SRC Kawasaki On Provisional Pole Position At The 24 Hours Of Le Mans

SRC Kawasaki On Provisional Pole Position At The 24 Hours Of Le Mans

© 2014, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

24 Hours of Le Mans

FIM Endurance World Championship

Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans, France

September 18, 2014

Qualifying Session One Results:

1. SRC Kawasaki (Gregory LEBLANC 1:37.205/Matthieu LAGRIVE 1:37.447/Fabien FORET 1:37.169), Kawasaki ZX-10R, Superbike, 1:37.273

2. Honda Racing (Julien DA COSTA 1:38.014/Sebastien GIMBERT 1:37.885/Freddy FORAY 1:38.304), Honda CBR1000RR SP, Superbike, 1:38.067

3. Monster Energy Yamaha – YART (Broc PARKES 1:38.236/Michael LAVERTY 1:38.766/Sheridan MORAIS 1:38.347), Yamaha YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:38.449

4. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent PHILIPPE 1:38.632/Anthony DELHALLE 1:38.343/Erwan NIGON 1:38.949), Suzuki GSX-R1000, Superbike, 1:38.641

5.  Yamaha Racing – GMT 94 – Michelin (David CHECA 1:38.689/Kenny FORAY 1:39.126/Mathieu GINES 1:39.519), Yamaha YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:39.111

6. National Motos (Valentin DEBISE 1:40.324/Arturo TIZON 1:38.582/Olivier FOUR 1:38.943), Honda CBR1000RR SP, Superbike, 1:39.283

7. Qatar Endurance Racing Team (Anthony WEST 1:39.155/Alex CUDLIN 1:38.774/Mashel AL NAIMI 1:39.934), Kawasaki ZX-10R, Superstock, 1:39.287

8. Team Traqueur Louit Moto (Julian PILOT 1:39.069/David PERRET 1:39.863/Emeric JONCHIERE 1:40.237), Kawasaki ZX-10R, Superstock, 1:39.723

9. Junior Team LMS Suzuki (Baptiste GUITTET 1:40.189/Etienne MASSON 1:39.124/Gregg BLACK 1:40.294), Suzuki GSX-R1000, Superstock, 1:39.869

10. Tati Team Beaujolais Racing (Julien ENJOLRAS 1:39.966/Nans CHEVAUX 1:39.974/Sebastien PRULHIERE 1:40.261), Kawasaki ZX-10R, Superstock, 1:40.067

12. Penz13.com Racing Team (Jason PRIDMORE 1:40.456/Sylvain BARRIER 1:38.628/Glenn ALLERTON 1:41.980), BMW S1000RR, OPEN, 1:40.354

14.  Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team (Pedro VALLCANERAS 1:40.282/Steve MERCER 1:40.656/Didier VAN KEYMEULEN 1:40.183), BMW S1000RR, Superstock, 1:40.373

15.  Team Bolliger Switzerland (Horst SAIGER 1:39.577/Daniel SUTTER 1:40.387/Marc WILDISEN 1:41.306), Kaw ZX-10R, Superbike, 1:40.423

18. Team R2CL (Gareth JONES 1:41.330/Guy MARTIN 1:42.282/Gwen GIABBANI 1:39.319), Suzuki GSX-R1000, Superbike, 1:40.977

More, from a press release issued by FIM Endurance Press Office:

SRC Kawasaki takes provisional pole at Le Mans and Honda Racing makes its mark

This afternoon, on a dry track this time, Team SRC Kawasaki made a comeback in the first qualifying practice session of this year’s 24 Heures Moto. Taking the average of the three riders’ best times, SRC Kawasaki came out ahead of Honda Racing, Monster Energy Yamaha YART, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin and the Honda of National Motos. Qatar Endurance Racing Team is the best placed Superstock.

Gregory Leblanc, Matthieu Lagrive and Fabien Forêt produced a superb exhibition of riding this afternoon on the ZX-10R of Team SRC Kawasaki. So far, they are the only ones to have clocked up a best lap time of under 1’37.500 at Le Mans. The factory Kawasaki is therefore comfortably in the lead on the provisional starting grid. The only other rider to break through the 1’38 mark on the Bugatti circuit was Sébastien Gimbert. With Julien Da Costa and Freddy Foray, he propelled Honda Racing to a promising second spot coming out of these first qualifying sessions. 

Also impressive was the performance of Monster Energy Yamaha YART, currently in third place with Broc Parkes, Michael Laverty and Sheridan Morais. The Austrian factory Yamaha is out of the running for the world title but is a definite contender for a win. On the provisional grid, it is ahead of both the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Erwan Nigon) and Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin (David Checa, Kenny Foray and Mathieu Gines).

The first placed private team, Honda National Motos, is already shaping up as a challenger capable of upsetting the top teams with its crew of Valentin Debise, Arturo Tizon and Olivier Four. The Honda #55 is currently in sixth place on the provisional grid ahead of a trio of Superstock teams: Qatar Endurance Racing Team with Anthony West, Alex Cudlin and Mashel Al Naimi, ahead of Team Traqueur Louit Moto 33 (Julien Pilot, David Perret and Emeric Jonchière) and Junior Team LMS Suzuki (Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson and Gregg Black).

Having spared Le Mans this afternoon, the rain seems to be moving away and the local met office is announcing a dry morning tomorrow. The second qualifying session will start tomorrow, Friday, at 11 h 20.

The 37th edition of the 24 Heures Moto will start at 15 h on Saturday.

Follow the 24 Heures Moto from today 18 September 17 h (GMT +2) on FIM-LIVE.COM with LIVE TIMING and all the action live on Twitter.

Watch the race with Livestreaming on Saturday from 10 h 30 on FIM-LIVE.COM

You can also follow the 24 Heures Moto on the FIM App!

