MARTIN LEADS FIRST DAY SHANNONVILLE, ON Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC was the pacesetter in practice Friday for the opening round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park. Riding the DXS Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000 Martin recorded a lap of one minute, 5.001 seconds around the 2.45km (1.53-mile) Shannonville ‘Pro’ circuit. Two-time defending series champion Pascal Picotte of Granby, QC was a close second with a time of 1:05.040 on his Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1. Kleinburg, ON’s Frank Trombino was third fastest with a time of 1:05.194 aboard the Vaughn Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1. “I’m happy right now but I can’t sit on it,” said Martin, the 1999 Canadian national champion. “Picotte is right there. He always seems to have something in qualifying.” Qualifying for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship competitors is scheduled for Saturday afternoon with the race set for Sunday. “It looks good for the race,” Martin said. “I know I can keep that pace. We’ve found a good set-up right now. There’s still some work to do but it looks good.” Martin set his time in the second of two, 40-minute practice sessions Friday, as did Picotte. Trombino had been the fastest in Friday’s morning period but was unable to improve in the afternoon. Calgary’s Clint McBain placed fourth overall on Friday with a time of 1:05.316 on his Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000. Chardon, OH’s Tom Kipp was fifth with a 1:05.924 on the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R and Brantford, ON racer Jordan Szoke was sixth on the Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR running a 1:05.933. Picotte holds the track lap record with a 1:05.032 set in qualifying for last year’s race. He won five of eight races on the way to his second straight Parts Canada Superbike title. “Every year, every team picks it up,” Picotte said. “We’ll do the best we can, we always do. We don’t need to win them all. I’m chasing a championship but I like to win.” In other action at Shannonville, McBain was quickest in practice for Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike competitors with a time of 1:06.343 on his Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600. Teammate Matt Binns of Uxbridge, ON placed second at 1:06.617 and defending class champion Picotte was third aboard the Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R6 with a time of 1:06.671. Oshawa, ON’s Craig Archer led the field in practice for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class with a time of 1:09.930 on his Honda CBR600RR. Woodstock, ON’s James Collins placed second on a Yamaha YZF-R6 at 1:09.945 and Warkworth, ON racer Mark Douglas was third for the day at 1:10.360 on another Yamaha YZF-R6. Alain Lefebvre of Rouyn-Noranda, QC led Suzuki SV650 Cup practice with a time of 1:12.953. Racing at Shannonville resumes Saturday with qualifying for the national classes, including an eight-lap heat race for the Canadian Thunder competitors. Feature races will go Sunday.