BARNES FASTEST IN WET TEST
CALABOGIE, Ont. Michael Barnes was fastest in a wet test session for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Calabogie Motorsports Park on Thursday.
The Boca Raton, Fla. rider, who is standing in for the injured Clint McBain on the Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000, turned a lap of one minute, 21.155 seconds around the 2.10km circuit during the afternoon session, which was punctuated by heavy rain.
“I’m still on the road to recovery myself so I was a little concerned about riding the big bike here,” said Barnes, who broke his thumb in a crash at Daytona International Speedway in March. “But in the wet the grip was really good and the bike is super stable.”
Ross Millson of Hamilton, Ont. was second fastest in Superbike testing with a time of 1:25.388 on the RMP Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000. Bedford, N.S. racer Todd Scott was third with a 1:28.071 on the Scott Racing Honda CBR600RR.
Only eight riders ventured out for the test session.
***** McBain hopes to be healthy for his home event at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary after suffering a third degree separation of his shoulder in a crash at Shannonville Motorsport Park.
McBain was competing in a regional event at Shannonville last Saturday as a final tune up for this weekend’s Parts Canada Superbike national opener.
Barnes was recommended to McBain by well known U.S. Suzuki team owner John Ulrich. McBain contacted Barnes on Monday, just as the American rider was returning home from a U.S. National event in Sonoma, Calif.
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Six-time Canadian Superbike champion Steve Crevier got his first few laps Thursday on the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R he will race in this year’s Parts Canada Superbike Championship.
“Right from the get-go it’s not that bad,” said the Maple Ridge, B.C. racer. “It feels pretty good. We’re losing some power but this is not a power track. I’m concerned more about how to hug the turns.
“This is a track with a lot of character. It takes a lot of technical skill to ride a track like this.”
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Two-time defending class champion Jordan Szoke of Brantford, Ont. was quickest in a dry test session for the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike class, turning a 1:12.196 on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6R.
Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ont. placed second with a time of 1:12.275 on the Nelson Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.
Nelson also placed second in testing for the Canadian Thunder class with a 1:14.575 on his NCR Ducati 848. His teammate Walter Bartolini was quickest at 1:14.262.
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Practice for all national classes opens Friday with qualifying, including the Pirelli SUPERPOLE in the Parts Canada Superbike class, set for Saturday afternoon. Races are scheduled to go Sunday.