The Yoshimura-backed Suzuki Endurance Racing Team will start tomorrow’s 76th Anniversary Bol d’Or 24-Hour at Magny-Cours in France from pole position after setting the only sub 1:40 lap of both qualifying sessions yesterday and today.
SERT rider Vincent Philippe stormed last night’s opening qualifying session aboard the team’s GSX-R1000 with a lap time of 1:39.769, which remained unbeaten in today’s final qualifying session at the Nevers circuit at Magny-Cours. Along with the laps set by teammates Fabien Foret and Anthony Delhalle, the aggregate time that put the reigning World Champions on pole for the series opener was 1:40.514.
Second on the grid – and closing the gap in qualifying session two – was SRC Kawasaki riders Julien da Costa, Gregory Leblanc and Olivier Four (1:40.853) ahead of David Checa, Matthieu Lagrive and Kenny Foray aboard the Yamaha France GMT machine with a time of 1:41.078.
Top Superstock qualifier is the Louit Moto 33 Kawasaki of Loris Baz, Jérémy Guarnoni and Nans Chevaux ahead of Suzuki’s Junior Team LMS riders Baptiste Guittet, Cedric Tangre and Julien Enjolras, with Motors Events Suzuki third top Superstock qualifier with 12th overall.
Californian Jason Pridmore and his Maco team will start tomorrow’s race from 13th on the grid.
