Photo: Rob O'Brien / cdnsuperbike.com

Calgary, AB – June 28, 2009

This weekend at Race City in Calgary, AB, the fans were wild with anticipation as Brett McCormick and Jordan Szoke battled head-to-head for the lead in the 2009 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

In the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike event, McCormick on his GSX-R600 was 4th off the start, but managed to climb his way to second place within a few laps. In the meantime, Szoke had secured more than a 4 second lead leaving McCormick and the rest of the pack behind. To McCormick’s advantage, the race was red flagged due to a crash and with 8 laps left, the racers had to restart which closed the gap between Szoke and McCormick.

On the restart, Crevier took the lead however McCormick and Szoke were able to pass him at the same time and McCormick tucked in close behind Szoke for the remainder of the race. After patiently keeping up with Szoke’s pace, the two competitors entered the last two corners of the race and “The Kid” seized his last opportunity to pass. The crowd went wild, cheering for McCormick as he very briefly held the lead. However Szoke was able to pull ahead and finish the race first with McCormick a close second. “Unfortunately, I went too hard in the corner and couldn’t stick it” McCormick explains. “I was disappointment about the missed pass, but I made the effort and we are certainly happy with the second place finish.”

The Pro Superbike race was equally suspenseful. For the first 21 laps of the race, McCormick and Szoke rode their own race, with McCormick tailing never more than a second and a half on his GSX-R1000. Despite the hot sun and long day, the spectators were screaming with excitement, hopeful that young Brett McCormick would have the opportunity to sneak past his former teammate and current Superbike Champion. Once again, in the second last turn of the last lap, the door opened and McCormick rode the edge securing the pass and stealing the win. “I was sizing him [Szoke] up throughout the whole race and in the second last corner I realized it was now or never so I took the chance and gave it everything I had.”

“Everyone was well-entertained and we got the results we wanted,” Pat Chambers, Team Owner of Blackfoot Racing stated cheerfully. “This weekend, Brett proved that he has nothing else in mind than a championship. This kid knows what it takes to win and is willing to take the risks necessary to get to the top.”

“Wow, this weekend was packed with emotion,” says Pascal Picotte, Team Manager and retired Superbike champion. “To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure if Brett could win this one but when he and Jordan hit traffic I watched Brett make an important move to ensure he would keep up with Jordan and that’s when I knew that ‘the Kid’ was totally capable of winning.” Picotte has taken McCormick under his wing and has been repeatedly impressed by his teammate’s intelligence and ability to learn quickly.

Picotte was particularly happy to take first at what may be Calgary’s last Superbike race. “Not only was this possibly the last race at Race City, it is also the home of Blackfoot Racing. We were very happy to win in Superbike for Pat Chambers and everyone at Blackfoot Racing and the fans here supporting our team.”

Picotte went on to say, “I’m so proud of my team, they did a fantastic job again. On Sunday morning’s warm-up we had a problem on Brett’s main bike so we and to pull the second bike for the races. We hadn’t touched the bike all weekend so for everyone to quickly prepare that bike and then for Brett to adapt to the bike and win – it really says something about how well our team works together.”

Once McCormick crossed the finish in first, he was completely overcome with joy for the team. “I was so pumped. I had worked so hard throughout the race to stay with Jordan, patiently waiting for the right time to pass, and it paid off to take the chance. I am so happy for the team! This win was important because it gives us a bit of a cushion in the points standings. Things are continually getting better – the bikes, the team, everything.”

Rounds 4 & 5 are a double-header at the Mosport International Raceway in Mosport, ON July 16 - 19. Be sure to check out Calgary’s Round 3 at Race City on TSN and TSN HD on Tuesday July 21 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm and Saturday July 25 4:00am - 5:00am both Eastern Standard Time.