Christie claims Sport Bike pole

By John Hopkins

MONT-TREMBLANT, Que. – Jodi Christie maintained his perfect record in qualifying for the K&N Performance Filters Pro Sport Bike class at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant on Saturday.

The Keene, Ont. rider claimed pole position for Sunday’s fourth round of the series by taking his Jodi Christie Racing / Accelerated Technologies Honda CBR600RR around the 4.26km track in 1:43.810.

That effort was almost two seconds quicker than the next best time, a 1:45.707 by Kenny Riedmann on the Riedmann Racing / Sturgess Cycle Triumph 675. Raphael Archambault qualified third at 1:46.413 on the Team Archambault Racing / Picotte Motorsports / G Suspension Suzuki GSX-R600.

As with competitors in the other national classes, the Pro Sport Bike riders were getting their first experience of a dry track in the 20-minute qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, as rain had spoiled practice through Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning.

“We just threw a quick set-up at it and didn’t really change anything once we were out there,” said Christie, who is making his first race visit to Mont-Tremblant. “There is still room to improve.

“I tried to make good use of the rain time to get familiar with the track and learn my way around.”

Christie also extended his lead in the Pro Sport Bike standings to 22 points over the absent Frank Trombino, 164-142. The Kleinburg, Ont. racer was reportedly forced to miss this weekend’s event to attend a wedding.

Riedmann is also a Mont-Tremblant rookie and is making his first appearance with the national tour this weekend, having been focused on the AMA Sport Bike class in the U.S.

“Every corner I was learning more,” said the Belfountain, Ont. rider. “We made some minor suspension adjustments but really it’s up to me right now, getting more comfortable with the track.”

Riedmann and Archambault traded the second qualifying spot in the late stages, but the Suzuki rider had his effort spoiled when the shifter came off.

“There was no time to fix it so I just tried to do a decent lap,” said the rider from Terrebonne, Que. “The suspension and gearing are not perfect. We can definitely do way better.”

Louie Raffa of Ste-Marthe, Que. completes the front row for Sunday’s race after turning a lap at 1:49.436 on his Team Couturier / Centre Hamel Honda CBR600RR.

Next up on the grid are a pair of returning veterans. James Collins of Kaladar, Ont. qualified fifth fastest with a 1:50.644 on his Acme Slate Yamaha YZF-R6. This is the first race appearance in two years for Collins, who has been tuning for Trombino this season. An engine problem spoiled Collins’ qualifying effort.

Sixth quickest was Ripley, Ont.’s Bill Card on the Ripley Racing Honda CBR600RR with a time of 1:50.842. Card was an Amateur star the first time the national series visited Mont-Tremblant in 2003. He is sharing his Honda this weekend with his son Mitch, who qualified 10^th in the Amateur Sport Bike class.

Qualifying Results