Trombino back in winner's circle

By John Hopkins

MIRABEL, QC -- Frank Trombino found his way back to the top of a Canadian national road race podium on Sunday, taking victory in the Pirelli Pro Sport Bike Championship event that was part of the Canadian Superbike Championship by Parts Canada at Circuit ICAR.

The 38-year-old Woodbridge, ON veteran led all 10 laps of the race, which was shortened from a scheduled 14 due to wet track conditions, on his Suzuki Canada / Hindle / Sturgess Cycle Suzuki GSX-R600, finishing 36.676 secs. ahead of the JHP Racing Team / Picotte Motorsport Suzuki GSX-R600 of impressive rookie Pro Jeremie Hade Precourt.

Sean Huffman completed the podium on his Pro 6 Cycle Honda CBR600RR. The Kemptville, ON racer made a last lap pass of Terrebonne, QC’s Raphael Archambault to secure the third place finish.

The victory was Trombino's first national win since he took the Superbike opener at Shannonville Motorsport Park in 2002, and he gave part of the credit to his persistence in practicing in the rain on Friday and Saturday, when most of his rivals remained in the pits.

"I think that was about 50 percent of it," he admitted. "The track has a slightly new configuration, especially into turns one and two, and I was trying to get used to it."

With no qualifying and not even a suitable practice session to use for times to establish a grid, the Pro Sport Bike field was lined up based on past performance and experience. Last year's class runner-up Jodi Christie lined up on pole on the Jodi Christie Racing Honda CBR600RR, joined by Trombino, Alex Welsh (Z1 CycleTech Suzuki GSX-R600) and Darren James (Ruthless Racing / Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada Buell 1125R).

Trombino grabbed the lead off the start with Welsh giving chase, and these two pulled clear of the field in the early laps. It looked like Welsh was going to give Trombino plenty of trouble but near the end of lap five the Uxbridge, ON racer slid off on the tricky surface, leaving Trombino with a comfortable 20-second lead. Welsh had turned his fastest lap of the race on the previous tour.

"I knew someone was behind me [in the early laps] but I wasn't sure who," Trombino explained. "Once he was gone I just tried to stay focussed. I didn't want to ease up too much and lose my concentration."

Hade Precourt started on the third row but by lap two was part of a group contesting third place, led by Christie. The Granby, QC rider worked his way to the front of this pack by lap four and then assumed second when Welsh went down. The 17-year-old was lapping almost three seconds off the pace of the remarkable Trombino, but almost a second faster than anyone else on the track.

"It was a lot of work getting by those guys," said last year's national Amateur Sport Bike runner-up. "But once I got a bit of a gap I was able to pull clear."

Christie went down on lap seven, leaving Huffman and Archambault to battle for the last podium spot. Huffman got by last year's Amateur Sport Bike champion halfway around the final lap for his first national podium finish.

"There was a lot of standing water at the start but as the race went on there was a bit of, not a dry line, but a good racing line developing," Huffman said. "I had a good run on Raphael out of the Esses and I was able to get him just after that."

Archambault settled for fourth on the Archambault Suzuki / Parts Canada Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 and James ran a lonely race to fifth.

Christie remounted after his fall to take sixth and Welsh also rejoined, salvaging eighth.

Due to the track conditions and with the race distance reduced, all 12 finishers were awarded 40 points toward the Pro Sport Bike standings. With no qualifying points awarded, everyone is on even footing heading to the doubleheader at Shannonville Motorsport Park July 1-3.

Race Results
1. Frank Trombino, Woodbridge, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 10 laps, 15:55.723 
2. Jeremie Hade Precourt, Granby, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600 +36.676 
3. Sean Huffman, Kemptville, ON, Honda CBR600RR +43.357 
4. Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600 +45.166
5. Darren James, North Vancouver, BC, Buell 1125R +1:02.548 
6. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON, Honda CBR600RR +1:09.756
7. Sylvain Dery, St-Colomban, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6 +1:12.288 
8. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600 +1:43.425 
9. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC, Honda CBR600RR +1 lap 
10. Bodhi Edie, Warman, SK, Honda CBR600RR +1 lap
11. Martin Grande, Montreal, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
12. Joey McRae, Orangeville, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
Fastest Lap: 1:35.274 by Frank Trombino on lap 5

Point Standings
1. Frank Trombino 40
1. Jeremie Hade Precourt 40 
1. Sean Huffman 40 
1. Raphael Archambault 40
1. Darren James 40
1. Jodi Christie 40
1. Sylvain Dery 40
1. Alex Welsh 40
1. Marie-Josee Boucher 40
1. Bodhi Edie 40
1. Martin Grande 40
1. Joey McRae 40