Bol d'Or a go in Magny-Cours

This morning’s warm-up sessions for the Bol d’Or took place under an overcast sky with a chilly wind. The 51 crews went out on to the track for a few last laps and made their final adjustments before the start of this first leg of the FIM Endurance World Championship. The four fastest official motorcycles, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube, BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent and SRC Kawasaki, logically clocked up the fastest times in the warm-up, just ahead of Team R2CL with Guillaume Dietrich, Gwen Giabbani and Dylan Buisson, tenth on the grid and a machine to watch.

Monster Energy Yamaha YART, with a crew rejigged at the last minute, is in seventh. On the Austrian Yamaha, Sheridan Morais is replacing an injured Josh Waters in the company of Igor Jerman and Broc Parkes.

There was also a change of riders at National Motos. The French Honda has recruited Michael Rutter, released by the Brits of Honda TT Legends, to replace Thomas Metro, whose shoulder was hurting since his crash in free practice. National Motos will be starting in sixth position just behind Junior Team Suzuki LMS, best Superstock coming out of the practice.

Honda TT Legends will be starting in 12th on the grid but that is no reflection of the crew’s performances. Michael Dunlop, as fourth rider during the practice (and whose time did not count for the grid) was actually the fastest on the English Honda. He was therefore chosen to ride over Michael Rutter.

As the start approaches, all eyes are on the lowering sky as the weather forecast is for possible showers mid-day. The start will be given at 15 h 00.

Follow the race today from 15 h (GMT +2) on http://www.fim-live.com with LIVE TIMING tweets and pics.

.