Key Takeaways from Mopar CSBK Rounds Five and Six at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

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Category: CSBK News

Published on Saturday, August 27, 2016 13:21 EDT

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Szoke Raises His Game

For people who attend or work with the Mopar CSBK National roadracing series, the domination of Jordan Szoke is something interesting, gradually occurring one race at a time.  It has not been all plain sailing for Szoke. 

A number of racers, especially Kenny Riedmann, Jodi Christie, Matt McBride, Ben Young, Frank Trombino and Michael Leon, have been in a position where they might win.  Still, Szoke has not lost a Mopar Pro Superbike Feature in 14 rounds, undefeated since July, 2014.    

This dominance has led some fans to become dismissive, ignoring the actual racing and simply stating that Szoke makes things boring.  Clearly this is not Szoke’s problem – he is doing his specific task, doing it very well.

These considerations frame the final events at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last weekend, where Szoke took on a very strong and motivated field, earning his third career perfect season.  The challenge was ramped up by two factors:  the arrival of Dunlop’s ultra soft Qualifying tire for Friday’s Dalton Timmis Insurance second SuperPole session, and the simultaneous appearance of Italian star Claudio Corti aboard the Pure Genius Beverages Houston Superbike Aprilia RSv4.

Szoke had more important work than merely winning races six and seven in a row for 2016 – he wanted to claim National overall number one status for the 11th time.  When Corti charged to the front from the second row at the start of Saturday’s round, Szoke didn’t rush, merely taking up fourth spot at the back of the lead pack.

Szoke was fully engaged by mid-race, and perfectly placed on the exit of the last corner when Riedmann and Corti got a little too heated with their win-it-or-bin-it efforts.  The podium featured new number one Szoke (BMW), Corti (Aprilia) and Riedmann (Kawasaki).  Event organizers love these podiums.

On Sunday, a determined Corti pushed the pace in the red flag shortened race, so he and Szoke settled it between them.  Corti suffered a technical problem mid-race and couldn’t do much as Szoke pulled away at the front, turning the fastest lap of the race at 1:21.152.  This effort compared favourably to Szoke’s new lap record of 1:20.778, earning pole on the yellow stripe Dunlop “Q” in Friday’s Dalton Timmis SuperPole.  

It is clear that Szoke, 37 years old, is still up for a challenge.  As Szoke builds his brand with BMW, you could fairly argue that he has never been as dominant as he is right now.  At least the competition knows what they have to face as they prepare for 2017 over the long Canadian winter.

Welcome Claudio Corti

The Houston Superbike Team arrived at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with support from Pure Genius Beverages and the Canadian Aprilia Dealers, and a big crowd in front of their Moto American-sized hauler waiting to see and especially hear their booming vee-four.  

Pilot Claudio Corti, 29, winner of five MotoAmerica SuperStock races this season, was also impressive, up to speed after only a couple of brief practice sessions on Wednesday (electrical issues on a borrowed street machine) and with Rider’s Choice Thursday.

The Pro field breathed a sigh of relief in Friday’s Dalton Timmis Insurance Qualifying sessions, when Corti could only manage sixth (albeit a very close sixth).  Given that he was the only rider familiar with the new Dunlop “Q” rear slick, this was a surprise.

On Saturday morning, when most racers take it easy in readiness for the afternoon race, Corti did many laps and was working on set-up aboard his “A” bike.  When the first race started, Corti was straight into the lead, and pushing the pace in a way we have not seen at “old Mosport” since Szoke vs. Brett McCormick in 2011. 

Most insiders expected Corti to bide his time, picking up the lines of the established front runners such as Szoke, Riedmann and Young.  Instead, Corti rode confidently and aggressively with his own, often very wide lines, becoming a target for paddock speculation and discussion – was he out of control or are things really that different in Europe?

Corti certainly put on a show, and a pair of seconds was a reasonable reward in his C.T.M.P. debut.  

Brett McCormick, on hand at a CSBK National for the first time in four years, commented that “Corti’s corner speed was off the hook, corner eight was especially impressive.  It was a great effort on a new and intimidating track, seeing him translate his Grand Prix riding style into fast lap times at track like C.T.M.P., running up front.  I enjoyed watching him interact with the other racers and the fans, and it reminded me of just how much love for our sport that the Italians have.”

