A real competition before the race itself, these qualifying practice sessions have set the tone for the fifth round of the QMMF Endurance FIM World Championship. The 71st Bol d'Or will host the inevitable confrontation between the two 2007 world title candidates, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and Team Kawasaki France.
 
As testing began, the teams were on the hunt for the best lap at Magny Cours. The Suzuki no.1 ridden by Vincent Philippe, Matthieu Lagrive and Julien Da Costa will take first place on the grid tomorrow with an average time of 1' 41.478. Vincent Philippe achieved fasted lap time overall with 1' 41.118.
 
Second on the grid, Team Kawasaki France no.11 ridden by Steve Plater, Gwen Giabbani and Julian Mazuecos achieved an average time of 1' 41.662, improving by almost a second on their time in first testing. Gwen Giabbani clocked second best time with 1' 41.210. Julian Mazuecos, whose aggressive riding is less suited to the Magny Cours circuit profile was also successful in improving on his previous times.
 
The third machine to qualify under the time of 1' 42 was the Suzuki n°2 ridden by William Costes, Guillaume Dietrich and Max Neukirchner. Both Suzuki's official times clear the way for SERT to achieve their goal, winning the 2007 QMMF Endurance FIM World Championship.

Having underachieved during yesterday's test, Yamaha GMT 94 today put things back in order. David Checa, Sebastien Gimbert and Olivier Four clocked a time of 1' 42.167, enabling them to take fourth place on the grid. They will precede Kawasaki 's official 111 ridden by Erwan Nigon, Hugo Marchand and Damian Cudlin who's time was brought down by Cudlin who rode a bit slower than his fellow team-mates.
 
The Kawasaki 111 is followed by Yamaha Austria Racing Team of Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Sebastien Scarnato who will set off in sixth position on the grid. The astonishing Suzuki Superstock team, Junior Team LMS fronted by Freddy Foray, Emeric Jonchière and Anthony Delhalle succeeded in taking seventh position in the middle of a bunch of Superbike machines. They will precede the Kawasaki Bolliger Switzerland of David Morillon, Patric Muff and Horst Saiger.
 
A number of teams expected to be among the top positions failed to confirm. Yamaha Phase One Endurance has been delayed by gear box problems, Yamaha Power 113 have had problems with rider falls and are waiting to confirm which tyres they will race with, whilst Honda National Motos have had problems with frame adjustments. On the other side, MV Agusta Motors TV will begin in a good fifteenth place.
 
The warm-up tomorrow beginning at 10.00am will be the last opportunity to make adjustments. The 71st Bol d'Or will start at 3.00pm.