Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s Yukio Kagayama put in the only sub-2.08-minute lap during today’s Suzuka world Endurance Qualifying sessions in Japan, putting the GSX-R1000-mounted team at the top of the timesheets.
Kagayama clocked a lap of 2’07.884 in the first of three sessions, to beat Honda FCC TSR’s Kosuke Akiyoshi on 2’08.260 and Honda-mounted Musashi RT Harc Pro’s Makoto Tamada with 2’08.962.
Kagayama’s team mate Josh Waters finished third in his session with a time of 2’10.024 and third Yoshimura rider Nobuatsu Aoki claimed fifth in session 3 with a lap of 2’11.388.
Thanks to their Japanese rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Monster Yamaha YART was the best of the World Endurance Championship permanent teams with fourth place and a lap-time of 2’09.045 lap.
Suzuki Endurance Racing Team’s Vincent Philippe posted 15th in session 1 with a 2’12.995 lap, Anthony Delhalle 13th in session 2 on 2’13.902 and Daisaku Sakai 6th in session 3 with a lap of 2’12.612. The World Champions’ combined position is 14th.
The Suzuka 8 Hours is the only round on the Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship calendar that incorporates special regulations: The best individual lap time determinates the starting grid – and not the average time from the teams’ riders, as with other rounds of the series.
Suzuka also has a “Top 10 Trial” – a Superpole-style head-to-head session – where the two best riders from the best 10 teams go back on track to race for the final starting grid. The Top 10 Trial is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 15.30 and Sunday’s third-round World Championship Suzuka 8 Hour race begins at 10:30 am local time (GMT + 9).
Suzuka 8-Hour Images, courtesy of David Reygondeau (GOOD-SHOOT.com)
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