Vincent Philippe and Matthieu Lagrive, riding for the QMMF Endurance World Champions, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, confirmed their dominance this afternoon by taking pole position for tomorrow’s Doha 8 Hours. Yet again the pair improved on their lap times during the afternoon’s second qualifying session. Matthieu Lagrive recorded the best individual time of any session so far with a 2’03.566 lap, and his Suzuki 1 will start from the front in tomorrow’s race.
The starting grid positions were determined by taking the average of the best times of each team rider, and this saw SERT qualify over a second ahead of both Yamaha Phase One and Kawasaki Bolliger Switzerland. After an impressive fourth place at the Bol d’Or in September, Phase One are looking for a podium finish in Doha to move them up the QMMF 2007 World Championship classifications. Having recruited Steve Plater to ride alongside Warwick Nowland and Glenn Richards, Phase One Endurance also look to be in a strong position. The English rider recorded his team’s best lap time.
Bolliger Switzerland also have their eyes on the podium at this Doha 8 Hours and are hoping to scale the Championship classifications with a strong result. David Morillon, Patric Muff and Eric Mizera are determined to wipe out the memory of their poor result at the Bol d’Or where, having been in fifth place for almost 24 hours, they had to retire their Kawasaki Bolliger just before the end.
After having impressed during the earlier free practice and qualifying rounds here in Doha, the Qatar Endurance Racing Team secured fourth place on the starting grid. In the hands of Ivan Silva and Victor Carrasco, the Kawasaki of QERT looks likely to be battling at the front of the race with the leaders.
Fifth on the starting grid, Yamaha Austria Racing Team were hindered during the day’s qualifying sessions by engine problems. Steve Martin, Igor Jerman and Damian Cudlin may yet move up the field during tomorrow’s race. Just behind the Austrians is another Yamaha of the LTG 57 team who impressed again, qualifying as the leading Superstock machine. After having quickly got the hang of this Losail circuit, Anthony Dos Santos, Amaury Baratin and Cyril Huvier are capable of troubling the leaders in the race tomorrow.
Also near the front of the grid are Kawasaki Diablo 666 Bolliger and Suzuki RT & Moto Virus. The latter qualified as the leading Superproduction team but will have to race tomorrow without rider Eric Monot who was injured during the practice session. Just behind them is the Suzuki of Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers and Yamaha Maco Moto Racing, who have recruited Partick Piot for this final World Championship race.
After the warm-up at 11:00 on Saturday, the Doha 8 Hours will get underway at 14:00.
