FIM Endurance World Championship
Oschersleben, Germany
August 21, 2014
Free Practice Results:
1. Monster Energy Yamaha (Broc Parkes/Michael Laverty), Yam YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:27.404
2. Yamaha Racing – GMT 94 – Michelin (David Checa/Kenny Foray/Mathieu Gines), Yam YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:27.440
3. Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team (Pedro Vallcaneras/Bastien Mackels/Markus Reiterberger), BMW S1000RR, Superstock, 1:27.532
4. Honda Racing (Julien Da Costa/Sebastien Gimbert/Freddy Foray), Hon CBR1000RR SP, Superbike, 1:27.574
5. SRC Kawasaki (Gregory LeBlanc/Matthieu Lagrive/Fabien Foret), Kaw ZX-10R, Superbike, 1:27.682
6. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe/Anthony Delhalle/Erwan Nigon), Suz GSX-R1000, Superbike, 1:27.904
7. Qatar Endurance Racing Team (Anthony West/Alex Cudlin/Mashel Al Naimi), Kaw ZX-10R, Superstock, 1:28.476
8. Monster Energy Yamaha – YART (Sheridan Morais/Ricky Olson/Igor Jerman), Yam YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:28.547
9. RS Speedbikes Racing (Filip Altendorfer/Florian Bauer/Rico Lowe), BMW S1000RR, Superbike, 1:28.567
10. Team R2CL (Gwen Giabbani/Gareth Jones/Stefan Nebel), Suz GSX-R1000, Superbike, 1:28.640
More, from a press release issued by FIM Endurance World Championship Press Office:
Monster Energy Yamaha shows its hand at Oschersleben Ahead of Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin and Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team
The first skirmishes at the Oschersleben 8 Hours took place today, Thursday. Monster Energy Yamaha clocked up the best performance in the free practice ahead of Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin and the astonishing BMW Superstock of Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team.
Broc Parkes was expected to be among the fastest although his best lap here in 2013 remains to be equalled. The MotoGP rider from Australia has sent Monster Energy Yamaha #07 to the top of the time sheets following the free practice with a lap in 1’27.404. At the very end of the session in Germany at noon today, David Checa almost squeaked ahead of him on the Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin which took second place in 1’27.440. But the biggest surprise came from the German Superstock team Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team, which clocked up the 3rd time of this first session in 1’27.532. Rico Penzkofer’s team is much fancied in the race for the 2014 FIM Superstock World Cup and will be hoping to do well on its home track.
Honda Racing was top of the time sheets for some time, ending up with the 4th time ahead of another candidate for victory at the Oschersleben 8 Hours, Team SRC Kawasaki, winners of the Bol d’Or at the start of the season. This factory Kawasaki team is ahead of Suzuki Endurance Racing Team which has recovered Vincent Philippe, now fit again after his crash at the Bol d’Or.
QMMF Racing Team is showing its hand in Superstock with a 7th place ahead of several teams in Formula EWC, Monster Energy Yamaha YART, the BMW of RS Speedbikes Racing and Team R2CL. Leader of the provisional Superstock rankings, Junior Team LMS Suzuki is currently in 3rd position in its category ahead of AM Moto Racing Compétition while Yamaha Viltaïs Expériences was held back somewhat by a major crash for Fred Besnard, who broke his femur yesterday during private tests.
The first qualifying practice session will doubtless provide more clues as to the shape the various teams are in going into the Oschersleben 8 Hours. The session will be starting this afternoon at 15 h 45.
Follow the race this Saturday 23 August from 12 h (GMT +2) on FIM-LIVE.COM with “LIVE TIMING” and all the action live on Twitter.