Michelin Power Research Team dominates free practices Michelin Power Research Team has been dominating this morning the free practice of the 8 Horas Nocturnas of Albacete, third round of the Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship. Ridden by Spanish riders Josep Monge and Pedro Vallcaneras and French William Costes, the Honda Michelin did its best lap in 1’31.746, a very good time, close from the best qualifying time ever, signed by Vincent Philippe in 2007 on the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team. Michelin Power Research Team leads Spanish team Folch Endurance on Yamaha, who did a remarkable come-back with a trio of riders which can possibly get onto the podium. Behind the handlebars of the Yamaha Folch 2008, who ended up in third place the 2008 Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship, are David Checa, who came as a neighbour to have a taste of Endurance before entering the next Bol d’Or with Yamaha GMT 94, Spanish Supersport rider Daniel Rivas and Jose Manuel Luis Rita, who ride last year with a seventh place at Bol d’Or on the very same Yamaha Folch Endurance. Just behind Folch is the Yamaha Austria Racing Team, with Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani. The championship leaders took the first time, ahead of the British Yamaha of Phase One Endurance of Pedro Vallcaneras and brothers Alex and Damian Cudlin, the Slovak Yamaha of BK Maco Moto Racing Team with two Spanish riders Dani Ribalta and Victor Carrasco associated to American rider Jason Pridmore and the Italian Yamaha Amadeus X-One of Paolo Tessari, Ayrton Badovini and Will Gruy. In the Superstock class, the Suzuki of Qatar Endurance Racing Team with Mashel Al Naimi, Rashid Al Mannai and Anthony Delhalle remains the fastest, but very close behind are the Suzuki MCS Racing Ipone of Jordi Almera, Jure Stibilj and Calvin Hogan, and the Suzuki Endurance Moto 45 of Alexandre Lagrive, Adrien Ganfornina and Nicolas Jaulneau. The qualifying session starts today at 2:30 pm. The second qualifying session is scheduled for 6:30 pm and the night practice session at 10:30 pm. It’s a very busy day for the team and very demanding for the riders as well, as the temperature is over 35 °C today. Considering the heat, a very tight planning and the absence of live TV on this event, the organisation has decided after a consultation with the teams, to cancel the Superpole, which was initially planned tomorrow Saturday at 11 am. The warm up is now scheduled at 10:25 am. A pitlane visit will be organised for the public from 4:30 tomorrow and the start of this semi-nocturnal race will take place at 6 pm for a night arrival at 2 am on Sunday morning.