Preventing Perfection
Since it has been two years since anyone has beaten Jordan Szoke in a Mopar CSBK National Feature race, it would be wrong to say that Szoke’s dominant position with his Express Lane/Motovan BMW has been truly challenged. However, there were some encouraging signs at Shubenacadie’s double header, especially on the Sunday.
Szoke started from Pole position in both east coast races, having earned his third straight Dalton Timmis Insurance SuperPole Friday afternoon. By the way, Szoke also won his third Pole Rockwell watch – no one else has scored a time piece so far this year.
On Saturday, Szoke made the most of sunny, hot and humid conditions to take control and win by seven seconds. But in cooler and overcast conditions on Sunday, it seemed like change might be on the horizon. When organizers rushed the grid to beat possible pending rain, the change motivated Szoke’s challengers.
Some insiders figured that Ben Young, with experience on the British National tour and a podium in the rain in Moto America, would make the most of the situation. But Kenny Riedmann really stepped up with the Sturgess/Liqui Moly Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja, actually stealing points from Szoke by leading the most laps in the race.
Riedmann ran into trouble in traffic late in the race, and Szoke was ready to pounce. After the race, Riedmann admitted his tactics were risky in terms of how he used his rear Dunlop slick, but the important takeaway was the fact Riedmann changed his strategy on day two and got close to beating Szoke.
Ready for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
So far this season, top speed and all out engine performance has not been crucial to success at CSBK venues. That will all change in August around the ten turns and 4.09 kms of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Szoke’s squad has consistently de-tuned the performance of their number one BMW S1000RR, but at the next rounds the full power of the Scott Miller-built BeeMm will be unleashed. “Old Mosport” is a track where the official series Dynojet Dyno will get a work out, and for the first time this year the maximum horsepower limit of 200 could come into play.
Some pit lane pundits figure that the Scott Cameron-build Riedmann Kawasaki might be the most powerful machine in the Mopar CSBK Series. Last year at C.T.M.P., Riedmann battled Szoke, and the new-for-2016 Ninja should be even more potent.
Yamaha’s YZF-R1 made its series debut in the hands of Alex Welsh at C.T.M.P. in 2015, earning pole and netting a podium. Scott Cartier built that machine, and this year tends to the Tim Horton’s/Scott Build BMW of Ben Young. Expect Cartier to update Young’s German four-cylinder power plant for C.T.M.P.
Speaking of Yamahas, the Trip Dub Racing/Z-1 Tuning R1 of Bodhi Edie missed A.M.P., but is expected to return next month. Edie won at C.T.M.P. in 2013. It is reasonable to expect that engine builder Zaid Saleemi might have some specific goals up the long, kinked, uphill “Mario Andretti” named back straight at C.T.M.P.
Sport Bike Title Pending
While Riedmann found Superbike form at A.M.P., he looked even better aboard the ZX-6R Kawasaki in Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike, and now is just points short of his third straight middleweight National title. It is reasonable to expect that by Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Riedmann will have that Pro number one plate safely back in his Team’s Trailer.
Rumor has it that Riedmann, with nothing left to prove, will focus on the Feature class next season. This would be a shame, since he is steadily getting better with the 636cc Ninja.
Riedmann’s most ambitious challengers in Pro Sport Bike are Tomas Casas (Parts Canada/Peterborough Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6) and veteran Michael Taylor (GP Bikes/Castrol Triumph 675 Daytona). Both fell at round two in St-Eustache, setting up Riedmann’s run-away – now nine races and counting, dating back to Edmonton last year.
At A.M.P. on Saturday, Casas challenged Riedmann early but faded to a lonely second. However, he found some speed in 24 hours, pushing Riedmann hard on Sunday before a spectacular crash late in the race. Now the teenager heads to Mosport having proved he has the speed to win, but needing that breakthrough performance.
Taylor opted to skip Thursday’s A.M.P. Test Day, and was forced to play catch up for the rest of the program. By Sunday he was the third quickest in the “600 class,” then netted a strong seventh in Superbike. Would he have challenged for the Feature race win if it had rained, as expected? At Mosport, Taylor’s knowledge and confidence should provide lots of entertainment in the two Liqui Moly Sport Bike races.
Rookie Pros Persevere – and Coelho Performs
Much is made of the difficult transition from top Amateur to Pro, and there is no doubt that the jump in status is a truly tough racing challenge. While several of last year’s top Amateurs, including Derrick Whyte, Samuel Trepanier and Phil Leckie have attracted attention with aggressive rides, 2015 Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike Champ Alex Coelho has flown under the radar.
A very fit 43, Muay Thai Instructor Coelho is perhaps the friendliest, most energetic person in the paddock. That is all well and good, but positive vibes will not gain you a single spot in the cut throat world of Pro competition.
Coelho deserves more attention, and he should get it, soon. Aboard his Liqui Moly/A.G. Graphique Kawasaki, he holds second overall in the Pro Sport Bike standings behind run away leader Riedmann. There is every expectation that Coelho, on the podium at St-Eustache, could wind up in the top three in the final 2016 overall points.
Things have been tougher in Superbike where a late race DNF on the east coast didn’t help his standings. Still, Coelho currently ranks 13th, not far behind class of 2015 Amateur star compatriots Trepanier (7th) and Whyte (8th).
Amateurs Prepare to Determine Championships
In Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike, a crazy half wet race at A.M.P. on Sunday went to the Pro Cycle-backed Honda CBR600RR of local hero Jacob Shaw-O’Leary, after another aggressive, come from behind effort. Consistent Jean-Marc Bilger led much of the race and earned second aboard his BMW S1000RR Superbike, and has a good points lead heading into Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
At C.T.M.P., the big bikes will likely be at the front in Amateur Superbike, so the 600cc class machines of second and third ranked Chris Brent and O’Leary will have a tough time. BMW-mounted Steve McGregor shook off a practice fall at A.M.P. to earn a podium and move to fourth in the standings, and should improve further at Mosport.
The expected return of Riedmann/Parts Canada Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja mounted Flat Track Canada National Champion Doug Lawrence, the winner in his only road race appearance of 2016 at St-Eustache, should add a little “fresh” flavour to the Amateur Superbike battle.
In Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Sport Bike, Brent’s CBR600RR has a points lead of what amounts to almost a race, and could clinch on Saturday. In second, O’Leary has a shot if Brent hits trouble. Third overall Eric Richard, also Honda mounted, is too far back in the standings (188 points to 99) to pose a threat to Brent.
The closest points battle in CSBK 2016 is for the Kawasaki Ninja 300 spec National Title, where Eric Quintin holds a single point edge, 369 to 368, over teenager Brandon Pemberton. Jared Walker, like Quintin and Pemberton a regular front runner in the old Honda 250 series, could still factor in with 293 points. Pemberton did all he could on his home track at A.M.P, and now the battle for the Kawasaki crown is certainly too close to call with just two of ten races left to run.
