FIM Endurance World Championship
Oschersleben, Germany
August 22, 2014
Qualifying Results:
1. Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team (Pedro Vallcaneras 1:28.493/Bastien Mackels 1:26.614/Markus Reiterberger 1:26.503), BMW S1000RR, Superstock, 1:27.203
2. SRC Kawasaki (Gregory LeBlanc 1:26.896/Matthieu Lagrive 1:28.367/Fabien Foret 1:27.058), Kaw ZX-10R, Superbike, 1:27.440
3. Monster Energy Yamaha (Broc Parkes 1:26.988/Michael Laverty 1:27.909), Yam YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:27.448
4. Yamaha Racing – GMT 94 – Michelin (David Checa 1:27.124/Kenny Foray 1:27.668/Mathieu Gines 1:27.556), Yam YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:27.449
5. Honda Racing (Julien Da Costa 1:27.505/Sebastien Gimbert 1:27.115/Freddy Foray 1:27.847), Hon CBR1000RR SP, Superbike, 1:27.489
6. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe 1:27.848/Anthony Delhalle 1:27.941/Erwan Nigon 1:27.702), Suz GSX-R1000, Superbike, 1:27.830
7. National Motos (Arturo Tizon 1:28.482/Gregory Junod 1:28.629/Valentin Debise 1:27.343), Hon CBR1000RR, Superbike, 1:28.151
8. Monster Energy Yamaha – YART (Sheridan Morais 1:27.501/Ricky Olson 1:28.156/Igor Jerman 1:29.158), Yam YZF-R1, Superbike, 1:28.271
9. Team Bolliger Switzerland 8 (Horst Sager 1:28.055/Roman Stamm 1:27.662/Daniel Sutter 1:29.126), Kaw ZX-10R, Superbike, 1:28.281
10. Team R2CL (Gwen Giabbani 1:28.291/Gareth Jones 1:28.500/Stefan Nebel 1:28.671), Suz GSX-R1000, Superbike, 1:28.487
More, from a press release issued by FIM Endurance Press Office:
Pole position for Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team!
The Superstocks make their mark in Oschersleben
German team Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team was clearly out to shine in its national even. However, Rico Penzkofer’s team has gone one better in the qualifiers by clinching pole position at the Oschersleben 8 Hours ahead of Team SRC Kawasaki Monster Energy Yamaha.
The Superstocks really made their mark in Germany this afternoon. It started with Anthony West aboard the Kawasaki of the Qatar Endurance Racing Team who held on to the lead for much of the session before being overtaken by Gregory Leblanc with a best lap in 1.26.896. But the most astonishing of all was yet to come in the subsequent sessions with the crew of the BMW of Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team. Bastien Mackels, who clocked up yesterday’s best lap, improved his time with 1.26.614 but his team mate Reiterberger scored the day’s fastest lap in 1’26.503!
The BMW of Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team has secured pole position in the Oschersleben 8 Hours! This is a first for a Superstock team in the FIM Endurance World Championship. The BMW is in front of Team SRC Kawasaki with Gregory Leblanc, Fabien Forêt and Matthieu Lagrive and Monster Energy Yamaha #07 with Broc Parkes and Michael Laverty.
Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin takes 4th place on the grid. David Checa, Kenny Foray and Mathieu Gines all improved their times and their crew was remarkably regular with laps between 1’27.124 and 1’27.668. The Yamaha just squeaked ahead of Honda Racing with Julien Da Costa, Sébastien Gimbert and Freddy Foray.
In an unaccustomed 6th on the grid, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team is still struggling with adjustment problems following the switch from 16.5’ to 17’ wheels. But Dominique Méliand’s team and its three riders Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Erwan Nigon may have some surprises in store for tomorrow’s race.
Honda National Motos takes a fine 7th spot at the start ahead of more experienced teams Monster Energy Yamaha YART, Bolliger Team Switzerland and Team R2CL. The 11th and 12th places on the grid go to the 2nd and 3rd Superstocks, the Kawasaki of Qatar Endurance Racing Team and the Suzuki of Junior Team LMS Suzuki.
