From a press release issued by Parts Canada Superbike series organizers:

MONTREAL, QC Pascal Picotte outduelled Jordan Szoke for the quickest time in the opening day of practice for the Parts Canada Superbike invitational at the Molson Indy Montreal on Friday.

Just five days after clinching his second straight Canadian Superbike crown Picotte turned a quickest lap of 1:42.616 on his Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 around the 4.3-km (2.7-mile) Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Brantford, ON’s Szoke was just 0.043 secs. behind on his Honda Canada / Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR with a time of 1:42.659.

Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC was third quickest at 1:44.384 on his DXS Diablo Racing Team Suzuki GSX-R1000.

This is the first visit for the Canadian Superbike competitors to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve since 1987. They will compete in a 12-lap non-points race on Sunday.

“I’m sure I could pick up another three or four seconds,” Picotte said. “It’s there. I’m learning and building my confidence.”

Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe was fourth quickest in Friday practice on the Lacombe Racing / Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 with a time of 1:44.658.

Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON set the fifth best time of 1:45.527 aboard his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1.

Picotte has won four of seven Parts Canada Superbike Championship races this season and secured the title with a third place finish at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant last weekend. The series concludes next Sunday at the Shannonville Motorsport Park track near Belleville, ON.

Szoke is also a two-time Canadian national champion and won last weekend’s race at Mont-Tremblant. He is currently second behind Picotte in the series point standings.

Szoke held the top spot for most of the 40-minute session and was the first rider to get below 1:44, setting a time of 1:43.263 with just under 15 minutes remaining. But just two minutes later Picotte topped that mark with his fastest lap of the day. Szoke tried to reply but despite a couple of quick laps in the final minutes was unable to unseat Picotte from the top of the timesheets.

“The bike’s good but it’s hard to get it stable under the brakes,” Szoke said. “I think our gearing may be too tall but we’ll be OK. I’ll do what I need to to get in front of that guy [Picotte].”

Crevier also turned his best lap late in the session, moving into third spot with just over five minutes to go. Crevier is the all-time leader in Canadian Superbike titles with six, and race wins with 22.

The Parts Canada Superbike competitors will have a second practice session on Saturday, beginning at 11:55 a.m. Current series points will be used to form the starting grid for the 18-bike field for Sunday’s race.

The race will receive same day television coverage on Quebec’s RDS.