Jordan Szoke pops a cork. (Brad Boutilier Photo and Press)

SHUBENACADIE: RVs, tents, and 5,000 superbike fanatics will infiltrate Shubenacadie each day from August 5-8—inhaling gas fumes, sunscreen and a potential whiff of history unfolding.

Brantford, Ont., native Jordan Szoke has won four superbike championships in a row, and is aiming for a fifth. He’s sailing into the last races to accumulate points for the season championships with hopes of breaking this record, but also of attaining a perfect season.

“Our primary goal is to win the number one plate,” he said. “To lose this race would suck, but our main goal is to win the championship and our second is to have a perfect season.”

He inched closer to this goal on July 11, staying ahead of Francis Martin by 74 points.

“He is running really, really well this year,” said race organizer Andrew Murray. “He’s a fan favorite. He’s coming to our event in the lead, running with Honda on both superbike and sports bike, and he’s winning both classes.”

Having been dropped from the Kawasaki team, with whom he achieved his four straight wins, Szoke had to move hastily, with a hefty financial investment, to put his own team together.

“It’s a little bit more work putting the team together,” he said, “but in the end I think we have a different team, and a better motorcycle. That’s one of the reasons we’ve had so much success.”

But it’s not only about the bike, he said. The 31-year-old trains more than three hours a day, cycling and weight training.

“It’s very physical,” he said. “There are a lot of G-forces. You have to throw around a 100 lb. motorcycle, you’re wearing a 15 lb. suit, and the track temperature the other day was 53 C—so when I go and ride 80 km on my bike every night, that’s the easy part of my life.”

Szoke is anticipating the Shubenacadie race without superstition.

“I don’t have any silly superstitions and regiments,” he said. “I think that’s something that ends up screwing people up mentally. I just focus on the race—I just go out there and give’er.”

The 2.5 km track, with 11 turns, 100 ft. in elevation changes, and tight turns and hills, has been known to frustrate superbike and sport bike competitors.

“There are a lot of hills that are difficult to ride and learn quickly,” said Murray.

“It’s a really fun track to ride,” agreed Szoke. “It’s a frustrating track to race. I’ve won there and I’ve lost there.”

Szoke is also tied with Steve Crevier for winning the most championships at six. But the points he accumulates at the superbikes championship, riding his Honda CBR1000RR could put him over the top.

The superbike championship will see more than 12,000 spectators, and an economic impact of $3.5 to $4 million.

“The big feather in our caps is they chose us for the season finale,” said Murray. “It always usually ends in Ontario, but this year they chose for it to end here, which speaks volumes to the event as a whole and the track.”

For more information, visit www.atlanticroadracing.com.

acano@enfiedweeklypress.com