Follow the race tomorrow, Saturday 23 August from 12 h (GMT +2) on FIM-LIVE.COM with “LIVE TIMING” and all the action live on Twitter.
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:
Honda Racing to start Oschersleben 8 Hours from fifth
Following the second qualifying sessions for the Oschersleben 8 Hours in Germany today, the Honda Racing team will start tomorrow’s race from fifth on the grid – fourth in the Endurance World Championship class.
Having worked late into the night to rebuild the Honda Racing CBR1000RR Firebalde SP after Julien Da Costa’s crash yesterday, the team had the machine back on track in time for this afternoon’s qualifying. Da Costa took part in the first of the three 20-minute sessions, taking it steady on the initial run out for the rebuilt bike.
Sebastien Gimbert completed the second session as the fastest rider, posting an improved lap of 1:27.115, while Freddy Foray placed sixth in his group. Honda Racing’s combined time of 1:27.489 puts the team fifth on the grid for the race, 0.286 seconds behind pole sitters Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team. SRC Kawasaki qualified second with Monster Energy Yamaha and Yamaha Racing GMT94 in third and fourth.
The Oschersleben 8 Hours will begin at 12.00 CEST tomorrow.
Neil Tuxworth team manager
Today’s session was good for the team for two reasons: we had no problems whatsoever and all three riders lapped as a similar time to one another. We may have dropped two places on the grid but we’re still only 0.2 seconds off pole position and that is plenty good enough for an eight hour endurance race, especially considering that we did all our qualifying on race tyres. With the three riders we have and assuming there are no issues, I think we certainly have a good chance of winning the race here in Germany.
Julien Da Costa
After my crash yesterday, the crew had to build a new bike so I had to be careful during my session. I had yesterday’s tyre in too so I took it steady to make sure that everything is ok on the bike, which it is. Now we are ready to race. We are fifth but not far off pole so it’s not bad for us. All our lap times were on a race tyre so we are very confident that we can get up to first by the end of the first hour.
Freddy Foray
In endurance, the place on the grid is not so important. We are fast on the race tyre and we will stay confident for the race. I have a problem with my own performance, but that is nothing to do with the bike. Tomorrow the forecast is for some rain in the late afternoon so if that happens it could be an eventful race.
Sebastien Gimbert
We are fifth but we have eight hours in the race and gaining four positions is not so difficult. The battle with the other teams is good for the crowd and for the championship and it should be an interesting race. I have to thank the team because they worked through the night to rebuild the bike and we have a very good bike. I improved my time and I have a good feeling for tomorrow. I want to win!
More, from a press release issued by Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team:
Pole Position!
Oschersleben, Germany. The Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team made history by taking the first ever Pole Position of a Superstock bike at the FIM Endurance World Championship at the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben today.
Pedro Vallcaneras (ESP), Bastien Mackels (BEL) and Markus Reiterberger (GER) will start tomorrow’s 8 hours of Germany from the Pole Position. The second qualifying saw all three riders improving their pace today and take the first spot on the grid.
Vallcaneras (1:28,493 Minuten), Mackels (1:26,614) and Reiterberger (1:26,503) took all advantages from their Soft tires and earned a average time of 1:27,203 min. which put them two tenths in front of SRC Kawasaki with Gregory Leblanc, Mathieu Lagrive and Fabien Foret, as well as in front of the MotoGP stars of Monster Energy Yamaha with Broc Parkes and Michael Laverty. The second fastest Superstock machine came from the Qatar Endurance Racing Team ridden by Anthony West, Alexander Cudlin and Mashel al Naimi in 11th spot.
QUOTES
Pedro Vallcaneras:
“I am really happy today. I was able to improve my own best time by seven tenths and made the most of the soft tire. But of course the biggest thank you goes to my team mates Bastien and Markus. This is the best qualifying position in my whole career, just incredible. Now we have to focus on the race tomorrow. Thanks everyone!”
Bastien Mackels
“For me it went pretty good yesterday already and today I was able to improve once more. The bike, our BMW S 1000 RR, is working brilliantly, this team is working great! Thank you mates, thank you Markus and Pedro”
Markus Reiterberger
“Today I got a better chance then yesterday. We know this track from the German Championship. I got a free lap today and went for it, that wasn’t possible yesterday. It’s my first time in the Endurance World Championship and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s race.”