Card Announces His Arrival

Mitch Card scored an impressive double in 2013, earning both the Amateur Superbike and Amateur Sport Bike National crowns aboard Honda equipment prepared by his former-ace-racer dad, Bill.  Now age 20, Card has switched to Yamaha equipment, and lately has focused on the SOAR Series at Grand Bend in south western Ontario.  The Cards are based on Kincardine, Ontario.

Card appeared at this year’s final National rounds at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with little fanfare, and then proceeded to put on quite a show.  Aboard a Maclin Dust Control backed YZF-R6 sourced in the U.S.A. and tuned by Scott Miller at Fast Company, Card won both the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike races after two thrilling, four bike dices at the front.    

The front runners put on quite a show, racing to the edge of both sides of the track, bumping on occasion and turning best lap times within a few hundredths of each other.  (Be sure to check out the full race coverage on the web.)  Series regulars Kenny Riedmann (Sturgess Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 Ninja) and Tomas Casas (Peterborough Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6) were in the thick of things, as was the privateer 402bike.com Yamaha of Will Hornblower, making his first National start of the season.

Newly crowned Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike Champion Riedmann was not happy to have his class winning streak come to an end, although three consecutive title successes certainly establish Riedmann as one of the best Middleweight riders ever in Canada.  

As Riedmann joins the likes of Steve Crevier, Don Munroe, Szoke, and Jodi Christie in the “600 class” history list, speculation swirls about his plans for 2017.  Some insiders expect Riedmann to focus on the Superbike class next season, and that would throw the Pro Sport Bike class wide open next summer.  

Card has competed at all the tracks on the tour previously, so if he returns full time to Mopar CSBK in 2017, he would become one of the series favourites.  As well, Card has a reasonably well running, brand new Yamaha YZF-R1 for the Superbike class, something few other front runners can claim.

Amateur Superbike Excites as Bilger and Lawrence Exit

Flat Track Canada Champion Doug Lawrence had his third career weekend of road racing at the C.T.M.P. National, and managed to score a pair of wins aboard his Riedmann Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja in the Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike division. This was probably the last time Lawrence competes as an Amateur, and he leaves the category having never lost a National event!

Jean-Marc Bilger had the real work to do aboard his BMW S1000RR, aiming to clinch the series title.  Montreal’s Bilger earned a pair of thirds, ran up front, and now holds the series title for the duration of his rookie Pro season, and attack on the Brooklin Cycle Racing Rookie Pro Award, in 2017.

Occasional National racer Jason Thoms (BMW) netted fourth in his opener and then moved up to second on Sunday, showing he would be a factor with a regular National program.  Second on Saturday Jacob Shaw-O’Leary was on fire aboard the Pro Cycle Honda CBR600RR, one of three middleweight machine to work their way into the top ten on a very fast race track.

Brent and Shaw O’Leary Finish Up Amateur Sport Bike

Ottawa, ON’s Chris Brent has been a pace setter all season in Shoei Premium Helmets Amateur Pro Sport Bike aboard his Honda CBR600RR, and a back injury only slowed him slightly at C.T.M.P.  Clearly less than comfortable simply standing still, Brent went 2/2 and held off the late season charge of Shaw-O’Leary.  He was the favourite for the crown pre-season, and now he holds the National Middleweight Amateur Title.

East coast ace Shaw-O’Leary was on a tear in the second half of the season, winning four straight Sport Bike events and placing a close second in that series as well as an even more impressive second in the Magneti Marelli Amateur SBK class.  Brent was third in the Superbike standings, showing there is plenty of life left in the long-successful Honda CBR600RR.

It is reasonable to expect that both Brent and O’Leary will do well in Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike as rookie Pros next season, as both seem well battle-hardened.  Both will be aiming to make the podium in their Pro Sport Bike first season, as Alex Coelho managed at St-Eustache back in June.

Kawasaki 300s Complete First Tour

The longest duration of any series on the Mopar CSBK tour in 2016 belonged to the Kawasaki Ninja 300 spec racers, who competed over ten rounds, with the battle for the Championship going down to the wire.

Nova Scotia’s Brandon Pemberton held a slight lead over Quebec’s Eric Quintin heading into the final pair of races, but the star at “old Mosport” was Jared Walker of Oakville, ON.  Slightly behind in points after a couple of incidents earlier on the tour, Walker did all he could, charging hard to win aboard his 36 horsepower, 300cc twin on both days.

Pemberton scored a pair of seconds to clinch the title with a total of 455 points, Quintin still close in second with a total of 445.  Walker was third with 401 points, and will be interesting to see what youngsters Pemberton and Walker do next – previous spec class stars currently populate the National Pro ranks.