Other Entry List Updates

Back with the official entry list - which still shows Cudlin as YART reserve - Yamaha Phase are listing the trio of riders (Nowland, Richards, Vankeymeulen) that they started the season with, but that may well change once the team arrive at the circuit.

Gruy will be back to full fitness for Amadeus X One after his road bike accident injuries ruled him out of Suzuka and Oschersleben, Maco Moto are listing Mikovsky, Miinin and Verboven as their three riders, and Diablo have Ulmann - who sat out the Oschersleben race - down as a rider. It could all change.

The main wildcard challenge will come from the No.55 National Motos Honda of Protat, Ribalta and Bouan, and from the Yamaha GMT94 of Checa, Gimbert and Four.

British interest is boosted by Alf's Kawasaki joining Phase One and Diablo. Alf's list Andi Notman alongside John Crockford, Stephen Thompson and Pete Jennings, but Notman is also down as riding for Suzuki Sweden. Looks like he's going to have a busy weekend…

Both BMW R1200Ss are back for the Bol after their brilliant performance at Oschersleben; surely only a podium will satisfy them this time. Motors TV have entered an MV Agusta F4, Metiss JLC Moto will run as No.45 as usual, Zone Rouge have entered a Ducati 1098S and AST51 will campaign a Benelli Tre 1130.

"Mini" Cooper. Made his endurance debut with the Phase One Juniors at Vallelunga, I think.

Championship Battle

The championship battle has come down to a fight between SERT Suzuki and Team Kawasaki France. A win for Kawasaki and a DNF for Suzuki would put Kawasaki three points ahead going in to the final round. With two entries from Kawasaki and Suzuki, expect team order to come into play in the final hours of the race. Wildcard entries from Yamaha GMT94 and National Motos Honda will simply add to the mix

Weather Forecast

After last year's deluge-hit qualifying sessions, the forecast this year is looking more promising, with temperatures expected to be in the low twenties and "mostly sunny" conditions predicted for Thursday through to Sunday. There's been a bit of early morning fog this week, though, and temperatures at night could drop to 10 degrees. Race24 advice: take suncream, shorts, an umbrella and an extra jumper.

Bol d'Or 2006 - Night Practice

More from the circuit on Thursday…

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