World Endurance Championship leaders Suzuki Castrol will start this weekend's second-round Albacete 8 Horas in Spain with a five-point lead in the five-round series.Suzuki Endurance Racing Team riders Vincent Phillipe, Keiichi Kitagawa (pictured) and Matthieu Lagrive and their GSX-R1000K5 head Kawasaki-mounted Bolliger Team Switzerland and Diablo 666 Bolliger into the eight-hour night race that starts on Saturday at 18.00 local time.
Former World Champions Suzuki, who won the opening round at Assen in Holland on March 28th, will field Phillipe - who broke his leg in a testing accident last month - although they are unsure how the Frenchman's stamina will hold up in the tough event at the 3.5 kilometre circuit.
Event Schedule:
Friday: Free Practice (10.45-13.45). First Qualifying (16.30-18.20). Night Practice (21.30-23.10).
Saturday: Final Qualifying (09.30-11.20). Warm Up (14.30-15.15). Albacete 8 Horas Race (18.00 - 02.00).
Current Championship Points: Suzuki Castrol (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 25, 2 Bolliger Team Switzerland (Kawasaki ZX10R) 20, 3 Diablo 666 Bolliger (Kawasaki ZX10R) 16, 4 Yamaha Phase One Endurance (Yamaha YZF-R1) 13, 5 Yamaha Austria Racing Team (Yamaha YZF-R1) 11, 6 Team Fagersjo-el.se (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 10, 7 Shell Endurance Academy (Yamaha YZF-R1) 9, 8 Team X-One (Yamaha YZF-R1) 8, 9 Team RMT 21 (Kawasaki ZX10R) 7, 10 Team Suzuki Nederland (Suzuki GSX-R1000).
Source: Team Suzuki Press Office