BMW Motorrad France 99 is showing their ambitions

There is some electricity in the air on the Losail racetrack, in Qatar. The 2011 Qtel FIM Endurance World title will be decided this coming Saturday at the 8 Hours of Doha, between the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and the BMW Motorrad France 99. During the first free practice session this morning, the official Belgian team BMW Motorrad France 99 was showing their victory and title ambitions. On the S1000RR n°99, Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Damian Cudlin has been dominating the session by laping one second faster than the direct competition, with a 2'00.858 lap which is already faster than their Superpole time last year (2'01.358). The Monster Yamaha YART (2'01.979) is trying to keep up with the BMW pace, with Igor Jerman,, Steve Martin and Katsuyuki Nakasuga (who is replacing Gwen Giabbani, still recovering). Behind them is another R1, the one from Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone, with David Checa, Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive (2'02.062 during the first session). Behind these teams on Michelin, the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team does not seem to be that comfortable with their Dunlop tyres on the Losail racetrack. The current World Champion also needs to deal without Daisaku Sakai, injured after a crash during some private testing earlier this week. The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team will fight for their 2011 world title with two riders only, Vincent Philippe, who just recovered from the collarbone he broke down at Le Mans, and Anthony Delhalle. In the Superstock class, the BMW of Van Zon Boenig Motorsportschool Penz13 RT took the best ahead of the Yamaha DG Sport, joined by Hugo Marchand for the season’ last round, and the Suzuki from Qatar Endurance Racing Team, winner of the last three FIM Superstock World Cups. The Qatar Endurance Racing Team also recruited three women riders. On the Suzuki n° 96, the German Nina Prinz, the Italian Paola Cazzola and the Hungarian Nikolett Kovacs signed their best lap this morning in 2’06.441. First qualification session will be held this afternoon.  Follow the 8 Hours of Doha race live with "live timing" from Saturday 10:00 am GMT on FIM-LIVE.COM A 52 minutes highlights programme of the 8 Hours of Doha will also be broadcast next week on several TV channels around the world: Speed Channel - Australie
TV Meridiano - Venezuela
Sport TV - Portugal
Moto TV - Italie
ESPN – EMEA
Eurosport
FIM TV <media 22709 _blank>Results Free Practice 1</media>
<media 22710 _blank>Results Free Practice 2</media>