Download it free on Google Play and AppStore

More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Honda Racing qualifies provisional second for 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Honda Racing team today qualified in provisional second place on the grid for the final round of the 2014 Endurance World Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The first of two qualifying sessions took place in warm and sunny conditions this afternoon with Julien Da Costa, Sebastien Gimbert, Freddy Foray and reserve rider Jason O’Halloran taking to the circuit for 20 minutes apiece. Sebastien Gimbert was quickest aboard the Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade SP with a time of 1:37.885.

The combined average of the first three riders’ times (1:38.067) places Honda Racing second on the grid, 0.8 seconds behind provisional pole sitter SRC Kawasaki. The second qualifying session will take place at 11.20am tomorrow. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is due to begin at 15.00 CEST on Saturday.

Neil Tuxworth team manager

We’ve been very strong in all of our sessions with all four of our riders. We made a lot of progress at the pre-Le Mans test a few weeks ago and in the free practice on Tuesday, so we’ve really been able to concentrate on the set up of the bike and we’ve had no major issues. All the riders are happy and I think we’re in a strong position at this stage.

Julien Da Costa

It’s been a busy day today and we’ve had some mixed weather with rain this morning and sun this afternoon, but we’ve made progress. The bike is good and we’re consistent with our times so we’ll see if we can go quicker tomorrow.

Freddy Foray

We’ve had a good day because we’ve improved the bike a lot since the practice session on Tuesday. It is working well and we’re all doing good lap times so we are in a strong position.

Sebastien Gimbert

I am happy with today. We have had a lot of time of track and the crew have worked really hard on the bike since the free practice on Tuesday. I’m pleased with my time and we are all close together which is good, but hopefully we can improve even more tomorrow.

Jason O’Halloran

It’s my first time at Le Mans so I’m pretty happy with my time and being second quickest in my session. I’m really enjoying the track, the bike is going well and it’s nice to be back with the EWC team.

More, from a press release issued by Penz13.com Racing Team:

Solid start for both Penz13 bikes at the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans

Le Mans/Frankreich. It has been a solid start to the final race of the 2014 FIM Endurance World Championship for both BMW S 1000 RR machines of the Penz13 Racing Team. The Open-class bike with Jason Pridmore (USA), Sylvain Barrier (FRA) and Glenn Allerton (AUS) took a twelfth overall and with it the lead in their category. The Superstock bike of Pedro Vallcaneras (ESP), Steve Mercer (GBR) and Didier van Keymeulen (BEL) took 14th overall and P6 in class.

Thursday’s free practice was a wet session with a dry line appearing on course of the two hours. Sylvain Barrier made quite an impact in hammering down the fastest lap time of the session on his Open S 1000 RR. The Superstock bike stayed in pits for the final 10 minutes and didn’t use the dry line at the end of the session.

#13: Superstock – Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team

Vallcaneras, Mercer and van Keymeulen took sixth in Superstock and a provisional 14th place on the grid. All three riders lapped in the low 1:40s and demonstrated a constant fast pace. In the average time they took a 1:40,373.

Pedro Vallcaneras

Today I am happy! The bike worked well as always and Steve, Didier and me were able to lap constant and similar lap times. If we are able to improve a bit tomorrow, we should be on course.

Steve Mercer

First of all I am more than happy to be back at the Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team. All gave me a very warm welcome back and I am really happy to be back on this bike. We have to make up something from last year’s race, so full throttle!

Didier van Keymeulen

It’s been a good day. We found a good setting for all three of us with our BMW S 1000 RR and were able to turn that into times during the qualifying. You don’t win the 24 hours in qualification but we were able to lap constantly fast and are following the right way.

#31: Open – Penz13.com Racing Team

Pridmore, Barrier and Allerton took a provisional twelfth on the grid for Saturdays race. The average time of all three was a 1:40,354 min. Pridmore’s best time of the day was a 1:40,456 with team mate Barrier taking a 1:38,628. Australian racer Allerton had to learn the track of Le Mans and already was lapping a 1:41,980.

Jason Pridmore

During qualifying we used a full tank and race tires only. We had to sort out some issues with the suspension and the fuel delivery. But this bike is brilliantly awesome right out of the box – especially if you consider that we all rode it for the first time this Tuesday. Our race pace is good, we can be confident.

Sylvain Barrier

During the qualifying we tried something with the engine brake but that went to the wrong direction unfortunately, otherwise there could have been a bit more in. But the bike as such already is brilliant, as our best time of the free practice shows. I think there is more to come tomorrow.

Glen Allerton

For me it’s the first time here at Le Mans and of course I had to learn my way around here. But that’s been easy and I think that I can improve further tomorrow.

More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:

SUZUKI STRONG IN LE MANS OPENING QUALIFYING

Reigning World Endurance Champions Suzuki Endurance Racing Team put-in the fourth-fastest combined time in the opening practice and first qualifying session for the final round of the World Endurance Championship at Le Mans in France today.

The 13-time GSX-R-mounted champions – Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle, Erwan Nigon & reserve-rider Damian Cudlin – were less-than 1.4 seconds-away from provisional Pole, set by three-times Le Mans victors SRC Kawasaki, who topped the timesheets ahead of Honda Racing and Monster Energy YART.

After dominating today’s opening practice sessions, Suzuki’s leading Superstock team, Junior Team LMS riders Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson and Gregg Black, finished third; half-a-second from leaders Qatar Endurance Racing Team.

The second and final qualification continues tomorrow at the Le Mans-Bugatti circuit to determine the grid for Saturday’s 37th-running of the Le Mans World Endurance race.

Live timing tomorrow and Saturday-Sunday is available online on FIM-Live.com: FIM-LIVE.COM 

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