Jordan Szoke's 25th Anniversary Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.
The Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory
Ninja ZX- 10R Superbikes of Jordan Szoke and Alex Welsh will have a different look at this weekend’s Parts
Canada Superbike Championship doubleheader at Mosport International Raceway.
Both bikes will feature new bodywork created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Ninja brand. In addition to distinctive 25th anniversary graphics the designs include imagery specific to each rider. Szoke’s bike will be accented with his familiar dragon logo while Welsh’s will have a “Las Vegas Lucky 7” theme.
The bodywork was prepared by BK Designs of Ottawa, which also paints Szoke’s race helmets.
“Mosport is our biggest event of the year and we were kicking around some ideas, trying to come up with a one of a kind, special paint scheme,”
said Jeff Comello, team manager of the Canadian Kawasaki Motors squad. “Then we got information about Ninja’s 25th anniversary and thought that would be the perfect fit.”
The bodywork will be used at Mosport only, and at the end of the season both sets will be auctioned off for charity. Funds raised will go to the “Get Well Trev” Fund for injured Canadian moto journalist Andrew Trevitt and the Canadian Rider Safety Fund.
Alex Welsh's 25th Anniversary Kawasaki ZX-10R featuring a Las Vegas Lucky 7 theme.
Brantford, Ont.’s Szoke wound up with the third fastest time in practice on Thursday at Mosport. The five-time Canadian Superbike champ managed a best lap of one minute, 22.549 seconds around the 3.9km (2.459-
mile) circuit.
Cochrane, Alta.’s Clint McBain had the quickest time of 1:22.420 on the Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 and series points leader Brett McCormick was second with a 1:22.448 riding the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing
Suzuki GSX-R1000.
In other action, Szoke led the way in practice for the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class with a time of 1:23.982 on his
Kawasaki ZX-6R. Cochrane, Alta.’s Cody Matechuk was fastest in Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike on the Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing
Suzuki GSX-R600, Raphael Archambault of St-Colomban, Que. led the Suzuki SV650 National Cup class and Steven Nickerson of Hamilton, Ont. was the quickest in the Honda CBR125R Challenge.
Action at Mosport continues Friday with qualifying, including the Pirelli SuperPole for the Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award in the Parts Canada Superbike class. Races in all national classes will go Saturday and Sunday, except in the Amateur Sport Bike division, where qualifying will be held Saturday for Sunday’s race.
A three-day SuperTicket is $60 at the gate and each ticket includes parking, paddock admission, and entrance to Saturday Night Stock Car racing at Mosport Speedway. Call 1-800-866-1072 or visit online at
www.mosport.com.
For more series information, visit
www.cdnsuperbike.com