Rico Penzkofer
“Unbelievable! After yesterday’s times we already dreamed a bit of the pole position as we knew Markus and Pedro had something more to come. But at the end you don’t believe it yourself – with a Stock bike on Pole!”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Oschersleben 8 Hours World Endurance – Team Kawasaki SRC to start race from second position
After the second qualifying session, the famous Team Kawasaki SRC number 11 bike will start the 8 hour endurance race at Oschersleben from the second spot of the grid.
Even if it seemed the riders were frustrated about not achieving another pole position – due to traffic on the track – Team Manager, Gilles Stafler, was delighted about the result.
“For sure I can understand my riders but the main focus for me is the race. This second position is a really strong result if you consider the fact that is our first time in Oschersleben since 2008.
All the team worked hard during practice because we didn’t have any previous set up data or information about the course and to be in such a position is good evidence about the quality of the work done by the entire team.
We have now to be focus on the race. The target is as clear as possible and as simple as possible. We have to do our best to win this race. From my point of view Oschersleben is the best way to “practice” for Le Mans 24 Hours race.
The mistake would be to be focus on championship standing and run our race in this inward looking way. Actually for me, honestly speaking, world championship standing is not my priority at this stage”
Grégory Leblanc commented: “We were close to achieving pole it but not quite enough! Anyway the race is tomorrow and we have a strong race pace so I think we could be quite confident.”
Matthieu Lagrive added : “It was not so easy for me to find a clear lap, but it was the same for everybody I guess. We have to focus on the race because I’m sure that the Team Kawasaki SRC Ninja machine will be in front of the race.”
Fabien Foret concluded: “ The traffic on track was a nightmare ! But some guys find the solution and we have to applaud their efforts. As Gregory said, we know that our pace is quite strong and the team is strong on pit stop strategy. I hope we could get the result that we deserve.”
The race will run in daylight only and start at 12h00 on 23 August and the chequered flag will be drop at 20h00.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:
Reigning World Champions Suzuki Endurance Racing Team will start the Oschersleben World Endurance third round in Germany from sixth position on the grid.
With team rider Vincent Philippe back from injury – after missing the previous round at Suzuka in Japan at the end of July following his crash at the opening Bol d’Or event in France – SERT team-mates Anthony Delhalle and Erwan Nigon both improved the team’s times for tomorrow’s eight-hour event.
Delhalle upped his qualifying-time on the GSX-R1000 yesterday of 1:28.241 to 1:27.941 this afternoon and Nigon improved his 1:27.853 to a 1:27.702. Philippe also put in lap time of 1:27.848 in his first ride back for the Le Mans, France-based team.
Pole was set by Superstock team Penz13.com Autowelt Racing (BMW) with an combined-time of 1:27.203, with SRC Kawasaki second ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha and current series leaders Yamaha Racing GMT 94 in fourth as 600ths-of-a second separated the top six teams.
Tomorrow’s Oschersleben World Endurance Championship race starts at 12.00hrs local time (CEST) with live timing and information on www.fim-live.com throughout the event.
Oschersleben 8-Hour Friday Qualifying: 1 Penz13.com Autowelt Racing (BMW) 1:27.203, 2 SRC Kawasaki (Kawasaki) 1: 27.440, 3 Monster Energy Yamaha (Yamaha) 1:27.448, 4 Yamaha Racing GMT 94 (Yamaha) 1:27.449, 5 Honda Racing (Honda) 1:27.489, 6 SERT (Suzuki GSX-R1000) – Vincent Philippe/ Anthony Delhalle/ Erwan Nigon – 1:27.830, 7 National Motos (Honda) 1:28.151, 8 Monster Energy YART (Yamaha) 1:28.271, 9 Team Bolliger Switzerland (Kawasaki) 1:28.281, 10 Team R2CL (Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Gwen Giabbani/ Gareth Jones/ Stefan Nebel – 1:28.487.