From a press release issued by series organizers:

Bontempi Fastest in Vallelunga 200 Mile Free Practice

Suzuki, Yamaha and Ducati First, Second and Third Quickest

Suzuki Zongshen No.2 rider Piergiorgio Bontempi was quickest in this afternoon’s free practice session, breaking the endurance lap record with a fastest time of 1:19.662. Last year’s pole position time was 1:20.256, with the fastest race lap of 1:19.865 set by Zongshen’s Warwick Nowland.

Second quickest today and the only other team to dip into the 1:19s was William Costesfor Yamaha GMT94 with a 1:19.933 lap. Mike Edwards lifted DRE Ducati into thirdplace, Suzuki Zongshen No. 1 were fourth, the second Yamaha GMT bike – No.96 – wasfifth and Suzuki Police Nationale 22 were sixth. New to endurance Simon Andrews put
the Suzuki Phase One Junior bike into seventh place, ahead of the senior team bike which
was tenth fastest.

The wide variety of competitive bikes racing in the World Endurance Championship is perfectly illustrated by this afternoon’s top three; bikes from Suzuki, Yamaha and Ducati, separated by less than a second. The fastest wildcard entry today was Ducati DRE 101 in eighth place, just ahead of the No.57 Suzuki Celani team. Bikes from Kawasaki, Aprilia, Honda and Mondial are also entered for the 200 mile race.

A total of forty three bikes recorded times today, with both sessions taking place in excellent weather. Qualifying proper to decide the grid for Sunday’s race will take place tomorrow, with sessions for each rider in the morning and afternoon. The atmosphere today has been fairly relaxed, but things are expected to heat up tomorrow when the lap times will be officially timed.