SERT takes pole position ahead of BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent and Monster Energy Yamaha YART.
The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) has clinched its first pole position of the season in Oschersleben. The reigning World Champion is also chasing a first victory in Germany to bolster its provisional Championship lead. Behind the French factory Suzuki on the grid is the BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent. The Belgian BMW has nothing to lose after DNFs in the first two rounds of 2013. In today’s second qualifying practice session, Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Damian Cudlin showed that they mean business, snatching second place on the grid from the Monster Energy Yamaha YART. The best individual time was clocked up by Broc Parkes, team mate of Josh Waters and Igor Jerman on the Austrian Yamaha. Dunlop and Michelin will therefore be going head to head at the Oschersleben 8 Hours as the Suzuki is fitted by Dunlop and the BMW and the Yamaha by Michelin.
Just behind on the time sheets, another Michelin-fitted machine, the Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube, will be starting in fourth position with David Checa, Kenny Foray and Maxime Berger, in front of the first privateer, the Kawasaki of Bolliger Team Switzerland with Horst Saiger, Roman Stamm and Daniel Sutter.
Behind the five leaders, the Superstocks are in close formation and the race in this category promises great things. The Junior Team LMS Suzuki will lead the Superstock pack out of the start gates, followed by Team Louit Moto 33 (Kawasaki), DG Sport Herock (Yamaha), AM Moto Racing Compétition (Suzuki) and Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team (BMW). All these Superstock machines will start ahead of the Honda TT Legends and the Suzuki of R2CL as well as the Suzuki of Team Motors Events April Moto, one of the pre-race Superstock favourites.
To optimise light conditions at the end of the day, the race start has been brought forward 15 minutes. The race will therefore be starting tomorrow at 12 h 45 for a finish at 20 h 45.
Provisional starting grid