Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) will start tomorrow's opening round of the Qtel 2011 World Endurance Championship at Magny Cours in France from Pole Position after team rider Vincent Philippe set the only sub 1:40 minute lap on the team's GSX-R1000 in today's final qualifying.
Reigning World Champions SERT, who this year aims for its 11th WEC title, dominated from the start of qualifying and Philippe's lap of 1:39.740 put the team at the front with an average time of 1:40.589.
Four riders are entered for SERT: Alongside Philippe is Freddy Foray, Daisaku Sakai and newcomer Anthony Delhalle, but Team Manager Dominique Meliand will make his final three-rider choice before tomorrow's 75th running of the Bol d'Or, which gets underway at 3pm local time.
Also in contention for honours in the Superstock class is the Junior Team Suzuki LMS who finished 10th overall and top in class with a time of 1:42.973.
Qualifying results (Best individual rider lap times):
1 SERT (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 1:39.74,
2 Team SRC Kawasaki (Kawasaki ZX10R) 1:40.048,
3 BMW Motorrad France 99 (BMW S1000RR) 1:40.436,
4 Monster Yamaha YART (Yamaha R1) 1:41.636,
5 Yamaha France GMT 94 IPONE (Yamaha R1) 1:41.743,
6 National Motos (Honda CBR1000R) 1:42.592,
7 Honda TT Legends (Honda Fireblade) 1:41.680,
8 Maco Racing Team (Yamaha R1) 1:43.414,
9 Team Sapeurs Pompiers (BMW S1000RR) 1:41.879,
10 Junior Team Suzuki LMS) 1:42.973.
