From a press release issued by series organizers:

FIRST POLE FOR CYR

ST-EUSTACHE, QC – Joliette, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr claimed pole position for the third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache on Saturday.

Riding his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1 Cyr set a new track record with a time of 46.463 secs. with just a minute and a half remaining in the 45-minute session to earn his first career national Superbike pole.

In a typically dramatic session for the Parts Canada Superbike competitors, series leader Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge,BC wound up second fastest with a 46.539 secs. on the Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000. St-Cecile de Milton, QC’s Pascal Picotte qualified third at 46.720 secs. riding the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1.

Granby, QC rider Kevin Lacombe will complete the front row for Sunday’s 22-lap feature race after recording a 46.917 on his Orion Motorsport Honda RC51.

Both Cyr and Crevier were under Jordan Szoke’s previous track record of 46.641 set last year.

Cyr claims the MPM/Array Pole Award of $500 for his effort and earns four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. Crevier gets three points for qualifying second, Picotte gets two for placing third and Lacombe earns one for setting the fourth best time.

“I tried a soft tire but it was not working at all,” said the 29-year-old Cyr. “So with five minutes left in the session I switched back to the tire I had been using. I knew it was all or nothing then.”

Crevier had gone to the top of the timesheets with 15 minutes remaining in the session. Cyr, who had held the top spot early on was second before setting his record setting time. One lap after grabbing the pole he crashed just a few turns from the finish line, but was unhurt.

“We tried real hard but Cyr got me,” Crevier admitted. “On my second tire we put a little preload in the front forks and that balanced the bike out a bit better. What can I say? The man is fast here.”

Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC will lead the second row after recording a 47.001 on his Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000. Kleinburg, ON’s Frank Trombino was sixth quickest on the Brooklin Yamaha YZF-R1 at a time of 47.028 and Tom Kipp of Chardon, OH completes the second row with a 47.250 riding the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-7RR.

In other action at St-Eustache, Picotte qualified on pole for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike class with a track record time of 47.674 on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Trombino was second with a time of 47.732 aboard the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6 and Cyr completed a Yamaha sweep of the top three at 47.872 on his Michelin-backed YZF-R6.

Keremeos, BC’s Jeremy Leduc led the way in International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike qualifying Saturday with a time of 50.069 aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6. Wellsley, ON’s Bill Card placed second with a 50.252 on a Honda CBR600RR and Hugo Brisson of Piedmont, QC was third with a 50.417 riding a Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

Feature races in all three national classes will take place Sunday. Practice starts at 10:00 a.m. with the first race, the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike feature set to go at 1:00 p.m.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1:30 p.m. EDT and later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

Results Saturday from qualifying for the third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache, showing qualifying position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time:
1.Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 46.463; 2. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 46.539; 3. Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile de Milton, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 46.720; 4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51, 46.917; 5. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 47.001; 6. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 47.028; 7. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 47.250; 8. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 47.520; 9. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 47.565; 10. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 48.186; 11. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR954RR, 48.378; 12. Matthew McBride, Toronto, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 48.723; 13. Michael Leon, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 48.767; 14. Bruce McDonald, Mt. Albert, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 48.821; 15. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR954RR, 48.844; 16. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 49.162; 17. Matt Binns, Uxbridge, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 49.599; 18. Martin Hamel, Drummondville, QC, Suzuki GSX-R750, 49.789; 19. Francois Chartrand, Anjou, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, 50.307; 20. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 50.330; 21. Steve Dufresne, St. Barthelemy, QC, Honda CBR600RR, 50.724; 22. Darren Womack, Windsor, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 51.033; 23. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 51.223; 24. Dan Durkovic, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 51.827

Non Starter: Robbie Baird, Brisbane, Australia, Honda CBR954RR