From a press release issued by series organizers:

PICOTTE ON THE POLE

SHANNONVILLE, ON Pascal Picotte opened the defence of his Parts Canada Superbike Championship title in style by claiming pole position for the first race of the 2004 season at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Saturday.

The Granby, QC racer took his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 around Shannonville’s 1.53-mile ‘Pro’ circuit in 1:05.032 to claim the $500 MPM/Array Pole Award and four points in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship standings.

Picotte’s time was a new track record, breaking the previous mark of 1:05.746 set by Steve Crevier in 2001.

“We definitely made progress from yesterday,” Picotte said. “A little better suspension and a little better clutch set-up could make a difference, but I know this bike is going to be good.”

Calgary’s Clint McBain posted the second fastest time, a 1:05.166 on the Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Crevier, from Maple Ridge, BC overcame engine trouble to record the third best time of 1:05.209 on his DXS/Diablo Racing Team Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC completes the front row of the grid for Sunday’s race after setting a time of 1:05.498 on the Lacombe Racing/Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1.

A total of seven racers eclipsed Crevier’s old lap record and less than a second separated the nine fastest qualifiers.

Superbike racing at Shannonville was marred by a serious practice accident involving two-time national champion Michael Taylor. The Toronto rider crashed his Z1 Cycletech Ducati 999S late in the morning practice session and sustained a broken right femur and broken right thumb.

In other action at Shannonville, Picotte also claimed pole position for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike race on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Picotte, who is also the defending champion in that class set a time of 1:05.811.

McBain qualified second fastest at 1:05.893 on the Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600 and Andrew Nelson of Kars, ON placed third with a 1:06.030 aboard the Honda Canada/Fast Company Honda CBR600RR.

Erick Beausejour of Val D’Or, QC will start from pole position in Sunday’s International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike feature on the AMI Sport Honda CBR600RR. Ballantrae, ON’s Eric Warren will line-up second on the Pro 6 Cycle/McBride Cycle Honda CBR600RR and Guelph, ON’s Tyler Kennedy will start third riding the Sturgess Cycle/BMG Sports Honda CBR600RR.

Feature races in all three national classes will be held Sunday. Practice begins at 8:30 a.m. with the day’s first race, for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship set to go at 12:45 p.m.

Television coverage of this weekend’s event will premier on TSN on Saturday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. It will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS.

Starting line-up for Sunday’s opening round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park, showing starting position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time:

1.Pascal Picotte, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:05.032; 2. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.166; 3. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.209; 4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:05.498; 5. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:05.554; 6. Craig Connell, Brisbane, Australia, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.595; 7. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:05.693; 8. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.825; 9. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:06.021; 10. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:07.263; 11. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:07.313; 12. Stewart Nodell, Ajax, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:07.780; 13. Brent Strong, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:07.783; 14. Jean-Francois Cyr, St. Lin, QC, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:08.125; 15. Michael Leon, Beaconsfield, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:08.202; 16. Dave Young, Woodstock, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:08.283; 17. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:08.624; 18. Bill Card, Wellesley, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:09.088; 19. Corey Sherman, Corbyville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.449; 20. Derek Vammus, Orangeville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.616; 21. Sebastien Michel, St. Jerome, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.679; 22. Jeremy French, Erin, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:09.700; 23. Marco Alessandrini, Bradford, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:09.986; 24. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:09.992; 25. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:10.103; 26. Yannick Morin, Repentigny, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:10.387; 27. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:10.787; 28. Dean Plater, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:11.007; 29. Dave Hodge, Acton, ON, Triumph Daytona 600, 1:15.163; 30. Hugo Brisson, St. Sauveur, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, No Time (disqualified from qualifying session)