Race City II: Series race report

SZOKE SWEEPS IN CALGARY ACTION

CALGARY, Alta. (June 27) - Jordan Szoke completed a perfect weekend at Calgary's Race City Motorsport Park with victory in Sunday's third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, presented by Rocky Mountain Honda Powerhouse.

The Brantford, Ont. racer took the lead on the opening lap and was unchallenged the rest of the way to score his second victory in two days on the Waznie Racing / BMC Cicloe Werks / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR1000RR, and his third straight to open the 2010 season.

Francis Martin of Sherbrooke , Que. finished second on his radX HD / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR, 6.667 secs. behind Szoke, and Cochrane, Alta.'s Cody Matechuk completed the podium on his Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Szoke completed the 22-lap race around the 3.2km (2.0-mile) Race City track in 28 minutes, 10.925 seconds for an average speed of 149.882 km/h (93.677 mph).

"It was a tough day, these guys aren't making things easy for me," said Szoke after his 32nd career Canadian Superbike victory and his 10th win at Race City. "I wanted the bike to be a little bit better at the beginning of the race than it was yesterday and it was excellent."

Szoke opened up a 54-point lead in his bid for a fifth straight Parts Canada Superbike title. The 31-year-old now has 164 points to the 110 of Martin, with Matechuk moving into third with 90.

St-Cesaire, Que.'s Kevin Lacombe came into the race second in the standings after a runner-up finish in Saturday's race on his Lacombe Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000, but crashed out of Sunday's event on lap six, just after moving into third spot.

Martin grabbed the lead off the start but Szoke was able to outbrake him into the Bus Stop Chicane on the opening lap. The BMW rider stayed close for a few laps before starting to lose ground.

The second place finish was a step up on the podium for the two-time Canadian Superbike champion, who placed third in Saturday's race.

"It was a very good weekend," Martin said. "I didn't have anything for Jordan today. The lapped traffic didn't help me but it wouldn't have made a difference."

As on Saturday Matechuk made a spectacular charge up from 10th on the starting grid to score his first career national Superbike podium. The 16-year-old moved into fourth on lap seven and then reeled in the Orion Motorsports / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR of Kars, Ont.'s Andrew Nelson. These two engaged in a thrilling battle, with Matechuk edging Nelson by just 0.236 secs. at the line.

"It was a really good battle," said Matechuk, who is in his rookie Pro season. "I just kept up the pace lap by lap and was able to slowly catch Andrew. Then after I passed him he picked up the pace. It was a very good race. I had to work for that one."

Behind Nelson in fourth, Mississauga, Ont.'s Michael Ferreira passed Alex Welsh of Uxbridge, Ont. on the final lap to take fifth on the second radX HD / BMW Motorrad Canada entry, equaling his best career Superbike finish.

Welsh settled for sixth on the Competition Systems Kawasaki Race Team Kawasaki ZX-10R after briefly running as high as fourth early in the race.

Six-time Canadian Superbike champion Steve Crevier placed seventh on the Mile Zero Motorsports / Rocket Leathers Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Calgary's Dave Stokowski was ninth riding the Blackfoot Motosports / Canadian Kawasaki Motors / Pro-Power Engines Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Jodi Christie of Keene, Ont. completed the top 10 on his Jodi Christie Racing / Durham Honda-backed Honda CBR600RR.

In other action at Race City, Szoke also completed a sweep of the Pro Sport Bike class with another close fought win over Christie. As in Saturday's race, the two Honda CBR600RR riders fought tooth and nail for the win, with Szoke getting the verdict by 0.128 secs.

Matechuk took his second straight third place finish on his Suzuki GSX-R600.

Szoke now leads Christie by 32 points in the standings, 164-132, with Matechuk third on 105 points.

St-Colomban, Que.'s Raphael Archambault fought back from fourth place to win his third straight Amateur Sport Bike race on the Archambault Racing / Centre Hamel Honda-sponsored Honda CBR600RR.

Marcel Irnie of Kelowna, B.C. took second riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R and Magog, Que.'s Samuel Proulx claimed third on the Sherbrooke Harley- Davidson / Motovan Suzuki GSX-R600 after a great battle with Warman, Sask.'s Bodhi Edie aboard the Edie Racing / Meidl Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR600RR.

Archambault now enjoys a 62-point lead in the Amateur Sport Bike standings with 161 points to the 99 of Jeremie Hade Precourt and Edie's 90.

Ryan Appenrodt of Quesnel, B.C. bounced back from a disqualification on Saturday to win the fourth round of the Honda CBR125R Challenge. Appenrodt moved from third to first on the last lap and held off St-Lazare, Que.'s Ryan McCormick by 0.668 secs. Loic Viscasillas of Laval, Que. was third, one second behind the winner.

Viscasillas still leads the CBR125R Challenge standings with 177 points to Appenrodt's 163 heading into Monday's race at the Varsity Chrysler Speed Park adjacent to Race City.

Brantford, Ont.'s Robert Busby turned the tables on Geoff Gerbrandt of Martensville, Sask. in the K&N Filters Sport Twins class. After placing second to Gerbrandt's Suzuki SV650 in Saturday's race, the Buell XB12R rider beat Gerbrandt by 3.625 secs. on Sunday.

White Rock, B.C.'s Olivier Spilborghs completed the podium on a Buell XB9R.

Busby leads Spilborghs in the point standings, 152-105.

Action from this weekend's races can be seen on TSN HD and TSN in three separate episodes, premiering July 20, July 27 and Aug. 3. All shows will air from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship resumes July 8-11 at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont. with another doubleheader event.

-source: cdb superbike