Photo: Rob O’Brien
AUTODROME ST-EUSTACHE, St-Eustache, Que. – Jordan Szoke took his 61st career Canadian superbike win at this tight and short Quebec circuit today, his second of three races this season, giving him a commanding lead for yet another national title to add to the 11 he already holds.
While racing at St-Eustache is never easy, Szoke managed to take his BMW to the win with a comfortable six second gap to Yamaha-mounted Bodhie Edie, while Kawasaki racer Kenny Riedmann was a couple of tenths back, just holding off BMW-mounted Ben Young. Once-again unretired Frank Trombino grabbed fifth with his Honda CBR1000RR, a further five seconds back.
Szoke’s victory was his seventh consecutive win at St-Eustache
“The bike was fantastic all weekend, right out of the box,” said Szoke on the podium after his 61st Canadian Superbike victory. “We have a great setup here, and this is my strongest track.”
Second-place Edie said, “That was a blast,” after an engaging race-long duel with Riedmann for second. “It was pretty much a battle between Kenny and I from lap 3 or 4; we had multiple passes in different corners on each lap, inside and outside.”
“It was a super fun race, and that’s why we ride motorcycles,” said Riedmann, who earned his third podium finish of the year. “I wish I would have come out on top, but I’m just happy to be having fun on a motorcycle, because I haven’t been having much fun lately. Now my team is ready to regroup and start winning races.”
Peterborough’s Tomas Casas took his Yamaha R6 to the Pro sportbike win ahead of Trombino and series leader Mitch Card. Kris Garvie grabbed fourth on his ZX-6, while local racer Louie Raffa rounded out the top five on his Honda.
In a thrilling finish, Trombino got his ProStar/White Gold Financial Services-backed Honda CBR600RR around Card’s Goderich Toyota/Shoei Premium Helmets Yamaha and quickly began to reel in Casas. Trombino got close, but Casas jammed the door shut on the last lap to earn his second victory in three races this season.
Other winners included Samuel Desmarais (Lasalle, QC) in the Amateur category, winning both the Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike and Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike races. It was the second time Desmarais has ‘done the double’ after winning both classes at the season opener in Shannonville in May.
Four riders factored into the lead battle of the Kawasaki 300 spec race before three-time 2017 race winner Xavier Paradis (Shannon, QC) and the previous day’s Ninja victor, Jared Walker (Oakville, ON), made it a two-horse race up front. Paradis managed to edge last lap leader Walker en route to a nail-biting 0.120-second victory to increase his existing points lead in the class. Amy Szoke (Lynden, ON) came in a close third, with Johann Plancque (St-Jerome, QC) taking fourth.
Next race, July 15/16, (double-header) Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, N.S.
