Double plus good for Nelson

From Professional Motorsports Productions

SHANNONVILLE, ON -- Andrew Nelson set a new lap record in the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike class with a time of 1:05.020 on his Nelson Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 during qualifying at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Saturday.

The Kars, ON rider qualified over half a second clear of Peris, who placed second with a time of 1:05.577 around the 2.53km (1.45-mile) 'Pro Track' on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Lacombe just squeaked under the previous lap record of 1:05.637 set by Crevier last year with a time of 1:05.633 on his Yamaha YZF-R6 as did Szoke, who recorded a 1:05.636 on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. Szoke has already clinched the 2008 title.

Nelson also took pole in the Canadian Thunder class with a track record 1:06.424 on his NCR-Ducati 848 and gained a point on teammate Valter Bartolini of Bologna, Italy, who was second fastest at 1:06.804.

Bartolini now leads Nelson by 46 points, 259-213 heading into Sunday’s race.

Olivier Spilborghs of Langley, BC qualified fastest in the Canadian Sport Twins class on his Buell XB12R with a time of 1:10.885.

Points leader Jodi Christie claimed pole position for the Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike race with a track record time of 1:07.493 on his Yamaha YZF-R6. The Keene, ON rider takes a 44-point lead, 254-210 over Calgary’s Patrick Marques into Sunday’s race. Marques qualified his Suzuki GSX-R600 second with a time of 1:08.096.

Cochrane, AB’s Cody Matechuk moved into a tie with John Jarvie of Burlington, ON for the lead of the Suzuki SV650 National Cup standings at Shannonville. Matechuk qualified fastest at a track record time of 1:10.083 while Jarvie, a native of New Zealand, placed third with a 1:11.407. Matechuk and Jarvie go into Sunday’s race even at 283 points.

Lee Kuhn Jr. of Hamilton, ON will start from pole in Sunday’s Honda CBR125R Challenge race after turning a lap at 1:08.201 on the shorter ‘Nelson Track.’

Feature races in all national classes are set for Sunday. Practice begins at 8:45 a.m. with the first race set to get the green at 11:35 a.m.

Pro 600 Sport Bike Qualifying Times
1. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON (Yamaha-YZF-R6) 1:05.020
2. Chris Peris, Calgary, AB (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:05.577
3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:05.633
4. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:05.636
5. Matt McBride, Mississauga, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:05.731
6. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, SK (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:05.740
7. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON (Triumph 675) 1:06.160
8. Karl Daigle, Granby, QC (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:07.108
9. Jean-Francois Cyr, Mascouche, QC (Honda CBR600RR) 1:07.447
10. Brian Blaauwendraat, Truro, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 1:07.790
11. Louie Raffa, St-Marthe, QC (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:08.012
12. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS (Honda CBR600RR) 1:08.168
13. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC (Honda CBR600RR) 1:08.601
14. Stephan Chabot, Oshawa, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:08.804
15. Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:08.963
16. Dan Henri, Ottawa, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:09.054
17. Marco Alessandrini, Bradford, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:09.122
18. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:09.815