ahead of Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team and Musashi RT Harc-Pro
Today’s programme at Suzuka was thrown off by a shower mid-day. Because of the condition of the track, the Top10 Trial session was cancelled and replaced by an ordinary qualifying session for the top ten teams coming out of the timed practice on Friday. The proceedings were therefore more relaxed than for a Superpole which is played out with one flying lap, but there was no shortage of excitement. Takuya Tsuda for Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team kicked off with a lap in 2’06.960 but was trumped by Katsuyuki Nakasuga who beat his own 2012 Top10 Trial record in 2’06.817.
There was a three-way battle for third place between the Honda of Musashi RT Harc-Pro, the FCC TSR Honda and BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent. It was Michael Van Der Mark, 20 years old and new to Suzuka, who clinched the third spot on the grid for the Musashi RT Harc-Pro with a lap in 2’07.260, ahead of the FCC TSR Honda (Jonathan Rea in 2’07.302) and the BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent (Erwan Nigon in 2’07.368).
The factory BMW is ahead of the Suzukis of Team Kagayama with Yukio Kagayama, Kevin Schwantz and Noriyuki Haga, and the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, the Honda Team Asia and the Toho Racing with Moriwaki. Put off its stride by a crash for Kenny Foray in the free practice, the Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube will be starting the race tenth on the grid.
The start of this 36th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours will be given at 11 h 30 local time (GMT+9) tomorrow, Sunday, for a finish shortly after sunset.
Follow the key moments of the race on Sunday 28 July from 11 h 30 (GMT +9) on twitter.com/FIM_live
Provisional starting grid HERE
Photos Good-Shoot