Kawasaki confirms Szoke, Dion cut up forward of SMP finale
Toronto, ON – The much-anticipated manufacturing unit Kawasaki program of Jordan Szoke and Trevor Dion has come to an early finish, as the 2 have finalized plans to run a separate effort on the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship finale in Shannonville later this month.
The cut up has been described as amicable, with each events agreeing to go in their very own course for spherical 5 of the GP Bikes Professional Superbike class and past.
Szoke will keep the established order aboard his manufacturing unit ZX-10R Ninja machine, although with a change in sponsorship as he continues with the official Canadian Kawasaki program from SMP. The 14-time champion presently sits fifth within the general standings, scoring a podium in spherical one.
The most important change comes for Dion, who will stay mounted on Kawasaki equipment for the season finale however now as a privateer with continued assist from LDS Consultants.
The 21-year-old will run a privately owned 2019 ZX-10R Ninja within the characteristic Superbike class, a motorcycle he has examined on all through the 2023 marketing campaign between nationwide rounds, however maybe extra notably may also return to the Liqui Moly Professional Sport Bike grid for the season finale.
Dion received the Sport Bike championship a yr in the past aboard a privateer LDS Consultants Kawasaki, turning into the primary rookie in school historical past to take action and the third-youngest champion ever, earlier than becoming a member of forces with Szoke previous to this season for his first full Superbike effort.
Whereas it’s been a irritating yr at occasions for the characteristic class rookie, sitting eleventh within the general standings, Dion has proven flashes of brilliance – together with a podium end at Grand Bend – and stays within the thick of the Brooklin Cycle Racing Professional Rookie of the 12 months battle, trailing John Fraser and Paul Macdonell by solely eight factors.
Each Dion and Szoke will proceed to play a pivotal position within the Constructors Championship for Kawasaki, the place the model seems to erase their 32-point deficit to Yamaha for third within the general standings.
Except for his altering Superbike plans, Dion’s return to the Sport Bike class shall be his first look since capturing his #1 plate at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park a yr in the past – a quantity he’ll now get to placed on his ZX-6R Ninja machine.
“Having earned it final season, I’m fairly excited to have the ability to run the number-one plate at a nationwide occasion, even when it’s for just one spherical,” Dion stated. “Clearly Superbike remains to be going to be my primary focus of the weekend, however I’m excited to hop on a Sport Bike once more and have some enjoyable after having among the finest races of my profession in that class final season.”
The reigning champ received’t have the ability to defend his title however may play a major position in deciding the 2023 crown, the place David MacKay presently leads Matt Simpson by simply 16 factors. Mockingly, it was MacKay who got here closest to Dion one yr in the past, dropping out on the championship by simply eight factors after a last-round comeback fell quick.
The ultimate spherical of the Bridgestone CSBK season is scheduled for September 15-17 at Shannonville Motorsport Park, simply east of Belleville, Ontario, with a Superbike tripleheader on faucet to determine the 2023 crown.
The publish Canadian Superbike: Dion And Szoke Half Methods appeared first on Roadracing World Journal | Motorbike Using, Racing & Tech Information.
