From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Suzuki Zongshen 1 Pole Position

8 Manufacturers represented on the grid

Warwick Nowland has taken pole positions for Suzuki Zongshen No.1 with a lap time of 1:29.961; he is the only rider to have dipped below the 1:30 mark. The time was set on a race tyre only ten minutes into the session, and left Nowland ecstatic. “1:29 is only a couple of seconds off the World Superbike race pace. Piegiorgio did a 1:30.0 yesterday so I thought I could beat that. We didn’t change much on the bike; I just spent yesterday evening staring at a map of the track trying to work out where I could brake a little deeper and turn a little later. I just kept repeating ‘1:29…1:29…’ in my head, and it worked.”

Nowland tried to better the time later in the session using a qualifying tyre but fell in the attempt. His teammate Stephane Mertens suspected that the tyre may have cooled down too much. “These tyres have a very narrow temperature range. If you slow down to wait for a gap the tyre won’t grip when you speed up again.”

The fastest lap of the race last year was a 1:31.842; the pressure is on Zongshen 1 this year and Nowland has risen to the challenge.

Second place went to Piergiorgio Bontempi on the Suzuki Zongshen No.2 bike, with a time of 1:30.015 set yesterday; only a handful of riders went quicker today due to strong headwinds on the start-finish straight.

One rider who did improve was Jason Pridmore on the Suzuki GB Phase One bike, shaving off half a second but staying in third place. Yamaha GMT94 are in fourth place; the Oschersleben circuit suits their Yamaha R1’s handling and the team are also benefiting from the use of special tyres direct from the Michelin factory allowing them to make the most of the advantage.

Fifth place was taken by Suzuki Phase One Juniors after an impressive performance by Aussie Damian Cudlin. In sixth were last year’s Oschersleben winners Yamaha Endurance Moto 38, and taking seventh were Yamaha Austria. Eighth place goes to the wildcard Yamaha OBI Shell Bike Promo Yamaha R1.

Suzuki Police Nationale limited the number of laps they did today after suffering several crashes yesterday, but held onto ninth place. They are waiting for more engine parts to be received from France before the race tomorrow.

Suzuki KFM Herber, in tenth place, have a revised rider line up for this race, with Giachino replacing Bursa and Tode riding as reserve; the German team are aiming for consistency during the race but are feeling confindent.

The addition of Buell, Triumph and Aprilia to the Oschersleben grid has brought the total number of manufacturers represented in the 24 Hour World Endurance race to eight – a remarkably diverse entry list.

The Buell XB9R, Triumph 955 Daytona and Aprilia RSV1000R join more regular entrants from Suzuki (GSX-R1000), Yamaha (R1 and R6), Kawasaki (ZX9R and Z1000), Honda (CBR900RR and CBR600R) and Ducati (998R). Add in the Mondial Piega which has raced at most rounds this year, and the BMW R1100S which was entered at Suzuka, and the total comes up to ten for the championship as a whole.

2003, August 22

Provisional Top Ten Qualifying Positions

1. Suzuki Zongshen 1 (CHN) – Nowland, Mertens, Jerman: 1:29.961

2. Suzuki Zongshen 2 (CHN) – Bontempi, Bonhuil, Vanstaen: 1:30.015

3. Suzuki GB Phase One (GBR) – Pridmore, Ellison, Lindstrom, Hayes: 1:30.209

4. Yamaha GMT94 (FRA) – Foti, Checa, Scarnato: 1:30.965

5. Suzuki Phase One Junior Team (GBR) – Fincher, Jessop, Cudlin: 1:31.490

6. Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 (FRA) – Hacquin, Morillon, Cuzin : 1:31.658

7. Yamaha Austria (AUT) –Wilding, Saiger, Truchsess: 1:31.935

8. Yamaha OBI Shell (GER) – Knofler, Ludwig, Penzkofer, Bergau: 1:32.118

9. Suzuki Police Nationale 22 (FRA) – Giabbani, Blora, Kishida: 1:32.584

10. Suzuki Team KMF Herber (GER) – Herber, Giachino, Persson, Tode: 1:32.662