Favourites refine their strengths

As if to remind its rivals of its intention to do pitched battle to win the world title, F.C.C. TSR Honda, which will start the race from fourth place on the grid this afternoon, set the fastest time of the warm-up with a 1’27.198 lap, ahead of YART Yamaha Official EWC Team. The Austrian team meanwhile has consolidated its status as the favourite to win by strengthening its team. After the loss of Bradley Smith, who was injured during free practice, YART Yamaha Official EWC Team has got Sheridan Morais (previously in the saddle of YART-supported Team Rabid Transit’s Yamaha) on board. A fast rider (he lapped 1’26.400 in qualifying), Sheridan Morais will ride alongside Broc Parkes and Marvin Fritz in a bid to take the Yamaha #7 to the top step on the podium.

GMT94 Yamaha too stands a very good chance of winning. The French factory-backed Yamaha team won the Oschersleben 8 Hours last year. In second place on the starting grid, David Checa, Niccolò Canepa and Lucas Mahias firmly intend to repeat that win this year, not least because they’re also in the running for the world title. The duel between GMT94 Yamaha and Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (in third spot on the starting grid) continued at this morning’s warm-up.

Völpker NRT48 Schubert Motors has also reinforced its team to improve its chances of winning. The Oschersleben-based German team on BMW is the current FIM EWC Superstock World Cup standings leader, and the favourite to win, having posted the best time of the Superstock class in qualifying. Völpker NRT48 Schubert Motors has hired Matthieu Lussiana, previously on the Penz13.com BMW Motorrad’s BMW, to stand in for Dominik Vincon, who suffered an injury in qualifying yesterday.

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