Castrol Suzuki Takes Provisional World Endurance Pole Position For Albacete 12-hour

Castrol Suzuki Takes Provisional World Endurance Pole Position For Albacete 12-hour

© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Vincent Phillipe has taken provisional pole position for Suzuki Castrol with a lap time of 1:32.804, 0.877 seconds faster than second placed Gwen Giabanni for Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 on 1:33.681.

Phillipe’s time was set using qualifying tyres. “With these special tyres you must turn in very fast and then pick the bike up quickly to make the most of the rear tyre’s grip. On a fast lap the slow corners are very important – you can pick up a couple of tenths on each one. The fast corners don’t make so much difference.”

Giabanni is not sure that he can match Phillipe’s times. “Maybe if we were on the same bike, but at the moment there is too much difference. It’s one second on qualifying tyres, and also one second on race tyres. They have a full superbike engine, and we are only SuperProduction; we can push them hard in the race though.”

Yamaha GMT94’s David Checa crashed while trying to match Phillipe’s pace, and ended the session 1.898 seconds slower than his rival. “I just turned in to a slow corner, and the front end went away from me. I don’t really know why, but life is life. At least it’s better to do it today than in the race.” GMT94’s third place was secured by Stephane Gimbert, just ahead of Igor Jerman for Yamaha Austria. The top five was rounded out by Phillipe Dobe on the WRT Honda Austria Fireblade.

The final qualifying sessions take place tomorrow morning, beginning at 10:00am.

Provisional Top Ten Qualifying Positions

1st 3: Suzuki Castrol – FRA – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – V.Phillipe 1:32.804

2nd 38: Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 – FRA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – G.Giabbani 1:33.681

3rd 94: Yamaha GMT94 – FRA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – S.Gimbert 1:34.370

4th 7: Yamaha Austria Racing Team – AUT– Yamaha YZF-R1 – I.Jerman 1:35.430

5th 5: WRT Honda Austria – AUT – Honda CBR1000RR – P.Dobe 1:35.567

6th 20: Yamaha Folch Endurance – SPA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – D.Tomas 1:35.831

7th 1: Yamaha Phase One Endurance – GBR – Yamaha YZF-R1 – S.Scarnato 1:35.833

8th 44: Suzuki No Limits – ITA – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – R.Ruozi 1:36.929

9th 8: Kawasaki Bolliger Team – SUI – Kawasaki ZX10R – D.Morillon 1:37.185

10th 6: Shell Endurance Academy – GBR – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – M.Rohtlaan 1:37.219

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