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

SZOKE TURNS THE TABLES

MONTREAL, QC Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON turned the tables on arch rival Pascal Picotte by recording the fastest time in Saturday’s final practice session for the Parts Canada Superbike Invitational at the Molson Indy Montreal.

Szoke took his Honda Canada / Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR around the 4.3-km (2.7-mile) Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in a time of 1:41.826. Picotte, from Granby, QC was second quickest with a best lap of 1:42.215 on the Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1.

Picotte, who recently clinched his second straight Parts Canada Superbike crown just edged Szoke to the fastest time in Friday’s opening practice session.

“We changed the bike [after Friday] and it feels good,” Szoke said. “I don’t know how much better; a little bit. I definitely feel I’m trying harder. I’m serious about winning this race.”

Picotte will still start from pole position for Sunday’s race, however. The grid will be based on the current national Superbike point standings.

“I don’t feel like there’s a whole lot of time left out there,” Picotte said. “I know about the brakes and tires. I have no complaints with the bike at all.”

Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC set the third quickest time on Saturday with a 1:42.444 on the DXS Diablo Racing Team Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Granby’s Kevin Lacombe placed fourth at 1:42.993 on the Lacombe Racing / Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 and Kleinburg, ON rider Frank Trombino completed the top five on his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 with a fastest lap of 1:43.851.

This is the first visit of the Canadian national Superbike series to the Gilles-Villeneuve track since 1987 and only the fourth time motorcycles have ever raced at the popular Formula 1 and Champ Car venue.

Picotte set his quickest time early in the 35-minute practice session and he stayed at the top of the timesheets until the final 10 minutes. But with seven minutes remaining Szoke turned a 1:42.116. He then became the first rider to dip below the 1:42 mark this weekend by recording a 1:41.947 and then set his best lap of the session on the following tour.

Both Szoke and Picotte used both their bikes during the practice session.

Szoke is second in the Parts Canada Superbike standings and will line up next to Picotte on the grid Sunday. Lacombe will complete the front row.

Szoke won the most recent round of the Parts Canada Superbike tour at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant last weekend. Lacombe was the victor at the previous round at Atlantic Motorsport Park near Halifax.

Row two will consist of Trombino, Crevier and Rock Forest, QC’s Francis Martin. Martin had the 10th best practice time on Saturday of 1:45.674 on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Sunday’s 12-lap Parts Canada Superbike race will get the green at 12:20 p.m.

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