The Albacete 8 Hour “Race in a Vacuum” takes place this weekend, although unless you're actually at the circuit you're unlikely to notice.

The Entry List

This race is typically the least well supported of the season, and this year there are only 21 teams entered. In 2006 the Albacete race attracted 38 entrants.

Just three “wildcard” entries will line up alongside the permanent teams at Albacete. Folch Yamaha (a permanent team last year) are back in the Formula EWC class, while in Superstock permanent team QERT are running a junior team for the second time this year and FullGas travel to Spain after finishing ninth at Oschersleben.

The Championship

Yamaha Austria hold a comfortable 28 point lead over second placed RT Racing Team, with Amadeus X One three points behind in third place.

Perhaps more remarkable is the fact that neither race this year has seen the full 15 points scoring position filled in the premier Formula EWC class. Only 11 teams scored points at Le Mans and just 13 scored at Oschersleben.

We could have entered a virtually standard bike (modified just enough to be in the Formula EWC class) at Le Mans and Oschersleben, and if we'd run round at the back of the field keeping out of trouble, we'd now be lying 14th in the FIM World Championship after two races.

Albacete will see just 13 teams start in Formula EWC and 8 start in Superstock.

The Schedule

Free practice starts on Friday morning, with first qualifying between 14:30 and 16:20, final qualifying between 18:30 and 20:20, and night practice between 22:30 and 23:30.

SuperPole is on Saturday morning at 11:00, Warm Up between14:30 and 15:15, and the start of the race is at 18:00. The race finishes at 02:00 on Sunday morning.

A round of the FIM Sidecar World Championship will also be held at the circuit, at 12:00 noon. All times are CET.