From a press release issued by series organizers:

MONT-TREMBLANT, QC – Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Pascal Picotte kept his momentum rolling on the opening day of practice for the Coors Light Tremblant Superbike at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant Friday.

The St-Cecile de Milton, QC rider, who won the previous round of the series last weekend at Atlantic Motorsport Park, led practice with a time of 1:40.697 on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Tom Kipp of Chardon, OH was second fastest at 1:40.990 riding the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-7RR and Australian Robbie Baird placed third at 1:42.247 on the Orion Motorsport Honda CBR954RR.

All three riders set their times in the 45-minute morning session as the afternoon practice was cancelled in order to repair protective Airfence following a crash.

“The Superbike is really good. I can’t complain,” said Picotte, who leads Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC by just eight points in the Parts Canada Superbike standings, 231-223 heading into this weekend’s penultimate round at Mont-Tremblant. “Hopefully I can carry this momentum all through the weekend and extend the little lead I have.”

Crevier was fifth fastest in practice Friday with a time of 1:42.729 riding the Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Friday morning’s Parts Canada Superbike practice session was interrupted by an accident involving Frank Trombino, who crashed his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 heavily in turn 1. The Kleinburg, ON rider was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, including two broken ribs, a bruised liver and a badly cut mouth.

Friday’s action also featured practice for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

Picotte, who holds a commanding lead in the Pro 600 Sport Bike standings led the way in practice with a time of 1:42.615 on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Kipp was next best riding the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6RR with a time of 1:42.869 and Trombino set the third best time of 1:43.447 on the Brooklin Yamaha YZF-R6.

Nepean, ON’s Derek Bowker was fastest in Amateur 600 Sport Bike practice with a time of 1:48.648 on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Wellesley, ON’s Bill Card placed second at 1:48.973 riding a Honda CBR600RR and Carol Corbeil of St-Hyacinthe, QC was third at 1:49.445 on another Honda.

Bowker is currently second in class points, 11 behind Keremeos, BC’s Jeremy Leduc.

Qualifying for all three national classes will take place Saturday afternoon with feature races set to go on Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. Saturday with practice beginning at 9:00 a.m. Qualifying starts at 1:30 p.m.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 11:00 a.m. Action from AMP will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS.

The one-hour long Superbike shows premier on the Outdoor Life Network on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m. and run each Sunday through September and October.