Retirement: Will he or won’t he? Turns out, Jordan Szoke will return for another year of Canadian Superbike racing, and won’t retire just yet. He’s back for 2021, aboard Kawasaki’s latest superbike.
The past 12 months have been tough for the winningest rider in CSBK history. Thanks to COVID-19, the 2020 racing season was thrown into disarray, and Szoke lost his team’s main sponsor. He still managed to piece together his team, and won the Pro Superbike title by winning all of the season’s four races.
After the season was over, the question was whether Szoke would return, or call it quits. He’s talked about it before, and given the increasingly shaky risk/reward ratio in Canadian superbike racing, it looked like the time to quit might be here. As it turns out, that’s not happening.
Canadian Kawasaki Motors announced it was teaming up with Szoke again for 2021, after his successful 2020 campaign on the ZX-10R (that bike was for sale here!). For this season, he’s on the latest version of the Kawasaki litrebike, with built-in aero system and other upgrades (read more about that here).
Along with the racebike, Kawasaki is also sponsoring Szoke through its S4-R Competition Racing Oil program, putting some more money in his pocket. See more details in the press release below. And, if you’re curious about the 2021 CSBK season, you can see some early details on the schedule here.
Press release
Canadian Kawasaki Motors and Kawasaki S4-R Competition Racing Oil Return with Jordan Szoke
Jordan Szoke will return to the Canadian Superbike (CSBK) championship in 2021 aboard an all-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R backed by S4-R racing oils.
The history of Szoke and Kawasaki is long and storied. Szoke scored his first National Superbike Championship for Kawasaki in 1998. The partnership went on to produce one of the most successful runs in Canadian History with a 4-year winning streak sweeping both the Superbike and Pro 600 titles from 2006-2009.
In 2020, Szoke claimed his 14th national CSBK title after a four-race season. “I am excited to continue my career with Kawasaki,” said the reigning champ.
Szoke has intimate knowledge of the previous-gen Ninja that he piloted in 2019 and 2020 and can already see the potential of the upgraded chassis. “I can’t wait to see what we can do with this 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.” he said.
“For us, it was a no-brainer to get Jordan on to one of our all-new 2021 bikes,” said Jacob Black, Marketing and Brand strategist for Canadian Kawasaki Motors. “The new integrated aerodynamic winglets and body work are especially exciting, and we can’t wait to see Jordan take this new iteration of the Ninja to even greater heights.”
S4-R Competition Oils
The high-performance goals that propel Jordan Szoke and his Blackfoot Motorsports/Waznie Racing team to success are matched by Kawasaki’s dedication to improved technology and excellence across its range of products, including the Kawasaki line of lubricants.
Jordan will carry the S4-R logo proudly on his Ninja ZX-10R during the 2021 season of the Canadian Superbike (CSBK) championship. Data from Jordan’s team is used in the development of S4-R racing oil products.
“Our team thrives in the hunt for ever greater performance,” said Szoke. “Something I know drives Kawasaki across all its endeavors, including lubricants.”
Vince Ros is a spokesperson for Kawasaki Racing Oils, “We are extremely pleased to continue our relationship with Jordan Szoke and Canadian Kawasaki Motors,” he said. “This partnership will showcase KAWASAKI LUBRICANTS’ leading edge products, that deliver performance, technology and success in competition.”
Kawasaki lubricants include the M4 mineral oil range and S4 range of synthetic oils for motorcycles as well as S2-R competition two-stroke oil and Watercraft S4 oil for Jet Ski. Jordan Szoke will use S4-R Competition oil in his Kawasaki ZX-10R as he seeks to claim a historic 15th Canadian Superbike title.
ABOUT KAWASAKI
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki’s commitment to maintaining and furthering these strengths will surely give birth to new legends.
Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand is synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about the complete line of Kawasaki powersports products can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.ca
Let the Good Times Roll
About Kawasaki S4-R Oil
Kawasaki S4-R oil is custom-formulated to exacting specifications of Canadian Kawasaki Motors Inc. and is a premium 100% synthetic 10W40 competition motor oil that provides extreme performance and maximum protection for on-road / off-road racing and high performance, supercharged, turbocharged 4-cycle engines. S4-R contains exclusive and unique advanced additive technology specifically engineered for maximum horsepower, as well as superior clutch and transmission performance.
Enhanced levels of Zinc/Phosphorus allow for exceptional anti-wear protection while advanced synthetic chemistry resists effects of intense heat. Kawasaki S4-R oil is JASO MA2 Licensed. Kawasaki S4-R oil meets or exceeds the latest stringent JASO T 903:2016 criteria.
KEY FEATURES
• Superior lubrication for maximum acceleration and horsepower
• Enhanced levels of Zinc/Phosphorus for exceptional protection at peak engine rpm
• Excellent high temperature durability
• Superb transmission performance
• Excellent wet clutch performance
• Outstanding engine cleanliness
• Certified JASO MA2 performance
“For us, it was a no-brainer to get Jordan on to one of our all-new 2021 bikes,” said Jacob Black, Marketing
and Brand strategist for Canadian Kawasaki Motors.
Best of luck in YOUR new endeavor Jacob !
Thank you, I think!