From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKI SWEEPS PODIUM IN WORLD ENDURANCE

World Endurance, Round Six, Vallelunga, Italy, October 6th:

SUZUKI dominated the final World Endurance race of the season at Vallelunga today, taking the first five places across the finish line. In the process, Suzuki claimed all the podium spots in the World Championship standings as well.

The race was won by Zongshen 9 on a GSX-R1000, helping the team to second place in the Championship. In second place in the race was the Suzuki GSX-R1000 mounted GMT94 team, securing third place in the overall standings. In third place and wrapping up the World Championship was Zongshen 2, again using the awesome GSX-R1000.

The 200-mile race at the Italian Vallelunga track was fast and frantic, with the short circuit lending itself to plenty of hot action. While Suzuki’s dominant GSX-R1000 took the first four places in the race, in fifth was the Herman Verboven team on a GSX-R750, demonstrating the in-depth strength of the GSX-R range.

The amazing performance of the GSX-R1000 means it beat all-comers from the World Superbike, Stocksport and SuperProduction classes to dominate the Standings and win the Endurance World Championship. The Suzuki GSX-R1000 adds the Endurance World Championship to its domination of the non-World Championship 2002 Masters of Endurance, another endurance race series.

Race Result: 1: Zongshen 9 (Suzuki), 2: GMT94 (Suzuki), 3: Zongshen 2 (Suzuki), 4: QB Phase One (Suzuki), 5: Herman Verboven 6 (Suzuki), 6: Piazza
Corse (Ducati), 7: Bollinger Team (Kawasaki), 8: Herman Verboven 5 (Suzuki), 9: Endurance Moto 38 (Yamaha), 10: X-One.

Championship Standings: 1: Zongshen 2 123, 2: Zongshen 9 107, 3: GMT94 95, 4: Endurance Moto 38 83, 5: QB Phase One 69, 6: Herman Verboven Racing 5 60, 7: Bollinger Team 47, 8: Piazza Corse 35, 9: Yamaha Austria (Yamaha) 30, 10: Team 22 Police Nationale (Kawasaki) 30.


More, from a press release issued by Octagon Motorsports:

Apology:

Ducati France have confirmed that they will be running a 998 in the Vallelunga 200 mile next weekend, not a 999 as earlier reported. Ducati Corse’s Mr Ciabatti reports that the 999’s international race debut will take place in 2003. Apologies for any confusion we may have caused.”