YART–Yamaha dominated the second qualifying session and took top spot on the starting grid of the 12 Hours of Estoril ahead of BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul. The quickest Superstock, BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers, is 9th on the starting grid.

YART were very strong this morning in the second qualifying session. Karel Hanika beat the record set in qualifying by Markus Reiterberger in 2020. The factory Yamaha’s Czech rider completed an impressive 1’37.674 fastest lap just ahead of his teammate Marvin Fritz with a 1’37.857. They were the only two riders to come in under the 1’38 mark in these sessions.

The average of the team’s three fastest times saw YART–Yamaha Official EWC Team dominate with nearly a one-second lead over BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France will start from 4th ahead of Tati Team Beringer Racing, who are among the leaders despite the absence of Alan Techer, and VRD Igol Experiences. The latter two, both independent teams, are ahead of two factory teams, ERC Endurance-Ducati and Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar.

In Superstock, a Kawasaki led the field. The first in class on the starting grid, BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers, will start from 9th position tomorrow (Saturday) ahead of Moto Ain, who held back by crashes. Other rivals for the Superstock win who are well placed on the grid are Team 33 Louit April Moto, Wójcik Racing Team and National Motos.

Following crashes in practice yesterday (Thursday), two riders have had to withdraw due to injuries. Dominik Vincon will be replaced by Nigel Walraven in the saddle of Team LRP Poland’s BMW. As for Players, Axel Aynié and Arnaud de Kimpe will have to run the 12-hour race as a twosome in the absence of Matthieu Thibault.

Estoril 12-Hours combined qualifying

1 7 YART - Yamaha Official Team EWC CANEPA Niccolò * FRITZ Marvin HANIKA Karel Yamaha EWC 1:38.278 1:37.857 1:37.674 1:37.936 -
2 37 BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM FORES Javier * REITERBERGER Markus FORAY Kenny BMW EWC 1:38.502 1:38.455 1:39.363 1:38.773 0.837
3 1 YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL BLACK Gregg * SIMEON Xavier GUINTOLI Sylvain Suzuki EWC 1:39.295 1:38.738 1:38.434 1:38.822 0.886
4 5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France HOOK Josh * TAKAHASHI Yuki DI MEGLIO Mike Honda EWC 1:39.848 1:39.209 1:38.870 1:39.309 1.373
5 4 TATI TEAM BERINGER RACING SUCHET Sébastien * BERCHET Morgan SUCHET Valentin Kawasaki EWC 1:39.650 1:39.408 1:39.929 1:39.662 1.726
6 333 VRD IGOL EXPÉRIENCES ALT Florian * MARINO Florian TEROL Nicolas Yamaha EWC 1:39.954 1:39.555 1:39.535 1:39.681 1.745
7 6 ERC Endurance Ducati GINES Mathieu * ROSSI Louis MASSON Etienne Ducati EWC 1:40.048 1:39.652 1:39.669 1:39.789 1.853
8 11 WEBIKE SRC KAWASAKI FRANCE TRICKSTAR GUARNONI Jérémy * NIGON Erwan CHECA David Kawasaki EWC 1:39.668 1:39.561 1:40.290 1:39.839 1.903
9 24 BMRT 3D MAXXESS NEVERS HARDT Jonathan * PILOT Julien CRESSON Loris Kawasaki SST 1:41.867 1:41.021 1:40.238 1:41.042 3.106
10 96 MOTO AIN DE PUNIET Randy * MULHAUSER Robin ROLFO Roberto Yamaha EWC 1:40.320 1:41.032 1:41.870 1:41.074 3.138
11 33 TEAM 33 LOUIT APRIL MOTO GAMARINO Christian * PEROLARI Corentin VITALI Luca Kawasaki SST 1:40.954 1:40.977 1:41.619 1:41.183 3.247
12 777 Wójcik Racing Team 2 SZKOPEK Marek * BERGMAN Christoffer MANFREDI Kevin Yamaha SST 1:42.257 1:40.692 1:40.630 1:41.193 3.257
13 55 National Motos EGEA Stéphane * ANTIGA Guillaume BOULOM Enzo Honda SST 1:41.756 1:41.048 1:40.895 1:41.233 3.297
14 90 Team LRP Poland WALRAVEN Nigel * KERSCHBAUMER Stefan GRADINGER Thomas BMW EWC 1:42.302 1:39.977 1:41.479 1:41.252 3.316
15 77 Wójcik Racing Team REA Gino * LAVERTY Michael FILLA Michal Yamaha EWC 1:40.721 1:41.655 1:41.864 1:41.413 3.477
16 41 RAC41-CHROMEBURNER FASTRÉ Grégory * TESSELS Wayne LEESCH Chris Honda SST 1:42.097 1:41.472 1:41.024 1:41.531 3.595
17 8 Team Bolliger Switzerland #8 BÜHN Jan * PELLIJEFF Jesper BRENNER Marcel Kawasaki EWC 1:41.980 1:42.673 1:40.444 1:41.699 3.763
18 18 TEAM 18 SAPEURS POMPIERS CMS MOTOST… CLERE Hugo * NIGON Johan LUSSIANA Matthieu Yamaha SST 1:41.264 1:42.234 1:41.968 1:41.822 3.886
19 101 Team Aviobike BAGGI Giovanni * BOSCOSCURO Andrea COCCO Francesco Yamaha SST 1:41.828 1:41.818 1:42.186 1:41.944 4.008
20 44 No Limits Motor Team MASBOU Alexis * CALIA Kevin SCASSA Luca Suzuki SST 1:42.107 1:42.668 1:41.692 1:42.155 4.219
21 36 3ART BEST OF BIKE ESCUDIER Nicolas * RENAUDIN Martin RIZZA Ludovic Yamaha EWC 1:42.358 1:42.336 1:43.186 1:42.626 4.690
22 86 PITLANE ENDURANCE 86 PELLIZOTTI Maxim * SARRABAYROUSE Alex PARASSOL Adrian Yamaha SST 1:41.895 1:43.172 1:43.231 1:42.766 4.830
23 34 JMA MOTOS ACTION BIKE BONNET Julien * CUDEVILLE Maxime CARRILLO Cyril Suzuki SST 1:43.064 1:43.260 1:42.731 1:43.018 5.082
24 119 Slider Endurance CORTOT Charles * DILLER Charles BUISSON Dylan Yamaha SST 1:43.010 1:42.486 1:43.987 1:43.161 5.225
25 91 ENERGIE ENDURANCE 91 NAPOLI Christian * ROUSSANGE Noel CHOY Martin Kawasaki SST 1:42.855 1:43.070 1:44.012 1:43.312 5.376
26 121 FALCON RACING CHEVALIER David * EISEN Theo MILLET Loic Yamaha SST 1:44.174 1:43.696 1:43.858 1:43.909 5.973
27 31 British Endurance Racing Team RAILTON Jonathan * AKROYD Joseph WIGLEY Kurt Suzuki SST 1:44.091 1:43.875 1:44.138 1:44.034 6.098
28 65 Motobox Kremer Racing #65 DEHAYE Geoffroy * STRÖHLEIN Stefan JACOB Kevin Yamaha EWC 1:43.884 1:44.752 1:44.444 1:44.360 6.424
29 27 TRT27 BAZAR 2 LA BECANE GIRARDET Hugo * NAPOLI Federico STOLTZ Regis Suzuki SST 1:44.588 1:44.208 1:45.022 1:44.606 6.670
30 156 PLAYERS AYNIE Axel DE KIMPE Arnaud Kawasaki SST - 1:44.609 1:45.765 1:45.187 7.251