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Atlantic: Series qualifying report

SZOKE TAKES AMP SUPERBIKE POLE SHUBENACADIE, N.S. (August 6) - 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 ...

SZOKE TAKES AMP SUPERBIKE POLE

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. (August 6) - 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."

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.

"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.

In other action at Atlantic Motorsport Park, Raphael Archambault became the first rider to claim a 2010 national title when he locked up the Amateur Sport Bike Championship by qualifying on pole for this weekend's races.

The St-Colomban, Que. rider took his Archambault Racing / Centre Hamel Honda CBR600RR around the AMP track in 1:10.710 to pick up four points and extend his lead over Jeremie Hade Precourt to 106 points in the class standings.

Hade Precourt, from Granby, Que. was fourth fastest riding the JHP Racing / Picotte Performance Suzuki GSX-R600.

Charlie Legere of Kinsac, N.S. qualified second fastest with a time of 1:11.464 on the Walter Chappell Well Drilling Honda CBR600RR.

Archambault will now try to complete a perfect season by winning both of this weekend's Amateur Sport Bike races.

Szoke also claimed pole position for the Pro Sport Bike race with a time of 1:08.180 on his Honda CBR600RR.

The Brantford, Ont. racer, who is bidding for a record tying fifth straight title in the class and a perfect season, was 0.413 secs. ahead of Christie. Szoke now leads Christie by 54 points in the Pro Sport Bike standings, 270-216 heading into this weekend's final two races.

Trombino qualified third fastest with a time of 1:08.778 on his Honda CBR600RR and Bedford, N.S. Todd Scott turned the sixth best lap, a 1:09.900 on the ProDev Racing Honda CBR600RR.

Falmouth, N.S. racer Austin Shaw-O'Leary claimed pole position for this weekend's Honda CBR125R Challenge races with a time of 1:30.189. Points leader Ryan Appenrodt of Quesnel, B.C. will start sixth and his closest title challenger, Laval, Que.'s Loic Viscasillas lines up ninth.

Olivier Spilborghs of White Rock, B.C. closed the gap to points leader Rob Busby by claiming pole in the K&N Filters' Sport Twins class on his Buell XB9R. Spilborghs recorded a 1:12.899 while Busby had to settle for a 1:13.052 on his Buell XB12R.

The Brantford, Ont. rider now leads Spilborghs by 66 points, 259-193.

Feature races in all five national classes will go Saturday and Sunday. Practice on Saturday begins at 9:00 a.m. with the first race set to go at 12:45 p.m.

Weekend tickets are $50 at the gate. Tickets for Sunday only are $30. Camping is $20 per vehicle. For more info go to www.atlanticroadracing.com.

-source: cdn superbike

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