CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK, Bowmanville, Ont.— After wrapping up his unprecedented 12th Canadian superbike title with a victory on Saturday, Jordan Szoke further added insult to injury for his competitors by also grabbing the win in the second race of the double-header. It wasn’t easy, though — his first win came after following Samuel Trepanier for most of the race and just squeezing past at the end, while in the second he had to fend off a last-lap charge from Kenny Riedmann on his Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Third went to Trepanier, who squeaked onto the podium with a last-lap pass of BMW-mounted Ben Young. Close behind Young came veteran Michael Leon on yet another BMW. The top five were covered by just one second at the flag.
“It feels good to win that way,” said Szoke after his 65th career Canadian superbike win. “Battles like that can go either way and I’ve been on the other end, too.” A red flag interrupted the 20-lap proceedings, leading to an eight-lap sprint to the end.
Riedmann bounced back from a disappointing fifth place finish on Saturday to challenge for the win on Sunday and lock up second place in the final Mopar Pro Superbike standings. “We made a ton of changes after yesterday’s race, mostly to the geometry,” said the Belfountain, Ont. racer, who crossed the line just 0.097 secs. behind Szoke. “I knew the opportunity [to go for the win] was there and I was saving it for a draft pass at the end of the back straight. I guess I didn’t time it quite right and Jordan was able to hold me off.”
The top 10 was rounded out by Matt McBride of Mississauga, Ont., Bohdi Edie of Warman, Sask (who suffered shifting issues after standing on Saturday’s podium), Jeff Williams of Inverary, Ont., Trevor Daly of Mississauga, Ont., and Sebastien Tremblay of Laval, Que.
With a 15th place finish on the Vortex Kawasaki ZX-10R Montreal’s Jean-Marc Bilger locked up the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year Award.
The other Pro class for 600 cc bikes went to Mitch Card on both days. Tomas Casas, the new champion after Saturday’s action, came second, as on Saturday. “I think that was one of the best races we’ve had all year,” said Card, who placed second in final Pro Sport Bike points behind Casas. “I really had to work for that one. It wasn’t handed to me.”
The Amateur Superbike race wins were another double, as Jason Thoms topped the podium both days. Samuel Desmarais scored the championship with a sixth on Saturday.
Cameron Walker of Oakville, Ont., was another racer doubling up on victories, this time in Amateur Sport bike. Jean-Francois Aubin finished behind him, collecting enough points for the series championship.
Cameron’s younger brother Jared emulated his brother, winning both of the Kawasaki Ninja 300 spec races ahead of Xavier Paradis of Shannon, Que., but the double second places were enough to hand Paradis the title.
Canadian Superbike standings after seven of seven races
- Jordan Szoke, Lynden, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 374 points
- Kenny Riedmann, Belfountain, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 277
- Ben Young, Collingwood, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 226
- Samuel Trepanier, St-Isidore-de-Laprairie, Que., BMW S1000RR, 219
- Bodhi Edie, Warman, Sask., Yamaha R1, 217
- Michael Leon, Beaconsfield, Que., BMW S1000RR, 171
- Jeff Williams, Inverary, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 165
- Andrew Nelson, Kars, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 129
- Jean-Marc Bilger, Montreal, Que., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 98
- Matt McBride, Mississauga, Ont, BMW S1000RR, 87
