Oschersleben 8 Hours German World Endurance round kicks off today at noon
The Oschersleben 8 Hours starts today Saturday at 12 h 00. This 3rd round of the FIM Endurance World Championship has already gone down in history with an unprecedented pole position for a Superstock machine. Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team will be starting from the front of the grid ahead of Team SRC Kawasaki and Monster Energy Yamaha.
To keep this advantage on the track, the German Superstock will have to be extremely careful with its refuelling and pit stops. The Superstock regulations do not allow rapid wheel dismount which remains the prerogative of the EWC class.
We would therefore logically expect to see the EWC teams taking control of the race. For its first outing at Oschersleben, Team SRC Kawasaki, winner of the Bol d’Or at the start of the season, is among the posse of favourites alongside Monster Energy Yamaha with Broc Parkes and Michael Laverty on board. Currently top of the Championship leader board, Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin, 4th on the grid, is well placed to bolster its 7 point lead. In 5th position at the start, Honda Racing will be keen to exorcise the jinx that has dogged it in the races so far. In 6th place, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team seems to have recovered its composure and is looking to experience to help it work its way back up to the front during the race.
In Superstock, Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team is clearly the favourite but it will have a fight on its hands with rival Superstocks Qatar Endurance Racing Team and Junior Team LMS Suzuki. A tight-knit group will certainly be in contention for the places on the Superstock podium. Starteam PAM Racing, Tati Team Beaujolais Racing, MCS Racing Ipone, No Limits Motor Team and AM Moto Racing Compétition will be lining up in that order on the grid.
The sky is currently cloudy over Oschersleben and the met office is announcing showers towards the end of the afternoon, giving the teams on the track another element to factor in.
Follow the race today Saturday 23 August from 12 h (GMT +2) with “LIVE TIMING” on FIM-LIVE.COM and get all the action live on Twitter.