SERT takes an early lead in the qualifiers ahead of SRC Kawasaki and Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube Reigning World Champions Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) made a powerful impression in the first qualifying session of the Bol d’Or in Magny Cours this afternoon. The SERT takes the provisional pole position on the back of the two best times of the day signed Vincent Philippe (1’39.769) and Fabien Forêt (1’40.256). Based on the average of their three riders’ best times, SERT are over one-and-a-half seconds ahead of both SRC Kawasaki and Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube. BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent is now in fourth position after a very tough first day. Following Hugo Marchand’s crash in free practice, BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent wrecked its second bike when Damian Cudlin crashed in this first qualifying session. The third rider Erwan Nigon was unable to take part in his qualifying session. “We now have to rebuild two bikes to take part in the qualifiers tomorrow”, announced BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent team manager Michael Bartholemy. After crashing three times in free practice, Monster Energy Yamaha YART took fifth place just ahead of the best Superstock bike, Team Louit Moto 33’s Kawasaki. Team Motors Events AMT Assurances’ Suzuki, which put up a good showing in the free practice, is now back in tenth position following a crash for Fred Moreira. Also in the top 10 after the first qualifying session are Bolliger Team Switzerland’s Kawasaki, Junior Team LMS’ Suzuki and National Motos’ Honda. Les 55 bikes will take to the track again later this evening for night practice. The second qualifying session starts at 11 h 10 tomorrow. Provisional Qualifying Session One Results: 1. S.E.R.T. (PHILIPPE, Vincent – 1:39.769/DELHALLE, Anthony – 1:41.517/FORET, Fabien – 1:40.256), Suz GSX-R1000, EWC, 1:40.514 2. SRC KAWASAKI (DACOSTA, Julien – 1:40.550/LEBLANC, Gregory – 1:40.873/FOUR, Olivier – 1:42.165), Kaw ZX-10R, EWC, 1:41.196 3. YAMAHA – GMT 94 MICHELIN (CHECA, David – 1:41.447/FORAY, Kenny – 1:41.081/LAGRIVE, Matthieu – 1:41.313), Yam YZF-R1, EWC, 1:41.280 4. BMW Motorrad France Theve (GIMBERT, Sébastien – 1:40.741/CUDLIN, Damian – 1:41.925), BMW S1000RR, EWC, 1:41.333 5. MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA – YART (JERMAN, Igor – 1:41.650/MARTIN, Steve – 1:41.566/GIABBANI, Gwen – 1:41.487), Yam YZF-R1, EWC, 1:41.568 6. LOUIT MOTO 33 (BAZ, Loris – 1:41.826/GUARNONI, Jérémy – 1:42.594/CHEVAUX, Nans – 1:42.927), Kaw ZX-10R, SST, 1:42.449 7. BOLLIGER TEAM SWITZERLAND (SAIGER, Horst – 1:42.392/STAMM, Roman – 1:43.332/TANGRE, Jérome – 1:43.546), Kaw ZX-10R, EWC, 1:43.090 8. JUNIOR TEAM LMS SUZUKI (GUITTET, Baptiste – 1:43.060/TANGRE, Cédric – 1:43.509/ENJOLRAS, Julien – 1:43.647), Suz GSX-R1000, SST, 1:43.405 9. NATIONAL MOTOS (MONGE, Josep Machado – 1:43.277/BOCQUET, Vincent – 1:44.023/MASSON, Etienne – 1:42.997), Hon CBR1000RR, EWC, 1:43.432 10. MOTORS EVENTS AMT ASSURANCES (SAVARY, Michael – 1:42.992/DIETRICH, Guillaume – 1:42.732/MOREIRA, Frédéric – 1:44.655), Suz GSX-R1000, SST, 1:43.460 15. MACO RACING (PRIDMORE, Jason – 1:46.496/JUNOD, Gregory – 1:43.143/BLACK, Gregg – 1:43.618), Yam YZF-R1, EWC, 1:44.419