Lagrive on a Mission – Night Practice Times Tight...

Final Qualifying

SERT Suzuki have taken pole position for tomorrow's Qatar 8 Hour round of the Endurance FIM World Championship, setting an average lap time of 2:02.725 after a scintillating best personal time by Mattheu Lagrive of 2:01.754, more than half a second faster than anyone else. With SERT's lead rider Vincent Philippe out of this race due to injury, Lagrive appears determined to make his last race with the team one to remember.

Second place on the grid goes to Yamaha Austria on 2:03.368 after riders Jerman, Martin and Plater all lapped in the 2:03 bracket, proving themsleves one of the most consistent teams on the grid.

Kawasaki Bolliger (2:03.563) start from third place thanks to a 2:02.496 lap by Muff, and Folch Yamaha (2:03.752) fourth with close performances from Ribalta and Valcaneras.

Fifth place has gone to Yamaha Phase One Endurance (2:04.014), with Glen Richards one of only four riders to drop into the 2:02s. Maco Moto Yamaha (2:04.361) are sixth, recovering from a fall by Pridmore and engine problems yesterday, and Diablo Kawasaki (2:04.925) are sixth after new rider Simon Andrews adjusted to the British team's Kawasaki.

Wildcard British entry TSR (Jordan, Stevens) appear to have qualified after averaging 2:19.565.

Moto38 qualifying at the scenic desert circuit.

Night Practice

The times set in the two night practice sessions were much closer than in qualifying. In the second session SERT Suzuki were – apparently inevitably – two seconds faster than everyone else with a best time of 2:03.009, but behind them were six teams all lapping in the 2:05s. Yamaha LTG57, YART, Phase One, Bolliger, Folch and QERT Suzuki all recorded 2:05s in both night sessions so th erace itself looks set to be closely fought.

The race starts tomorrow at 11:00am UK time, 12:00am CET.

QERT Suzuki, night practice.

Time sheets are available here: www.ris-timing.be/~circuit//8hdoha/2008

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