Team Suzuki Press Office – June 10. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team will start tomorrow’s second round of the Endurance World Championship from sixth on the grid after shaving almost a second off earlier lap-times in today final qualifying sessions at the Autodromo International do Algarve in Portugal.
Vincent Philippe, who was struggling with sickness yesterday that affected his performance aboard the Yoshimura-powered GSX-R1000, was back to full fitness today and put in the fastest lap of the three SERT riders this afternoon with a time of 1:46.912 around the 4.592 km circuit, with Anthony Delhalle posting a best of 1:46.933, following a small crash towards the end of his session that bruised his right hand. Etienne Masson scored a 1:47.114 to put the 14-time World Champions’ average at 1:46.986.
At the end of qualifying, Dominique Méliand’s team are all set and satisfied with the GSX-R1000’s suspension and overall set-up, which will prove vital during the gruelling race on the bumpy and challenging circuit.
With less-than a second separating the top-six teams, Team April Moto Motors Events Suzuki riders Gregg Black, Gregory Fastre and Alex Cudlin posted the eighth-quickest time of 1:47.565 and the Superstock Class Junior Team LMS Suzuki fourth in class and 13th overall on the grid with a time of 1:48.017. The team, which is based at the same Le Mans headquarters in France as SERT, comprises Baptiste Guittet, Romain Maitre and Robin Camus; a leading force and one of the favourites for SST victory in 2016.
After initial qualifying, SERT Team Manager Dominique Méliand commented: “It’s a bumpy circuit and you’ve got to be on top form to ride it well. But even with Vincent feeing under the weather earlier, we were still definitely in the running – all the more so because we were using racing tyres, while others, who clocked faster lap-times, were using qualifying tyres. On Saturday, we’ll all be on an equal footing for the race!”
The first edition of the 12 Horas de Portimão will be flagged-off at 9:30hrs local time tomorrow. The race will be broadcast on Eurosport and Equipe 21 television channels, along with Eurosport’s internet-based Player. Live Timing is also available on www.fimewc.com/live-timing along with FIM Social Media channels.
Portimão Final Qualifying Results:
1 SRC Kawasaki – Kawasaki – 1:46.257
2 YART Yamaha Official EWC Team – Yamaha – 1:46.307
3 F.C.C. TSR Honda – 1:46.416
4 GMT94 YAMAHA – Yamaha – 1:46.542
5 Parkalgar Racing Team – Yamaha – 1:46.972
6 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – 1:46.986
7 TEAM 3ART YAM’AVENUE – Yamaha – 1:47.337
8 Team Bolliger Switzerland – Kawasaki – 1:47.560
9 Team April Moto Motors Events – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – 1:47.565
10 MACO RACING Team -Yamaha – 1:47.783
13 Junior Team LMS Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – 1:48.017
