McCormick sets scorching pace

From Professional Motorsports Productions
Photo by Rob O'Brien/cdnsuperbike.com

SHUBENACADIE, NS – Saskatoon’s Brett McCormick was in electrifying form in practice for the sixth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Friday.
       
The 17-year-old (shown) lapped the 2.56km (1.6-mile) 11-turn circuit in one minute, 6.390 seconds on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 for an average speed of 138.816 km/h (83.290 mph).

Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON was second quickest but almost 1.5 secs. behind at 1:07.854 on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R and Granby, Que.’s Kevin Lacombe had the third best time of 1:08.280 aboard the Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R6.

“We’re getting faster every session and I don’t feel I’m at the edge yet,” McCormick said. “The bike can get better and I can as well. I love this track. It’s so much fun and different than any other place we race in Canada.”

McCormick comes into this weekend’s penultimate round of the national series second in the Superbike standings with 226 points, 25 behind Szoke. A race win on Sunday is worth 50 points, with four points available to Saturday’s fastest qualifier.

Brian Blaauwendraat of Truro, NS was sixth in Friday’s practice with a time of 1:09.306 on the Pro Cycle / Atlantic Honda Dealers Honda CBR600RR.

“It’s not bad but I know I can run faster,” the 24-year-old said. “We’re still trying things every session. But as for my place on the leader board, I love it.”

In other action at AMP, McCormick was quickest in practice for the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike class with a time of 1:07.615 (136.30 km/h) on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Class points leader Szoke placed second at 1:07.862 aboard a Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Blaauwendraat set the fourth fastest practice time of 1:09.050 on his Honda.

Series leader Cody Matechuk paced the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike class on his Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 with a time of 1:10.642.

Granby, QC’s Jeremie Hade Precourt led the way in Suzuki SV650 National Cup practice at 1:14.242 and Karl Robitaille of Ste-Julie, QC was fastest in practice for the Honda CBR125R Challenge with a time of 1:28.688.

Activity Friday morning was delayed when BMW Motorrad Canada rider Francis Martin crashed his BMW HP2 during the Pro Sport Bike session and was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Halifax. The 35-year-old Sherbrooke, QC racer suffered a bruised lung, seven fractured ribs and four chipped lower vertebrae in the fall.

Action at Atlantic Motorsport Park continues Saturday with qualifying for all divisions, including the Pirelli SuperPole for the Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award in the Parts Canada Superbike class. Races in all national classes will go Sunday.