Honda Endurance Racing takes provisional pole in Slovakia

Despite the rain, Honda Endurance Racing greatly impressed during the first qualifying on the Slovakia Ring. The British Honda squad placed ahead of the Japanese Honda team F.C.C. TSR Honda France and 2018 race winners YART Yamaha on the provisional grid.

It rained non-stop through all three sessions of the first qualifying on the Slovakia Ring. Honda Endurance Racing were in control throughout despite a treacherous track. In the saddle of the Honda #111, Sébastien Gimbert and Yonny Hernandez both set laps under 2:18 to dominate their sessions. The average of the best lap time of Honda Endurance racing’s three riders secured them the provisional pole at the 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring.

Another two riders came in under the 2:19 mark. Mike Di Meglio’s time helped F.C.C. TSR Honda France get to 2nd place on the provisional grid, while Niccolò Canepa’s enabled YART Yamaha to secure 3rd place ahead of Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and Fany Gastro BMW Motorrad by Mercury Racing.

Team 33 Coyote Louit Moto and Wójcik Racing Team 2 are the two highest-placed teams in in the Superstock class.

A few high-profile teams are missing from the top positions. Team SRC Kawasaki France, Superstock favourite GERT56 by GS Yuasa were very cautious in the first qualifying, as were Team ERC-BMW Motorrad Endurance. Following a crash during free practice, the German team admitted they had opted to keep feeling their way and are pinning all their hopes on the second qualifying.

The second qualifying session will get underway at 5.20pm, with clearer skies expected in the late afternoon.