Jordan Szoke proved that his skills and determination know no bounds when he locked up the Canadian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) Observed Trials Number One plate at the CMA Canadian National Championships in Gravenhurst/Raymond on September 15-16. It was the Parts Canada / Gas Gas Pacific-backed Szoke’s third CMA Trials championship of his career.
“It was sweet that I was able to come out on top both days,” Szoke told Inside Motorcycles after winning both Expert class contests at the event. “These are the two toughest rounds of the year and the three top guys in Ontario were there. I missed a lot of the regional rounds this year, but I made all of the nationals, and that’s what counted.” Dan Johnson and Jonathan English swapped spots on the podium, each finishing second and third over the weekend.
Szoke, an eight-time Canadian Superbike champion, may be the only Canadian racer to win two championships in two disctinctly different, nationally recognized disciplines this year. He also accomplished the double-championship feat in 2009 and 2010. He’s had a successful season in bicycle competition, too, showing that at 33 years old, he’s still at the top of his game and has the true heart of a champ. But when it all comes down to it, what form of racing does he enjoy the most?
“Road racing will always be my favourite,” Szoke admits, “but I’ve been doing trials the longest, and at the end of the day, it’s the one I’ll still keep doing. I just love it.”
Szoke is proud to be involved in trials competition in Canada and believes that the sport is in a good place here.
“We have a lot of top level riders in Canada, they’re just scattered,” Szoke notes in regard to the two trials hot zones of Ontario and BC. “But we have a strong trials presence in Canada. Clubs are doing well, and hare scrambles riders continue to come out to improve their skills. I tell kids to run trials if they’re planning to get into dirt bikes.”
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