From a press release issued by series organizers:

SHANNONVILLE, ON–Calgary’s Clint McBain led the way on the opening day of practice for the first round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Friday.

Showing the benefit of an intensive off-season training program, the Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider was fastest in both sessions. His morning time of 1:05.433 was marginally faster than the 1:05.528 he set in the afternoon.

“This is the first winter I’ve worked out right through and I’ve never been in better shape,” McBain said. “Our preseason has been phenomenal, really productive.”

McBain’s times were under the three-year-old track record of 1:05.746 set by Steve Crevier.

“We’re still working on some things and we made some improvements for the afternoon,” added McBain, who is still searching for his first career national Superbike win. “It was definitely easier to get to those times in the afternoon.”

Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON was second quickest on Friday with a time of 1:06.120 on his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 and Harrowsmith, ON rider Jeff Williams placed third overall at 1:06.261 on his Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“We’ve been fiddling with gearing and suspension and it seems to be working,” said Trombino, who set his best time in the second practice session. “The bike’s been getting smoother.”

Defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Pascal Picotte had the fourth best time on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. The Granby, QC native set a time of 1:06.317.

Fellow Granby rider Kevin Lacombe placed fifth on the Lacombe Racing / Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 with a time of 1:06.331, just ahead of Maple Ridge, BC’s Crevier, who recorded a time of 1:06.339 aboard his Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In other action at Shannonville, Australian Craig Connell edged Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki teammate McBain for the fastest practice time in Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike. Connell turned a best lap of 1:06.361 on his Suzuki GSX-R600 while McBain managed a 1:06.365 on his similar machine. Both were under Trombino’s class lap record of 1:06.704.

Trombino was third in practice on Friday with a 1:06.883 aboard his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6.

Eric Warren of Ballantrae, ON set the best practice time in International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike action with a time of 1:10.174 on his Corner 2 Racing / CIBI Suzuki GSX-R600. Erick Beausejour from Val D’Or, QC placed second at 1:10.253 aboard the AMI Sport Honda CBR600RR and Toronto’s Craig Atkinson was third on his Pro 6 Cycle / McBride Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6 with a 1:10.787.

Qualifying for all three national classes will take place Saturday afternoon with feature races on Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN this summer and later this year on the Outdoor Life Network and Quebec’s RDS.