News 22 May 2011

Suzuki Endurance Racing Team on Albacete 8 Hours pole

The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team took the pole position for the 8 Hours of Albacete, second round of the Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship.

Vincent Philippe, Freddy Foray and Daisaku Sakai took everything in their hands this morning from the second qualifying session.

Outperformed yesterday by their competitors, the 10 times world champion team finally found the proper settings and the race now promises to be highly disputed.

The first three teams on the starting grid are only separated by a small margin.

BMW Motorrad France 99 took the second place with Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Hugo Marchand, despite a few troubles with their rear wheel.

The Monster YART Yamaha of Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani will start the race from third position, but unfortunately, it will be on their spare bike since Gwen Giabbani crashed the first one this morning at the end of the qualifying session.

Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone stays in ambush behind the top three. David Checa, Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive are also aiming a spot on the podium.

On the Honda TT Legends, Steve Plater, John McGuinness and Keith Amor are nearly in the favourite’s pace. With a fifth place on the starting grid, the newcomers are in the right rhythm.

The BMW Van Zon Boenig Motorsportschool Penz13 RT also made great progress. Werner Daemen, Grégory Fastré and Michael Filla took the sixth place on the starting grid.

They lead the Superstock class and will start ahead of the Yamaha Maco Racing Team and the Honda National Motos.

AM Moto Racing Compétition (Suzuki) improved their lap times during the second qualifying session and will start from ninth position (2nd Superstock), ahead of the Spanish Yamaha from YMES Folch Endurance, the Suzuki of Team Motor Events Bodyguard AMT, the Yamaha DG Sport and the BMW Mas.

Outside of the top 10 is the Kawasaki Bolliger Team Switzerland, still struggling with some chassis setup.

The warm up, scheduled at 3.00pm local time, will be the last opportunity for them to find the solution. The start of the 8 Horas Nocturnas of Albacete will be given at 6.00pm.

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