Lacombe sets Superbike pace at AMP SHUBENACADIE, N.S. (July 20, 2012) Kevin Lacombe continued his love affair with Atlantic Motorsport Park during practice for round three of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship on Friday. The St-Cesaire, Que. native, who has won three Superbike nationals at AMP, was quickest around the 2.56km (1.6-mile), 11-turn circuit with a time of one minute, 8.485 seconds (134.570km/h) on his Team Couturier Racing BMW S1000RR. Series points leader Jordan Szoke of Brantford, Ont. placed second with a lap at 1:08.680 riding the Waznie Racing / Parts Canada / BMW Motorrad Canada BMW S1000RR and Kleinburg, Ont.’s Frank Trombino set the third fastest time of 1:08.696 on the Acme Slate / Dua Bodywork / G Suspension Suzuki GSX-R600. “We struggled the entire practice,” admitted Lacombe, who didn’t move to the top of the timesheets until the end of the afternoon’s 40-minute practice session. “We were trying something different in the front forks but we couldn’t figure it out. It was better at the end but we are still learning.” Lacombe won Superbike races at AMP in consecutive years between 2004 and 2006. “It’s about being consistent around here, and that’s the type of rider I am,” he explained. “There’s no place to make mistakes. It’s about relaxing and being patient with it.” Szoke comes into this weekend’s third round of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship with an 11-point lead over Andrew Nelson, 97-86. “I knew Kevin would be the guy to beat here, so I’m not surprised,” said the seven-time national Superbike champion. “I’m a little disappointed our times aren’t better but if we keep progressing I can’t complain.” Szoke said his best lap may have been spoiled when he made a mistake. “At the very end I had a little brain fade and went wide off the backstraight,” he explained. “That lap may have been a low ‘eight.'” Jodi Christie of Keene, Ont. was fourth fastest with a time of 1:08.734 on the Jodi Christie Racing / Accelerated Technologies Honda CBR600RR and Kars, Ont.’s Nelson completed the top five in Friday practice with a lap at 1:08.791 riding the Nelson Racing / Endras Motorrad / mcn.tv BMW S1000RR, as the top five were covered by just 0.306 secs. In other action at AMP, Trombino set the fastest time in practice for the K&N Performance Filters Pro Sport Bike class with a time of 1:08.780 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Terrebonne, Que.’s Raphael Archambault was next quickest at 1:09.416 aboard the Team Archambault Racing / Picotte Motorsports / G Suspension Suzuki GSX-R600 and defending class champ Christie set the third best time of 1:11.094 riding his Honda CBR600RR. Falmouth, N.S.’s Austin Shaw-O’Leary was the star of Amateur action on Friday. Riding the GoLo Racing / Dua Motorsports Honda CBR600RR he led Bazzaz Amateur Superbike practice with a time of 1:09.946 and was by far the quickest rider in practice for the Inside Motorcycles Amateur Sport Bike class with a time of 1:09.639. Last year’s champion Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, B.C. was fastest in practice for the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada XR1200 Cup with a time of 1:13.012 on his MotoSport Plus entry. St-Lazare, Que.’s Stacey Nesbitt topped practice for the Honda CBR250R National Race Series with a time of 1:22.093. Action at Atlantic Motorsport Park continues Saturday with qualifying for all six national classes, including Pirelli SuperPole in the Mopar Pro Superbike category. Saturday will also see the first of two races for the Honda CBR250R National Race Series this weekend. For ticket information call the track at 902-488-0380 or the Atlantic Roadracing League at 902-758-2237. Or go to atlanticroadracing.com or www.atlanticmotorsportpark.com.