The Jordan Szoke steamroller finally completely crushed the
opposition in the final two races of the Parts Canada Superbike series at
Atlantic Motorsport Park at Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia this weekend. Szoke and
his Scott Miller/Fast Company-prepared Honda CBR1000RR took two dominating
victories, winning by more than two seconds in Saturday’s race to clinch the
title, then by more than nine seconds for the gravy win in Sunday’s contest.
That gives Szoke an unprecedented perfect season in the
premier class, winning every single race in 2010. His win on Saturday also gave
him his fifth consecutive Canadian title, a record-setting seven overall.
Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ontario was second in both
Shubenacadie events on his Orion Motorsports/BMW Motorrad-sponsored BMW S1000RR
(giving him second place in the series, his best finish ever), while Mike
Ferreira got two thirds on his BMW Motorrad S1000RR. The other top contestants
had lots of problems: once again Kevin Lacombe didn’t show, probably due to
money issues; Ferreira’s team-mate Francis Martin crashed out of the first race
but managed a fourth on Sunday despite riding with a sprained ankle; and Frank
Trombino was out for the weekend on his Prostar Hondas after going down in the
same incident that claimed Martin, breaking bones in a hand and foot.
Final tallies for the season show Szoke with 376 points,
followed by Nelson with 244, Martin in third with 234, Jodi Christie fourth
with 197 (Christie riding a 600 cc machine to the others’ full litre-bikes),
and Ferreira fifth.
Szoke also claimed a fifth consecutive 600 cc Sport Bike
series victory, but missed out on a perfect season by crashing on the last lap
of Saturday’s race trying to pass Alex Welsh on the Competition Systems’
Kawasaki. Szoke restarted to finish fourth to get the title, and took a
relatively easy win in Sunday’s event. At least, it looked easy from the gap;
Szoke said "It’s been hard work … these guys have kept me honest all
season."
In the support classes, Raphael Archambault of St-Columban,
Quebec, won the Amateur Sport Bike title, Quesnel, B.C.’s Ryan Appenrodt
wrapped up the Honda CBR125 Challenge title, and Rob Busby of Brantford,
Ontario got the Sport Twins title on his Buell XB12R. Cody Matechuk, from
Cochrane, Alberta, took the HJC Pro Rookie of the Year award, and Szoke’s
Waznie Racing / BMC Ciclo Werks / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse took the Inside
Motorcycles Team of the Year award.
Several of the fields were pretty sparse, and have been
light all year. The fact that this year the series didn’t have enough money for
a year-end points prize payout probably didn’t help that, as a lot of racers
need that money to help offset the immense costs of travelling across Canada,
not to mention lost wages and the like.
No Yamahas crashed in Superbike because Yamaha was banned from Superbike.
No Yamaha crashed cause they don’t go fast.
Annual General Meeting is hereby set for August 27th in Indianapolis. First two rounds are on the series founder. Then its back to graft and deceipt.
Brian P –
As a seasoned watcher of Monty Python, I feel it is worth noting that “Something Completely Different” is not always better than the comedy sketch you were most recently watching. In fact, it is often — implausibly — stupider.
Wes
I think the BRS should start off with an Annual General Meeting – pub of choice gentlemen ???
General Directive Number One – the primary purpose of The Organization will be to collect dues.
With no less an entity than the esteemed Mr. Bondo already on board, I can’t see this series failing to be profitable for the series organizer and perhaps the press liason and the Director of Official Timing and Scoring. By the way, that last position is currently vacant and available to the highest bidder, uh, most qualified person. Yeah, that’s the ticket…
We’ll also be needing a bouncer, er, Manager of In-field Security.
As official BRS press liason, the first formal announcement is that participation in the series is strictly limited to members and non-members only.
I’d like to politely and genuinely invite all competitors to join the BRS – Blackie’s Race Series.
It will be run at all major tracks (well, most of ’em) and will have a clearly defined set of rules which will only be modified upon receipt of large wads of cash slid under my hotel room door. Yes, its not right but I promise I’ll be consistent.
