Wilson, Beattie on pole for support classes at Edmonton

Headlining the support action was the return of former overall Canadian Superbike champion Jodi Christie, who is making a wildcard appearance in the Importations Thibault Pro-AM Twins class.

The 2014 Canada Cup winner was the fastest Twins rider in the morning despite a crash, but had stiffer competition from amateur championship leader Vincent Wilson in the qualifying process, as Wilson escaped with outright pole position by 0.251 seconds.

Christie will line up second on the combined grid but in the top pro position, while amateur Dallas Reynolds completes the front row. 

Ryan Sunderman exited his first day in the national series on pole position, taking the top spot on the AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike grid from championship frontrunner Tyler Brewer.

Brewer would have to settle for second and just 0.234 seconds behind local expert Sunderman, but it was still an important result as Brewer tries to chase down title leader Goran Radisic, who could only manage fifth and the middle of row two.

The smallest title gap in the national series opened up slightly in the EBC Brakes Amateur Sport Bike class on Friday, as Denis Giguere took pole position from championship leader Serge Boyer.

It was a crucial result for Boyer, however, as his main title rival Laurent Laliberte-Girard – who entered round three trailing by just a single point – was penalized and sent to the back of the grid for using improper fuel.

That also promoted youngster Zaim Laflamme onto the front row for his Sport Bike debut, as the former Lightweight star switched to bigger machinery in Edmonton.

The double-duty for Laflamme added a bit more cushion to Ryan Beattie’s championship hopes in the Super Sonic Road Race School Pro-AM Lightweight category, as the points leader continued his sensational run with another pole position on Friday.

The 15-year-old Beattie did have a challenge in the form of local rider Ian Wall, however, who will line up second and only 0.757 seconds off the pace. FIM MiniGP graduate Treston Morrison will line up third in his national debut, roughly a second off fellow teenager Beattie.

Mack Weil added another pole position in the Niagara Race Crafters Ninja ZX-4RR Cup, his third consecutive honour to kickstart the inaugural pro-am class.

Adolfo Silva will inherit pole in the amateur split of the grid, but an unfortunate crash in qualifying will likely leave him sidelined for the weekend action.

Full results from Friday’s action can be found here.