The 2007 Endurance World Champions recorded the fastest time in this afternoon’s free practice session for the Doha 8 Hours at the Losail circuit. Thanks to Vincent Philippe’s flying lap of 2’05.619, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team finished ahead of both the Kawasaki of the Qatar Endurance Racing Team (2’06.416) and the Yamaha Phase One team (2’07.910).
The QERT Kawasaki, ridden by Ivan Silva, Victor Carrasco and Mishel Al Naimi, had been dominant at the start of the free practice session. However, Vincent Philippe’s impressive display saw SERT claim the best time of the day in spite of a fall by the Suzuki rider which was not serious. Luck is not, however, totally with SERT who have been reduced to just two riders. Julien Da Costa broke his forearm on Wednesday on a quad bike in the desert.
Behind Yamaha Phase One Endurance, who have recruited Steve Plater for this final leg of the QMMF World Championship, the other podium favourites are also lining up. Despite pneumatic problems, Yamaha Austria Racing Team took fourth place just ahead of Kawasaki Bolliger Switzerland.
Not to be ignored following a strong performance in free practice is Honda RMT 21 Racing who came in sixth fastest. Behind the Honda is the fastest Superproduction machine, the Yamaha Maco Moto, who have recruited Patrick Piot for the Doha 8 Hours. In eighth place the Kawasaki Diablo 666 Bolliger is just ahead of the first two Superstock machines of the Yamaha LTG 57 and Suzuki Endurance Moto 45 teams.
Aside from QERT, the Losail circuit is unknown territory for all the teams, and all of them managed to improve their lap times during the second session. This 5.3km circuit is fast and technical making a strong qualifying session even more important. The lack of road markings, the heat, and the dust that is blown by the wind onto the track from the desert, often make passing very difficult.
The first qualifying session begins tomorrow at 10:00. The race itself begins on Saturday at 14:00 in Doha, and is scheduled to finish in the evening at 22:00. Darkness falls in Qatar at around 17:00.
