Martin leads on Mirabel Long Track

From Professional Motorsports Productions

Two-time Parts Canada Superbike Champ Francis Martin, riding a Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, ended Tuesday’s Parts Canada Superbike Championship series Pirelli Test at Mirabel’s ICAR Circuit with the venue’s fastest ever motorcycle lap.

Martin lapped the 3.45km “Long” circuit at 1:53.745 during the second half of the test, interrupted after lunch by heavy rains and thundershowers. Martin had previously ridden at the new Montreal-area ICAR facility only once, aboard a friend’s Suzuki SV1000 twin during a weekday lapping session.

“It was a lot of fun, I guess it was the right track for me today,” smiled Martin. “We went with the same set-up from last weekend’s doubleheader at Shubenacadie, and the bike worked really well right away. There were still some spots with water crossing the track, but I got a good time for the conditions.

“I know the series is concerned about having a track to race at in Quebec. We really need to race in Quebec, I know all the fans tell me that when I work at the winter bike shows. So finding a home in Quebec is really important for the sponsors, the TV and the series.”

Tuesday morning’s sessions were run on the shorter 2.2km configuration before making the switch to the longer layout in the afternoon. Event officials have yet to decide if the shorter or longer layouts would be more appropriate for a proposed 2009 round of the Parts Canada National Superbike Roadracing Championship.

Canadian Kawasaki ZX-10R rider Jordan Szoke, who set the best time on the shorter track, was second fastest in the afternoon with a time of 1:56.804, not comfortable with the several on-track puddles.

Top privateer Karl Daigle was next after a strong showing aboard a Yoshimura Sport Bike class Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Frontrunning Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike ace Martin Grande took his Suzuki GSX-R600 to fourth best time, turning the most laps of the afternoon.

After setting the pace early, Alberta’s Chris Peris wound up sixth best in post rain running aboard the sister Suzuki to fast runner Martin.

A few riders ventured out to test the wet traction of the ICAR circuit’s concrete surface, utilizing full-wet Pirelli racing rubber. Grande and Yamaha privateer Louie Raffa showed that wet weather racing would be possible at the Mirabel airport area facility.

Tuesday Afternoon Lap Times
1. Francis Martin PRO Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:53.745
2. Jordan Szoke PRO Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:56.804
3. Karl Daigle PRO Kawasaki ZX-6R 1:57.358
4. Martin Grande AM Suzuki GSX-R600 1:58.648
5. Chris Peris PRO Suzuki GSX-R600 1:58.992
6. J.F. Cyr PRO Honda CBR600 1:59.645
7. Franklyn Dominguez PRO Kawasaki ZX-10R 2:00.314
8. Martin Ricard Kawasaki ZX-6R 2:02.436
9. Brett McCormick Kawasaki ZX-10R 2:03.993
10. Eric Moffette PRO Suzuki GSX-R600 2:12.425
11. Louie Raffa PRO Yamaha YZF-R6 2:14.003