Suzuki Castrol rider Vincent Philippe has taken provisional pole position for tomorrow's Albacete 8 Horas Nocturnas round of the FIM World Endurance Championship. However, both Yamaha Phase One Endurance and Yamaha Austria are close behind the usually dominant French rider.

Philippe's best time for Suzuki Castrol was 1:33.548, set on qualifying tyres during the first of this afternoon's group sessions. Both Cudlin for Phase One (1/34.128) and Giabbani for Yamaha Austria (1:34.153) rode in the third groups session, when the track temperature was higher, grip was reduced, and lap times were slower.

Suzuki's Philippe expects to improve his times tomorrow: "There is more to come, for sure; we will go faster tomorrow. We have some new chassis parts that we are still adjusting, and the weather will be cooler.

The Yamaha Shell Endurance Academy junior team were 4th, just ahead of Assen podium finishers Bolliger Kawasaki and Italian Suzuki team No Limits. Aussie Paul Young has joined the Swedish Fagersjo-el.se squad for this race, lifting them to 7th and ahead of local wildcard team Folch Endurance. Two more Italian teams round out the top ten, with Yamaha X-One ninth and Ducati Spring Team no.10 in tenth place.

Final qualifying takes place tomorrow morning when temperatures will be lower, but the race will start at six in the evening, when track conditions will be similar to those we have just experienced.

Provisional Qualifying Positions