2010 Pro Superbike runner-up Andrew Nelson could make both Szoke and
McCormick’s lives miserable in 2011. photo by neil cameron
Reigning Canadian Superbike champion Jordan Szoke (above) will have to contend with Brett McCormick (above, right), who is returning to Canada full-time, if he wants to
add an eighth Canadian title to his resume. photos by don empey
changing S1000RR, featuring a high level of electronic wizardry. The bike has impressed early on, but as with any new model there is a development curve and inevitable grem- lins that must be chased. When track time is limited (as it was at round one of the sea- son, just by example) the shortcomings of an all-new bike can be quickly exposed. McCormick, meanwhile, has his hands
on that impressive BMW mentioned above. Just before last Christmas his deal with the radX HD / BMW Motorrad Canada factory team was announced. Whether it was an early present for McCormick or BMW is open to debate – probably a bit of both. As a brand new model the S1000RR impressed mightily last season in the hands of Francis Martin and Mike Ferreira, along with priva- teer Andrew Nelson. Martin looked like he could have won races at Mosport Interna- tional Raceway, Nelson at Atlantic Motor- sport Park. For 2011 the BMW team has made some changes to the bike based on what was learned last year, meaning Mc- Cormick should have a very effective
weapon at his disposal. Based on his per- formance at the season opener, he has a pretty good handle on the machine. Of course, in McCormick the radX HD-
backed squad is getting the most exciting young talent to emerge in Canada in many years. McCormick was a phenom as an Am- ateur in 2006, was runaway Pro Rookie of the Year in 2007 and nearly snatched the Superbike title from Szoke in 2009. Apart from his U.S. experience in 2010, Mc- Cormick has caught the eye of World Su- perbike squads in Europe and his future appears extremely bright. How this year in Canada plays out may have quite a bit of bearing on where McCormick’s destiny lies. In the press clippings leading up to the
first round of the Canadian Superbike Championship by Parts Canada, Mc- Cormick was quick to downplay the idea that the 2011 title fight would be a straight showdown between himself and Szoke. Somewhat ironically, it was McCormick who looked to be in a class of his own at round one while Szoke was mixed in with the
pack. Indeed, the season opener proved that there are several racers who could have a say in how things play out through the course of the championship. Chief among those must be Andrew Nel-
son, the Kars, ON racer who finished run- ner-up to Szoke in last year’s points chase and took second in the 2011 curtain raiser. Nelson is back aboard his own BMW with primary support from Monette Sports and GyMax. Having raced the S1000RR last year Nelson has a familiarity with the equip- ment McCormick doesn’t enjoy, and after something of a breakthrough season in 2010 the former Pro Rookie of the Year has rededicated himself to his professional ca- reer. He proved as much at Circuit ICAR, leading a fighting pack of five riders throughout the race and doing something no one could manage all through 2010, beating Szoke. One of the surprises of 2010 was the sec-
ond BMW Motorrad Canada factory rider, Michael Ferreira. In his rookie season aboard a Superbike the Mississauga, ON
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