Welsh Edges Szoke In Exciting Superbike Finale
Uxbridge, ON native Alex Welsh captured his second career Canadian Pro Superbike victory in a back-and-forth battle with defending champion Jordan Szoke of Brantford on Sunday, August 11 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Both career wins for Welsh have come at his home track, with the first coming one year ago. Mississauga rider Matthew McBride finished in third place.
Szoke, aiming for his unprecedented ninth Series title, will now have to wait until the season finale to claim his crown.
“It’s tough to leave here (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park) for a second straight year without a win,” said a clearly disappointed Szoke. “The championship would be great, but in many ways a win here is even more special. This place is like the Masters for us in Canada.”
Jodi Christie of Keene, ON, was victorious in the Hindle Exhaust Pro Sport Bike race aboard his Honda CBR600RR. The 20-year-old also secured the championship in the process, his third consecutive. Calgary’s John Ross MacRae finished just 0.316 seconds off the pace while Kristopher Garvie of Caledon was third.
MacRae won the second Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup of the weekend. Fan favourite and two-time defending champion Steve Crevier was just 0.400 behind. Michael Taylor of Toronto was third.
In the Honda CBR250R Series, Tomas Casas from Peterborough won the #1 plate after finishing on the top step of the podium.
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Ryan Chalmers, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
ryan@ctmpark.com 1-800-866-1072 (office) (905) 260-1711 (cell)
Photo credit - John Walker
Sunday's Mopar Pro Superbike podium from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. From left to right - Jordan Szoke, Alex Welsh, Matthew McBride
BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (August 11) – Results of Sunday’s fifth round of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and laps completed:
1. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 20
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 20
3. Matt McBride, Mississauga, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 20
4. Sebastien Tremblay, Longueuil, Que., BMW S1000RR, 20
5. Kristopher Garvie, Caledon, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 20
6. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, Ont., Aprilia RSV4 Factory, 20
7. Trevor Daley, Mississauga, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 20
8. Jodi Christie, Keene, Ont., Honda CBR1000RR, 20
9. Matt Cooper, Guelph, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 20
10. Franklyn Dominguez, St-Lazare, Que., Honda CBR1000RR, 20
11. MJ Boucher, Montreal, Que., BMW S1000RR, 20
12. Scott Rupert, Gadshill, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 20
13. Austin Shaw-O’Leary, Falmouth, N.S., Yamaha YZF-R6, 19
Did Not Finish
Chris Murray-Audain, Scarborough, Ont., BMW S1000RR, 14
Did Not Start
Bodhi Edie, Warman, Sask., BMW S1000RR
Martin Ricard, Montreal, Que., Kawasaki ZX-10R
Louie Raffa, Ste-Marthe, Que., Honda CBR600RR
Philippe Masse, St-Hyacinthe, Que., Kawasaki ZX-6R
Will Hornblower, Sarnia, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R6
Michael Leon, Beaconsfield, Que., MV Agusta F3
Time of Race: 27:21.411
Average Speed: 173.573km/h
Margin of Victory: 0.185 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:21.473 by Jordan Szoke on lap two
Lap Leaders: Alex Welsh 1-4, Jordan Szoke 5, Welsh 6-7, Szoke 8-13, Welsh 14-16, Szoke 17-19, Welsh 20