Calabogie, Ontario - 14-time Canadian overall National Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke of Lynden, ON, set the pace during two practice sessions at Calabogie Motorsports Park for the third round of the 2026 Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship, a feature race in the traditional Vintage Road Racing Association Summer Classic, presented by the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
Riding an AIM Insurance backed works Kawasaki ZX-10RR Ninja in the GP Bikes Superbike class, Szoke was second quickest in the morning opening session behind reigning champ Ben Young on the Van Dolder’s Honda CBR 1000RR R SP. So far this season, Thornbury, ON based Young and Szoke have placed one-two in every National, Young so far unbeaten.
In the afternoon half hour Free Practice Two (FP2), Szoke improved his pace by over a second, turning the fastest lap in the session at 2:01.198, at an average speed of 150 kph around the flowing 20 turn, 5.05-kilometer-long venue. Next up was Young, about half a second off his morning pace with a best of 2:02.16.
Szoke was running his “B” chassis with his “B” engine, after technical problems with his preferred Ninja in the earlier session. The major difference involves the weight of both the frame package and the powerplant internals.
“It’s taken me a while to get my head back into in,” commented Sozke, referring to the venue that last hosted a National in 2021 and was recently repaved.
“The track is so good, it’s an adjustment to get use to riding in that style. Today’s problems are old school – I was up late with the kids (twins Reese and Murphy), and I’m having data issues with the electronics.
“At this track, with the high speeds and the blind turns, you have to trust your turn in points,” continued Szoke. “I’m still working on that. The grip is good with new pavement, but the feel is a little bit vague. We’re still working on the gearing, maybe make the wheelbase longer.
“On my fast lap, I came across another rider, and I had to check up – that probably cost me at least half a second.” Most of the top racers figure a lap in the two-minute flat range, a possible new lap record, might be possible with the new track surface and updated Bridgestone rubber.
Second overall Young was perplexed by his loss of pace, confirming that “we made a few chassis changes after this morning, and I lost a little drive. We need to look at the bike, right now it isn’t quite coming together.”
“The conditions in the afternoon were a little warmer,” continued Young. “I had a little bit of front-end chatter; the front was a little marshmallow-ey.” The two will face off in a single BS Battery backed half hour pole session at 10:15 am.
Third quickest was Sebastien Tremblay of St-Eustache, QC, a former podium finisher at Calabogie in Superbike action, riding his Nelson International 50th Anniversary backed Suzuki GSX-R750.
Currently Tremblay is the leader of the OPP Racing Supersport support class, the middleweight category that is not running with VRRA at ‘bogie. Famed for his pace at this specific venue, famed Race School Instructor Tremblay was optimistic about the track updates and came close to a personal best with a lap at 2:04.49. The Tremblay machine gives up at least 50 horsepower against the 1000cc mounted top guns.
Next up in the crowded mid field was Alex Michel from Montreal, QC, aboard his Mathias Sports Kawasaki ZX-10R. Second year Pro and rookie Superbike racer Michel was fourth overall at 2:04,80, turning the most laps of the session, ten.
One of the stars of the early 2026 CSBK tour is teenager Andrew Van Winkle, another former Supersport star. Based in Chilliwack, BC, Van Winkle is new to the Feature division with his Mountain View Sports backed Honda CBR1000RR-R. With two podium placings out of a possible four this season, Van Winkle had a solid opening day at Calabogie with a lap at 2:04.85 and will likely move up the ranking.
Another racer with potential for improvement is Snow City Honda mounted David MacKay of Stoney Creek, ON, sixth best at 2:04.95, just a tenth behind Van Winkle. In previous CSBK action at Calabogie, MacKay earned a podium in the support classes.
The support classes at the VRRA race include National Lightweight, sponsored by the Super Sonic Road Race School. After four of five eligible sessions and with one more Q opportunity tomorrow, Championship leader Lachlan Alexander of Amaranth, ON, sat at the top of the time sheets, quickest at 2:23.748 aboard a Kawasaki Ninja 500. Second overall belonged to Drayton, ON based Stefan Tanasic (Kaw 500), fresh from a pair of wins at the RACE Moto Regional last weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, ON.
Aprilia mounted Sebastien Silva from Toronto was third with a best lap of 2:27.18, followed by second-in-points, Toronto-based Mason Archer.
