From a press release issued FGSport Group:

200 Miglia di Vallelunga

World Endurance Season Climax

The stage is set for a fantastic climax to the 2003 FIM World Endurance Championship season.

The Championship has come down to a battle between two teams; Suzuki GB Phase One – who have scored points in every round so far this year – can only be caught by Suzuki Zongshen No.1, who have blow hot and cold this year, with four wins and two DNFs so far. But these two teams are unlikely to have things all their own way.

Snapping at their heels are a gaggle of teams who will be out to finish the season with a race win. Yamaha GMT94 and Suzuki Zongshen No.2 have won a round each, Suzuki Police Nationale 22 scored a creditable top five at the ultra competitive Suzuka 8 Hour race, and Yamaha Austria have scored points in the last two rounds of the World Superbike championship. Of course, this being the Italian round of the World Endurance Championship, DRE Ducati will be looking for a home win; with factory support for their Ducati 999R and a proven rider line-up they are in with a good chance.

The action begins on Thursday the 2nd of October with a day of free practice for all the classes racing over the weekend. Official practice starts on Friday the 3rd, with qualifying for the World Endurance Championship race taking place on Saturday morning and afternoon. There are three support races on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, but the main event is at 13:30 on Sunday when forty three riders sprint across the track to their waiting bikes for the start of the 200 mile race.

There are two compulsory refuelling stops during the race and teams must also change riders; fuel and tyre strategies are as important in endurance racing as they are in F1, with the best teams able to refuel a bike and change both it’s wheels in less than 30 seconds.

The 2002 race climaxed in a 45 minute elbow to elbow sprint during the final session; we expect nothing less this year.