McCormick quickest again at Circuit ICAR

From Professional Motorsports Productions

MIRABEL, QC – Saskatoon motorcycle racer Brett McCormick continued to set the pace during practice for the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, presented by Moto Journal, at Circuit ICAR on Friday.

After being quickest in testing around the 2.8km (1.74-mile) 14-turn track on Thursday the 17-year-old ended Friday with a time of one minute, 25.225 seconds on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing / Suzuki GSX- R1000.

Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe held the second fastest time of 1:26.016 aboard the Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R1 and three-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON set the third quickest time of 1:26.169 on the Canadian Kawasaki Motors / Kawasaki ZX-10R.

“I really can’t complain,” said McCormick, who was fractionally quicker in the morning practice session. “Both sessions we were working toward a race set-up. The bike keeps improving every time out. I think we’ll be OK for qualifying tomorrow.”

McCormick will try to claim his fourth straight Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award, and four championship points, in Pirelli SuperPole qualifying on Saturday afternoon. He trails Szoke by five points in the Superbike standings after one event.

Lacombe improved his morning time by almost a second in the afternoon.

“We’ve been changing everything each practice and it’s getting better, we’re learning more about the bike,” said Lacombe, who is third in the series standings. “Our rear traction in the fast sweepers is really bad. I can’t get on the gas at all. I think if we can get that fixed we’ll be in a better position to run with Brett and Jordan in the race.”

Clint McBain was fourth fastest in Superbike practice with a 1:26.956 on his Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing / Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Alex Welsh ended Friday fifth fastest aboard the second Canadian Kawasaki Motors / Kawasaki ZX-10R with a time of 1:27.120.

In other action at Circuit ICAR, McCormick was fastest in practice for the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class with a time of 1:25.557 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Points leader Szoke placed second at 1:26.339 aboard a Kawasaki ZX- 6R and Lacombe was third with a time of 1:27.077 riding his Yamaha YZF-R6.

Longueuil, QC’s Sebastien Tremblay led the way in practice for the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike class with a time of 1:31.166 on his A. Perusse Kawasaki / Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Philippe Masse of St-Dominique, QC was fastest in practice for the Suzuki SV650 National Cup, Bodhi Edie paced the Honda CBR125R Challenge and Montreal’s Marie-Josee Boucher led the Pro Honda Oils Women’s Cup on her Excel Moto / Honda CBR600RR.

Qualifying for all national classes will be held Saturday with races on Sunday.