From a press release issued by series organizers:

SHANNONVILLE, ON Pascal Picotte got off to a fast start at the final round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park Friday.

The Granby, QC rider, who has already clinched the 2004 series title set the fastest time in practice, taking his Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 around the 4.0-km (2.5-mile) Shannonville ‘Long Track’ in 1:44.862 in the last of the day’s two 45-minute sessions.

Despite missing the final session Calgary’s Clint McBain ended the day with the second best lap of 1:45.190 aboard the Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000. Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON was third overall at 1:45.954 riding the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1.

Picotte’s effort came despite suffering a bee sting while on the track early in the afternoon session.

“I knew immediately what had happened,” said Picotte, who had also been stung while competing in the U.S. earlier in his career. “It was like a burning feeling just as I was going into turn 2.”

Picotte wrapped up his second straight Parts Canada Superbike title two weeks ago with a third place finish at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant.

“I set my best time with the hardest tire we have in the trailer,” added Picotte, who holds the current lap record of 1:44.079. “With a soft tire we should be able to get down to a 1:43 in qualifying tomorrow.”

McBain was close to Picotte’s pace in the morning but suffered a fall in the afternoon’s practice for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike support class. He was awake and alert immediately following the accident but was taken to hospital in Belleville with a suspected concussion.

Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke posted the fourth fastest time of the day with a 1:46.027 on his Honda Canada / Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR and Kevin Lacombe of Granby placed fifth at 1:46.216 riding the Lacombe Racing / Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1.

Szoke and Lacombe are in a battle for second in the Parts Canada Superbike standings.

In other action at Shannonville, Mississauga, ON’s Matt McBride was quickest in practice for the Pro 600 competitors with a time of 1:46.990 on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6RR. McBain ended the day with the second fastest time of 1:47.347 riding his Suzuki GSX-R600 and Picotte was third at 1:47.821 on his Yamaha YZF-R6.

Picotte has also clinched the Pro 600 Sport Bike title.

Eric Warren of Richmond Hill, ON set the pace in International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike practice with a time of 1:50.717 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Points leader Darren James of North Vancouver placed seventh Friday with a best lap of 1:53.006 aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6.

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 on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 2:00 p.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2:30 p.m. Action from Shannonville will also air later this fall on Toronto1 and A-Channel stations in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.