Kipp on Superbike pole

From Professional Motorsports Productions

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Tom Kipp claimed pole position for the opening round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park Saturday.

The Chardon, OH rider set a time of one minute, 50.537 seconds around Shannonville’s 4.0km (2.5-mile) ‘Long Track’ on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R to lock up the $500 Vicious-I Pole Position Award and four points toward the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

Kipp’s time was actually the second best of the 40-minute qualifying session, behind the 1:49.680 of Matt McBride. But McBride’s Riders Choice Suzuki GSX-R1000 exceeded the Superbike class horsepower limit of 180 hp in post-qualifying technical inspection by 1.4 hp. The Mississauga, ON rider was penalized five positions for his infraction, handing pole for Sunday’s 14-lap feature to Kipp.

Qualifying was conducted under difficult conditions. Rain through most of the afternoon left the track wet as the Superbike session began, but it dried progressively as qualifying continued.

“It was a very stressful hour,” said Kipp, who set his best time on wet weather Pirelli tires halfway through the session. “No one likes a half-dry track, especially in qualifying, when there’s so much on the line.”

Calgary’s Clint McBain will start second in Sunday’s race after recording a 1:50.866 on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Kipp’s teammate Jordan Szoke will line-up third after setting a 1:51.067 on his Kawasaki ZX-10R. The Brantford, ON rider paced Friday practice.

Defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Francis Martin completes Sunday’s front row after he recorded a 1:53.159 on the second Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000.

McBride will line up on the second row of the grid, between the Honda CBR1000RR of Val Senneville, QC’s Erick Beausejour and the Picotte Performance / Yamaha / Toyota Yamaha YZF-R1 of Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC.

Lacombe’s teammate, two-time Superbike champion Pascal Picotte will start 10th Sunday on his Yamaha. The St-Cecil Milton, QC racer is coming back from injuries suffered in a crash in April.

In other action, McBride claimed his first ever pole in national competition by setting the fastest time in Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike qualifying at 2:00.361 on his Suzuki GSX-R600.

McBride’s time came on his final lap of the session, and he just edged the 2:00.386 from the Kawasaki ZX-6RR of Szoke. Calgary’s Chris Peris qualified third fastest with a time of 2:01.100 aboard the Topline Printing Yamaha YZF-R6.

Last minute heroics also played a role in qualifying for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship, as Ross Millson of Hamilton turned in a time of 1:56.505 on his final flier to snatch the class pole on his Suzuki GSX-R600.

Defending champion Darren James of North Vancouver claimed pole for the Canadian Thunder feature with a lap time of 2:01.378 on his Buell.

Brantford’s Rob Busby was fastest in Suzuki SV650 Cup qualifying with a time of 2:03.342.

Feature races in all five national classes will run Sunday. Practice begins at 8:30 a.m. with the first race scheduled for a 12:20 p.m. start.