Team Suzuki blitz field to claim pole at Phillip Island 8 Hour
A dominant display from the star-studded Team Suzuki has seen them qualify on pole for Sunday’s Phillip Island 8 Hour Australian Endurance Championship, finishing top of the charts in every session on Friday and Saturday.
Sporting a talent-laden trio of 2009 ASBK Champ Josh Waters, 2011 ASBK Rookie of the Year Troy Herfoss and three-time NZ Superbike Champion Robbie Bugden the Suzuki was unrivalled during Saturday’s qualifying sessions, shaving a further half second of their already fast times in Super Qualifying.
Despite the cut-throat nature of the Top 10 Super Qualifying session, the class of the hot-favourites shone through as they finished two seconds faster than the hastily put together Cube Racing Suzuki crew of Bryan Staring, Ben Henry and Nicholas Waters.
Superstock 1000 outfit Team Cessnock bettered more fancied opponents in the 20-minute session and will start from third on the grid after holding off the advances of the Team Suzuki Supersport line-up and the Warwick Nolan-backed WNR Kawasaki team, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.
After finishing top of the charts through Friday practice Team Suzuki didn’t miss a beat through the long qualifying sessions, clocking the only sub-1:34 lap of the event to sit unchallenged at the top of the grid for Sunday’s main race.
The 2011 Phillip Island 8 Hour Australian Endurance Championship begins on tomorrow from 9.30am (AEDT) at the Phillip Island circuit.