By John Hopkins / Photo by Bob Szoke
SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – The race for the Pirelli Pro Sport Bike Championship got a little tighter at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Saturday as Woodbridge, Ont.'s Frank Trombino claimed the Kawasaki S4-R Competition Lubricants Pole Award for Sunday’s race with a time of 1:08.332 on his Suzuki Canada / Hindle / Strugess Cycle Suzuki GSX-R600.
Alex Welsh of Uxbridge, Ont. was second quickest with a 1:08.553 on the Z1 CycleTech / Kenwood Suzuki GSX-R600, which just edged points leader Jodi Christie of Keene, Ont. on the Jodi Christie Racing / Cameron Cycle / Blue Streak Racing Honda CBR600RR, who turned a 1:08.560.
"We hadn't been on new tires all weekend and the first time I tried them in that session it got us into the '8s'," said Trombino, a two-time winner this season who sits third in the Pro Sport Bike standings. "I think the key here is to not try too hard and ride over what the motorcycle can do. I'm pretty happy with where we are heading into the race."
Both Welsh and Christie suffered minor falls in the session. Christie went down at the halfway point of the 20-minute qualifying period. Although he got his bike back to the pits he was forced to switch over to his back-up CBR600RR and was unable to improve on his time from before the crash.
"I was a little aggressive on the brakes going into turn two and tucked the front as I was flipping the bike over," explained the series points leader. "I just kind of rode it into the bales. It'll be good for tomorrow. I knew I had more speed in me."
Welsh's fall came in the turn nine Carousel in the waning moments of the session.
"I got in too hot and at any other part of the track I would have been able to simply run off," he said. "But there's gravel there.
"I'm pretty happy with my time. I don't think the race pace will be nearly that quick."
By qualifying just ahead of Christie, Welsh gained a point in the Pro Sport Bike standings and now trails the Honda rider by 14 points, 185-171 heading into Sunday's race. Trombino is third in the standings with 140 points.
Impressive rookie Pro Bodhi Edie of Warman, Sask. qualified on the front row for the first time with a 1:08.597 on the Edie Racing / Acceleration Racing / Honda Canada CBR600RR.
Fellow rookie Raphael Archambault was fifth fastest at 1:09.565 on the Archambault Suzuki / Parts Canada Racing Suzuki GSX-R600.
Qualifying Results
1. Frank Trombino, Woodbridge, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:08.332
2. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:08.553
3. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON (Honda CBR600RR) 1:08.560
4. Bodhi Edie, Warman, SK (Honda CBR600RR) 1:08.597
5. Raphael Archambault, Terrebonne, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:09.565
6. Sylvain Dery, St-Colomban, QC (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:10.032
7. Ron Munroe, Beaver Bank, NS (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:10.955
8. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC (Honda CBR600RR) 1:11.898