Any interested parties can contact me at my secret email address available from my as-yet-to-be-recruited henchmen, er, organizational associates. In order to participate in the rules making committee, please include your first installment of cash
Bondo, I can’t say that I disagree with you but my concept was one of consolidation and co-operation, rather than any single organization taking over the Nationals. The groups you mention, along with TFR, ARL, and perhaps Turn 2 at Calabogie could get together on a co-operative points structure and race dates. Those groups, working together, could generate the same sort of contacts that the current Nationals have.
Unfortunately there’s one single word that blows the whole concept; co-operation.
With Yamaha pulling out of the series and Suzuki cutting back their financial involvement, decisions were made to cut back on individual events (4 – with double headers at 3 and 10 rounds for the 125s) and try to save $$$. What I cannot figure is why it took until the Saturday night of the final round fro anyone to notice and raise a fuss. Grids were no thinner than regional events I’ve been at these last few years – let’s face it, bucks are tight.
Anyone that would like to wade in and try to run a national series to compete would have to certifiable – the political minefield is unbelievable.
I guess if I really want them back, I should also thank the sponsors and let them know when I buy.
As a spectator this weekend, the show was good. Standing between 2 & 5 gives you a view of a whole lot of close and exciting racing. The V-Twins suffered with a field of only 6 bikes. I hope there will be an abilitiy to keep bringing national level teams to the tracks. Thanks to all (racers, teams, organizers, volunteer) who put on the show.
Rob – I have no doubt that Mr. MacAdam could run an efficient series of races (he already does) but there’s a whole bunch of behind the scenes stuff – like the matter of sponsorship and who brings it along. You can’t build those networking contacts overnight. Chris also runs a great program but both of those organizations run at one track – and the guy Chris works for owns the track. There’s a whole ‘nother kettle of fish dealing with different tracks. Ask the VRRA executive.
I don’t see it happening in this economic climate.
Bondo, there are a number of local organizations that cou8ld take over the National series’ position in a bloodless coup, as it were. After all, they are the host organizations for what currently exists.
Could take it, that is, if egos could be put in a closet for a little while.
A shame to see Szoke’s great success and title tarnished by an otherwise crappy season of minmal events and particpation… and no money. Let’s hope things take a turn for the better soon!
Hey Brian – who would you think would step up if PMP “went away?” The CMA? Geez, I lived through those years and it was a total f**king disaster.
I don’t think there’s anybody in Canada who could (or would) start another one. The market will decide. If there’s no final points money next year, I’m betting participation will be very low.
I’ll be interested in how Inside Motorcycles will “report” the points payout story. Kind of hard to get objective journalism when the guy who runs the series is a Senior Editor at the magazine and the Managing Editor writes the series press releases.
I know Colin and the manufacturers are doing whatever’s possible to keep the series going but it’s not looking good. Fifteen Superbikes for Sunday’s final and six of those were 600s. The CBR125 grids were the biggest of the weekend.
Maybe it’s just me, but if I were planning to contest a National series, I’d be asking about the year-end money payout well before the final round – like maybe sometime in February. That being said, it was a bit cheesy to put the 2009 payout schedule on the website and not post something under… “Changes for the 2010 season.”
The Yamahas? Not a single one crashed.
“How did the Yamahas do?”
Bad Blackie, lol.
How did the Yamahas do?
Jordan Szoke’s obvious riding talent notwithstanding, I would like to point out that Scott Miller/Fast Company also had a lot to do with the record seven wins. Jordan’s bikes were incredibly fast and ran flawlessly all season long, with virtually no factory support and on a very limited, privateer bidget too! Maybe CMG could also tell us how many Canadian roadracing titles Scott Miller has built the bikes for?
Cheers!
Not nice of PMP to leave 2009 season entry fees and payouts on the website and honor the by-event entry fees and payouts for 2010 while not doing the same for the season-end payout. This organizing body needs to go away and be replaced with something completely different …