From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

RYO AND KAGAYAMA THIRD QUICKEST IN QUALIFYING AT SUZUKA

2002 FIM World Endurance Championship – Qualifying Session, Round 4, Suzuka, Japan, Friday, August 2, 2002.

In the first morning qualifying session, Team Suzuki rider Akira Ryo raced to the top of the A group with a time of 2:07.593. Team Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama was next out in the second morning session and managed to gain a time of 2:07.309, the second quickest of the session, just before it started to rain.

In the third rider’s session, Team Suzuki rider Atsushi Watanabe finished with the quickest lap.

Team Suzuki ended the morning session ranked 3rd overall courtesy of Kagayama’s time.

The first afternoon session saw Ryo put in a few laps before the rains came. Kagayama went out in the second session on a dry track but was unable to beat his time set in the morning qualifying.

Overall, Team SUZUKI finished third fastest in the overall standings with Kagayama’s second time taken as the qualifying time. Barros/Takeda (Honda) qualified first and Kato/Edwards (Honda) qualified in second.

Akira Ryo – 2:07.593
“We had planned to use the morning session to find a good set-up for the bike and then use the afternoon session to put some quick laps in. But when I was ready for the time attack in the afternoon session, it started to rain and we were unable to get any good lap-times in. The bike has been really good so far and the temperature has not been too bad yet. It was just a rehearsal today. I hope to keep us on track for the final race by not risking too much.”

Yukio Kagayama – 2:07.309
“I had my chance to do my best lap-times robbed by a shower in the morning and by slow riders in the afternoon. I am disappointed with the time of 2:07 as I had expected to bag a 2:06 lap, and I sure that my pace today was good enough to make it. But, I’m happy with the bike – it’s been improved by each ride and we now have a really competitive machine. So, I think we have done everything we need to do. I hope it will not be too hot at the Special Stage and that we can get a good position for the final race.”

Qualifying session:

1. Barros/Takeda (Honda)

2. Kato/Edwards (Honda)

3. Ryo/Kagayama (TEAM SUZUKI)