Team SRC Kawasaki and BMW Motorrad France 99 second and third
Smiling faces are back in the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team’s box, as their first rider, Vincent Philippe, put the hammer down. He is the only rider to clock below the 1’40 limit (1’39.740). That gave to the official Suzuki and current world champion the opportunity to start the Bol d’Or from the pole position. From now on, the starting grid is determined by the average lap time of each team’s three riders.
With Vincent Philippe, Freddy Foray and Anthony Delhalle, the SERT took the pole position in 1’40.589, ahead of Julien da Costa, who signed the best individual lap yesterday, Gregory Leblanc and Olivier Four for the Team SRC Kawasaki (1’40.713). The BMW Motorrad France 99 of Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Damian Cudlin is very close in third place (1’40.800).
The Monster YART Yamaha (1’41.191) is not very far from this leading trio, with Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani. They’ll start the race from fourth position ahead of the other official R1, the Yamaha France Racing GMT 94 Ipone of David Checa, Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive (1’41.499). The French Yamaha could have done a little bit better but Matthieu Lagrive suffered a small crash, yet consequence-free. The 94 will start from fifth place but remains a serious contender for victory, since the performance gap with the leading machine is still marginal.
In sixth place, the National Motos Honda confirms a good pace with Emeric Jonchière, Lucas de Carolis and Etienne Masson. The machine entered by a Parisian bike dealer offers itself the satisfaction to outperform the official Honda TT Legends of Steve Plater, John McGuiness and Keith Amor on the grid. The Yamaha of Maco Racing Team and the BMW of Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers are also in the top 10, just ahead of the first Superstock motorcycle, the Junior Team Suzuki LMS.
In this Superstock class, the Suzuki AM Moto Racing Compétition and Team Motor Events Bodyguard AMT, as well as the BMW of Van Zon Boenig Motorsportschool Penz13 are also very close.
The start of the Bol d’Or will be given tomorrow Saturday at 3 pm for two rounds of a clock!
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Results
Provisional starting grid