From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Suzuki Castrol have taken pole position for (today’s) Oschersleben 24 Hours round of the World Endurance Championship after a perfect lap of 1:29.522 by Vincent Philippe, comfortably beating last year’s fastest qualifying lap of 1:29.961.

Yesterday’s qualifying and night practice sessions saw championship leaders Yamaha GMT94 convincingly ahead in every session but they were unable to match Philippe’s lap; their best performance this morning was a 1:29.665 by David Checa. With only fourteen points separating these two teams in the championship and fifty points to be awarded to the winner of this race, tensions are running high. Both teams feel they have to win here to claim the championship at Vallelunga, and the 24 hour race is likely to be very closely fought.

Less than a second splits the next four teams on the grid. Robert Ulm joins Erwin Wilding and Karl Truchsess on the WRT Honda Austria, showing the potential of the developing Fireblade with third place on the grid. Fourth goes to Yamaha Endurance Moto 38, with Gwen Giabbani and Stephane Duterne joined by Sebastien Scarnato for this race. In fifth place are Kawasaki Bolliger, with Yamaha Austria in sixth place. There are four manufacturers represented in the top five grid positions.

Of the more unusual entrants in the Prototype or Open class, only the Schittko KTM LC8 has failed to qualify; this year’s field at Oschersleben will include an MZ1000S, a Buell XB12R and a Kawasaki Z1000.

Provisional Top Ten Qualifying Postions

1st 3 – Suzuki Castrol – FRA – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Vincent Philippe 1:29.522

2nd 94 – Yamaha GMT94 – FRA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – David Checa 1:29.665

3rd 5 – WRT Honda Austria – AUT – Honda CBR1000RR – Robert Ulm 1:30.134

4th 38 – Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 – FRA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – Gwen Giabbani 1:30.382

5th 8 – Kawasaki Bolliger Team – SUI – Kawasaki ZX10R – Roman Stam 1:30.802

6th 7 – Yamaha Austria Racing Team – AUT – Yamaha YZF-R1 – Igor Jerman 1:30.908

7th 1 – Yamaha Phase One Endurance – GBR – Yamaha YZF-R1 – Patrick Piot 1:31.765

8th 17 – Suzuki Bergmann & Soehne – GER – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Heinz Platacis 1:33.121

9th 6 – Shell Endurance Academy – GBR – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Marko Rohtlaan 1:33.187

10th 12 – Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se – SWE – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Lars Carlbark 1:33.258