McBain takes Calgary pole

From Professional Motorsports Productions

CALGARY, AB -- Local ace Clint McBain dominated qualifying for the Parts Canada Superbike doubleheader at Race City Motorsport Park on Friday.

Riding his Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000, McBain set a fastest lap of one minute, 16.534 seconds around the 3.2km (2.0-mile) track to earn pole position for both Superbike feature races this weekend. His nearest challenger was almost three-quarters of a second behind.

The first 18-lap race will go Saturday afternoon, with the second on Sunday.

McBain’s performance gives him four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike series title and the $500 MPM Array Pole Award.

“That wasn’t supposed to be my quickest time,” said McBain, who came close to toppling Pascal Picotte’s lap record of 1:16.508 set last year. “I think there was more to be had. I would not have been happy with second, and I won’t be happy with second tomorrow.”

Despite nursing a separated shoulder suffered four weeks ago Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC qualified second with a time of 1:17.214 on the Diablo Performance Honda CBR1000RR. Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke qualified third at 1:17.233 on the Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR.

McBain’s Blackfoot Suzuki teammate Kevin Lacombe of Granby will complete the front row for both Parts Canada Superbike features after setting a time of 1:17.284.

McBain led the hour-long session virtually from the start. He set his fastest time just 20 minutes in, which at the time placed him almost 1.5 seconds ahead of his closest challenger.

Chardon, OH’s Tom Kipp will lead off the second row in both Superbike features after setting the fifth fastest time on Friday, a 1:17.544 on the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R. Despite a heavy crash late in the session, Kleinburg, ON’s Frank Trombino set the sixth fastest time of 1:17.688 on his Trombino Yamaha Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Francis Martin will start seventh after recording a best time of 1:17.849 on the Snobgirls / Laval Moto Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Two-time defending series champion Pascal Picotte, who swept both races here last year, qualified eighth with a time of 1:18.085 on the Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1.

In other action at Race City, McBain also grabbed pole for this weekend’s two Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike feature races. The 2002 class champion took his Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600 to a time of 1:19.584. Lacombe was second at a 1:19.690 and Kars, ON’s Andrew Nelson placed third aboard the Nelson Racing Honda CBR600RR with a time of 1:20.198.

Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC claimed pole position for the Suzuki SV650 National Cup feature races with a time of 1:29.899.

Pascal Anctil of Laval, QC paced practice for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class at Race City with a best time of 1:25.245 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. The Amateur 600 Sport Bike competitors will qualify Saturday for their Sunday feature.