From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKI FILL PODIUM AT SPA

Masters of Endurance Race Series
Spa Francorchamps, Belgium.

The Spa Francorchamps 24 Heures de Liege has been won by the number 2 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Stephane Gimbert, Nicolas Dussauge and Olivier Four. Second place went to the No 1 SERT GSX-R1000 of Morrison, Dobe and Philippe, and third to the Dap Moto Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Lerat Vanstaen, Jond and Cortinovis.

The race began on a wet but drying track, making tyre choice for the first session difficult. Once the circuit had dried sufficiently for slicks to be used the two SERT bikes quickly established their dominance over the rest of the field, with only the Fosters-Verboven GSX-R1000 able to match their pace in the early sessions. After two hours the two SERT machines were the only ones on the same lap, after six hours they were five laps clear of their nearest competition, and by dawn on Sunday morning the gap had stretched to thirteen laps.

The number 1 team were unable to close significantly on the leaders, eventually finishing two minutes and four seconds behind the five hundred and forty one laps completed by the number 2 bike. Third placed finishers Dap Moto were an astonishing nineteen laps behind by the end of the race.

The winning team of Four, Gimbert and Dussauge are all experienced endurance competitors. Gimbert and Dussauge won Le Mans and the Bol d’Or last year but this is the first Spa victory for the trio. Suzuki GB Phase One’s Olivier Four was drafted in to the SERT No.2 team at the last minute after Jean Michel Bayle was unable to ride due to an earlier injury.

1st – SERT Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Four, Gimbert, Dussauge

2nd – SERT Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Morrison, Dobe, Philippe

3rd – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Lerat Vanstaen, Jond, Cortinovis

4th – Bolliger Kawasaki – Cuzin, Nystrom, Moreira

5th – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Baratin, Thuret, Cheron