From a tardy press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

TIMES TUMBLE AS GSX-R CUP RIDERS GET SERIOUS

Magny Cours, France, September 13th:

THE GSX-R Cup Final riders got down to serious business today during the second and final qualifying session.

In the all-action 25-minute long session, the lap times tumbled from yesterday, but the names at the top remain familiar.

French ace Olivier Four took over a second off his provisional pole position from yesterday to stay ahead of the field. His time on the near standard GSX-R750 was just two-seconds slower than the GSX-R1000 SuperProduction machine he uses in the Masters of Endurance qualifying for the Bol d’Or – showing just how good the Suzuki is as a ready to go racer.

Four said: “The bike is near its limits now. The rear tyre was new before the start of the session and now it is dead. The suspension is good but on the limit. It was warm during the session, so if it cools down a bit, perhaps I could go half a second faster. But I am fastest and happy with that.”

He was followed in second place by the same man as yesterday – Italy’s Giuseppe Fiorillo, who is also a top contender in the Bol d’Or on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. His Italian teammate Luca Conforti took over half a second off his practice time yesterday to join him on the front row in fourth place. Italy Team Boss D. Mutti said: “We have two riders on the front row and today’s times are better. That gives us a good chance for the race later on.”

Third place on the grid was taken by rising US star Jason DiSalvo. The 18-year-old American who is coached by Freddie Spencer, took two-seconds off his lap time from yesterday and is bubbling with confidence for the race. He said: “We made some suspension adjustments and the bike felt much better. I thought when I came over here I’d be riding around at 90 percent, but there are some real good guys out there. I am riding as hard, if not harder than I do at home. But I’ve only had one-hour 15-minutes on track and I’m still learning. Every lap I do I learn something and will get faster and faster.”

Most riders beat their lap times from yesterday. The first race in the GSX-R Cup Final takes place at 17:40pm today.

Suzuki’s GSX-R Cup Final 2002 brings together the best motorcycle riders from around the globe to compete on identical GSX-R750 machinery. Riders will race in two finals – one on Friday 13th, the second on Saturday 14th, which support the Bol d’Or Masters of Endurance 24-hour race. Each competing country is desperate to win the title for national pride. Every rider uses a Suzuki GSX-R in their home country and is already familiar with the awesome performance of the GSX-R range, which started the race-replica class of motorcycles in 1985 with the first GSX-R750.

Final Qualification Results:
1: Olivier Four (France) 1:44.631
2: Giuseppe Fiorillo (Italy) +0.613
3: Jason DiSalvo (USA) +1.019, 4: Luca Conforti (Italy) +1.070
5: S Jond (France) +1.100
6: John Dugan (US) +1.261
7: S Brogan (UK) +1.358
8: S Charlton (Australia) +1.488
9: J Kirkham (UK) +1.619
10: F Heidger (Germany) +1.894
11: KH Hennemann (Germany) +2.211
12: RDV Molen (Netherlands) +2.341
13: L Pini (Italy) +2.525
14: T Fluckiger (Switzerland) + 2.581
15: Brian Livengood (USA) +2.591
16: J Hurtado (Spain) +2.823
17: RK Valderhaug (Norway) +2.977
18: J Martensen (Germany) +3.509
19: J Tangre (France) +3.582
20: G Roelens (Belgium) +3.597
21: C Pfeifer (Austria) +4.354
22: Tim Easton (Canada) +5.056
23: Z Nelson (Canada) +6.361
24: JP Laurett (Brazil) +8.981
25: B Cockerill (UK) +14.648.