From a press release issued by series organizers:

CALGARY, AB – Calgary’s Clint McBain led the way in Friday’s opening day of practice for the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park.

McBain took his Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 around the 2.1-mile road course in 1:18.683 in the final session of the day. Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC was second fastest with a time of 1:18.932 on a Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000 and McBain’s teammate Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC was third at 1:18.944 on another Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Official qualifying will take place Saturday afternoon with the 16-lap feature event set to go on Sunday.

“There’s still a long way to go but it’s always good to be on top,” said the 30-year-old McBain, who is hoping to earn his first career Canadian national Superbike win on home turf. “The bike wasn’t handling great to begin with but the team worked hard all day and it felt really good this afternoon.”

McBain is third in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings. He placed third in the opening event at Shannonville Motorsport Park last month.

Crevier, Canada’s all time winningest Superbike racer leads the Parts Canada series standings after claiming the victory at Shannonville. The triumph was his record-extending 21st national win.

“I tried really hard from the start,” said Crevier, a six-time Canadian Superbike champion. “My second last lap was a good one but on my last lap I pushed a bit too hard.”

Martin is second in Superbike points and won at Race City in 1999.

“I’m happy. Everything worked good,” he said. “The last practice was not bad but this morning it was hard dealing with the wind.”

Pascal Picotte of St-Cecile de Milton, QC was fourth in practice Friday with a time of 1:19.111 on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe completed the top five, setting a 1:19.381 on his Orion Motorsport Honda RC51.

McBain was also fastest in practice for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike national support class at Race City with a time of 1:20.283 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Fellow Calgary rider Chris Peris set the second quickest time on a Honda CBR600RR and series leader Picotte was third aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6.

McBain is the defending class champion and won in Calgary last year.

Jeremy Leduc of Keremeos, BC was the pacesetter in practice for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class on a Yamaha YZF-R6 with a time of 1:24.734. Derek Bowker of Nepean, ON, also on a Yamaha was second and Wellesley, ON’s Bill Card placed third riding a Honda.

Practice on Saturday starts at 9:00 a.m. with qualifying for all three national classes set to begin at 12:55 p.m. Races will go Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, July 6 at 12:30 p.m. EDT and later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.