. (Triumph 675)
Martin Ricard, Montreal, Que. (Kawasaki ZX-10R)
Steve Walker, Carleton Place, Ont. (BMW S1000RR)
Darren James, North Vancouver, BC (Buell 1125R)
Dean Plater, Cumberland, Ont. (Kawasaki ZX-10R)
Time of Race: 23:00.955 (144.417km/h)
Margin of Victory: 15.587 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:36.565 by Brett McCormick on lap 13
Lap Leaders: Jordan Szoke 1, Michael Ferreira 2-4, Szoke 5-14
Point Standings
1. Brett McCormick, 328
2. Jordan Szoke, 318
3. Andrew Nelson, 226
4. Michael Ferreira, 216
5. Jodi Christie, 195
6. Alex Welsh, 164
7. Francis Martin, 133
8. Marie Josee-Boucher, 123
9. Matt McBride, 120
10. Rob Busby, 120
11. Franklyn Dominguez, 118
12. Frank Trombino, 97
13. Steve Walker, 87
14. Sebastien Tremblay, 63
15. Ross Millson, 45
16. Sylvain Dery, 38
17. Billy Shields, 37
18. Jean-Francois Cyr, 25
18. Bodhi Edie, 25
20. Ron Munroe, 21
21. Matt Cooper, 21
22. Francois Dumas, 17
23. Sean Huffman, 8
24. Martin Ricard, 4
25. Dean Plater, 2
