From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Gimbert Storms into World Superbikes Fourth on Grid, Fourth in Race One, Fourth in Race Two

2004 World Endurance Champion Sebastien Gimbert missed riding in the last round of the World Endurance Championship with Yamaha GMT94 so that he could take part in the final two races of the World Superbike Championship. Riding a Yamaha France YZF-R1, Gimbert was the fastest rider around the Magny Cours circuit in both of the two timed qualifying sessions. His performance slipped slightly during the superpole session which decides the top sixteen grid positions, leaving him in fourth place after he put in a lap just 0.4 seconds slower than James Toseland who took pole position.

Gimbert took fourth place in race one, just seven seconds behind eventual winner Toseland and only four seconds away from a podium finish. The second race was a repeat performance, with Gimbert taking another comfortable fourth place and once again being the first Yamaha (and first four-cylinder bike) to cross the line.

His performance in World Superbikes at the weekend perfectly illustrates the level of competitiveness we have seen in the 2004 World Endurance Championship, a fact picked up by FGSport boss Maurizio Flammini during the World Endurance Championship awards ceremony at Vallelunga on Sunday: “Sebastien Gimbert has given a very big boost to World Endurance with his performance at Magny Cours.” Yamaha GMT94 team manager Christophe Guyot was equally impressed: “This is a fantastic day for Sebastien and for Yamaha France. All of the team are very proud.”

Gimbert is expected to compete in the full 2005 World Superbike Championship on board a Yamaha France supported bike.