Big Names AWOL – Race on Saturday...

The 2008 World Endurance Championship comes to an end this weekend with the Qatar 8 Hour race at the Doha/Losail circuit. The race takes place on Saturday 8th November (not Sunday!) with practice and qualifying on Thursday and Friday. Probably. Information from the circuit is somewhat sparse at the moment.

There is an official page on the QMMF (Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation) website at www.qmmf.com/templates/controls/qmmf_menu1.aspx?MenuID=1684 and when we find more, we'll let you know.

An early copy of the entry list has been leaked to us. Twenty five teams have been entered, including the perennial Sapeurs Pompiers French Fire Brigade team and a handful of local Qatari Superstock entrants.

As previously reported, Yamaha Austria will run a second team, with riders Kemmer, Schuch and George taken from the Austrian YZF-R6 Cup.

Yamaha Phase One will will field Glenn Richards and Scott Smart alongside team regular Damian Cudlin. His younger brother, Diablo 666's Alex Cudlin, was recently injured and we still don't know who will replace him in the British Kawasaki team.

Also out of the running is SERT Suzuki's Vincent Philippe, whose place will be taken by Guillaume Dietrich. He will ride alongside Mattheiu Lagrive and Julien Da Costa. With Lagrive apparently moving up to a Honda WSS ride in 2009, Dietrich will have an eye on a permanent seat with SERT next year.

Another rider with a sick note is Maco Moto's Warwick Nowland; we are still awaiting details of their final line up.

Yamaha Austria, Yamaha Phase One and Bolliger Kawasaki will be going all out for a win this weekend. With SERT's star turn out of action, Kawasaki France absent without leave and the championship already decided, this race will offer the other leading teams a chance to snatch some glory.