Kawasaki’s Back Big

In the 2022 CSBK series, Kawasaki had a smaller showcase than was typical over the last 40-odd years of history for the national Superbike tour. The “mean green” didn’t win a feature, although they were certainly predominant in the middleweight Pro Sport Bike championship, where Trevor Dion and David MacKay battled all-out for the No. 1 plate on ZX-6R Ninjas.

In Superbike, Sebastian Tremblay had some good rides and podiums with his ZX10R Ninja, but the absence of Kawasaki top gun Jordan Szoke was keenly felt. Injured motocrossing just before the start of the season, Szoke was out for the year, his longest departure since he headed south to run full time on the US tour way back in 2001.

So, the recent news that Canadian Kawasaki Motors would return with a Szoke-run super team for 2023 is good news for Szoke, the series, and Kawasaki. And in all those ways, it is also very good news for Dion, who earned a national Pro title in his first full season in the national championship – a Szoke-type accomplishment.

The image of Szoke and Dion posing with brand-new, just uncrated 1,000 cc street bikes certainly harkens back to an era in the 2000s, pre-economic crash and COVID. That Canadian Kawasaki have ensured that their key racers signed up for the near and possibly distant future is a very positive step for the stability of the series, especially following Bridgestone’s September announcement of their four-year CSBK commitment.

By late summer of last year, Dion certainly developed the kind of buzz young racers, including oft-mentioned high-watermark Brett McCormick, hope to earn if they are to make it to the top echelons of the sport. Dion wasn’t noticed quite as soon a McCormick, but at 20 he is still very young for a Canadian national Pro champ.

This comparison is important in more ways than might be immediately evident. No, Dion isn’t a hockey playing engineer from Saskatchewan, but McCormick went to Pro as a works Kawasaki teamster, riding out of the same trailer as Szoke. The opportunity to ride with, and learn from, Szoke, presents an incredible opportunity – just ask Brett!

“An important part of this deal is learning to work with and for Dion,” explains Szoke, busy disassembling two new Ninjas with the goal of having four identical motorcycles on hand for the new dynamic duo at the opening national at Shannonville on Victoria Day weekend.

“Dion is the best young rider to come along in a long time, even when you include Alex Dumas (2021 Superbike champ in his first attempt for Suzuki). We need to build a combination for him, and he will have the same equipment as me.

“Part of this deal, and I wrote this deal, is that it allows me to continue my relationship with Kawasaki in a variety of ways,” continues Szoke, in from a day of

January ice racing. “The new bikes we built and didn’t use last year are ready to go, and we are going to update those slightly, so that all the bikes are the same.

“The goal is for Dion to show up and ride – everything will be exactly the way I want it to be. We’ll have a strong team, with Scott Miller and Andrew Westbrook from Fast Company, as well as Ryan Tapp, Derrick Utley and of course Yves, Trevor’s father.”

The title sponsor for the team for 2023 will be LDS Consultants, backer of Dion’s recent efforts. While Szoke and Dion will not be identical in presentation, they will both wear similar gear from Joe Rocket (leathers), Scorpion (helmets) and Gaerne (boots). Aftermarket distributor Thibault, also central to the new Bridgestone deal, joins as another Waznie Racing supporter.

Currently, Szoke is active and has been riding for a few months, although neither of his legs are in great shape. He expects to have some hardware removed but wants to put off further surgery until after the 2023 CSBK Season.

“I should be fine for Jennings GP (the opening Bridgestone test In Florida in March), I’m bicycling all the time, my strength is good, but my issue continues to be range of motion.”

While reigning champ Ben Young (BMW) and Dion tested on prototype Bridgestone tires at Grand Bend last fall, most of the series regulars will try the new-spec Bridgestones for the first time on the abrasive Jennings GP layout.

“I’m not worried about the Bridgestones,” continues Szoke. “The tires are part of the reason that I’m racing this year. I believe that the tires will suit our Kawasakis. We know how strong these tires are at the tracks in Japan.

“I probably shouldn’t have taken on a project like this at this point in my career, coming back from major injuries, but I want to – I’m really excited about this project, plus I really want to ride. I’ve been busy lately, and really, it’s better that way.”

Xtreme

2023 Road Racing Schedules Announced

Even though snow will likely remain as a fixture throughout most of the country for another couple of months, the 2023 road racing season is taking shape. Starting in May and running into October, road racing action is on tap from coast to coast, so whether you are a racer or a fan there will be no shortage of opportunities to get out to the track in 2023. As always, be sure to follow along at www.insidemotorcycles.com for all the results as the season unfolds. IM

Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA)

May 26-28: Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

June 30-July 2: Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON

Aug. 11-13: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON

Sept. 1-3: Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON www.vrra.ca

Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK)

May 19-21

Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

June 8-11 Grand Bend Motorplex, Lake Huron, ON

July 20-23

Aug. 18-20

Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, NS

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON

Edmonton Motorcycle Roadracing Association (EMRA)

May 19-20: Race School Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

May 21: Endurance Race Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

June 9-11: Round 1/2 Rad Torque Raceway, Leduc, AB

July 14-16: Round 3/4 Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

Sept. 15-17

Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON www.csbk.ca

August 12-13: Round 5 Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

September 1-3: Round 6/7 Rad Torque Raceway, Leduc, AB www.emra.ca

Atlantic Roadracing League (ARL)

All races held at Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, NS

May 27-28

June 17-18

July 8-9

August 12-13

August 26-27

September 9-10 www.atlanticroadracing.com

Southern Ontario

Association of Racing (SOAR)

All races held at Grand Bend Motorplex, Grand Bend, ON

May 26-28

June 23-25

July 28-30

August 25-27

September 8-10

September 29-October 1 www.soaracing.ca

Super Series

All races held at Shanonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

May 12-14

June 9-11

July 7-9

August 18-20

September 8-10 www.super-series.ca

Canadian Mini Superbike Series

All races held at Lombardy Raceway, Lombardy, ON

May 7-8

May 14-15

June 25-26

August 20-21

August 27-28 www.supersonicschool.com

Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club

All races held at Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC

May 15-16

May 24

August 2

August 28-29 www.wmrc.ca

Manitoba Roadracing Association

All races held at Gimli Motorsports Park, Gimli, MB

May 13-14

June 3-4

June 24-25

July 29-30

August 26-27

September 16-17 www.mrasuperbike.ca

Szoke Returns to CSBK Action in 2023

Canadian Kawasaki Motors have announced the return of 14-time Canadian Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke to the Bridgestone CSBK grid following a yearlong absence, which was the result of a motocross accident in early 2022.

Joining Szoke on the Waznie Racing team will be 2022 CSBK Pro Sport Bike Champion Trevor Dion, who will make the move into competing full time in the feature Pro Superbike class on board a 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.

For Szoke, the 2023 season represents both a return to the sport he has helped define in Canada as well a transition to a new role.

“I am really excited to try and get back on the track after my injuries last year,” said Szoke. “I’m also excited to expand our team and Kawasaki’s involvement. Trevor is a great young racer. And a great young man. We really look forward to helping him become a champion.”

The 2023 Bridgestone CSBK season kicks off at Shannonville Motorsport Park on May 19-21. IM