Kawasaki SRC will be the team to beat here at the Bol d'Or. The squad managed by Gilles Stafler has recruited Randy de Puniet in a bid to conquer the top step of the podium yet again. The MotoGP rider has joined forces with Gregory Leblanc and Fabien Foret to form a high-powered trio with everything it takes to steer the team to victory. 
After the first leg of qualifying on a dry track yesterday (Thursday), the SRC riders’ combined best times put them 3rd in the standings. Fabien Foret was the fastest of the three with a lap time of 1.58.978, while Gregory Leblanc featured only slightly lower on the timesheet after clocking a best lap of 1.59.263. Randy de Puniet first tested the endurance waters in 2014, finishing second at the Suzuka 8 Hours that year. But this will be his first time on the starting grid of a 24-hour race. He has fearlessly taken up the new challenge, quickly finding his bearings on the Kawasaki ZX-10R to post a 1.59.782 lap in the first leg of official tests.
The team’s position remained unchanged after the second qualifying this morning. Like the managers of most other top teams, Gilles Stafler was loath to have his riders take any risks on a track soaked by an entire night of heavy showers.
The Bol d’Or grid positions have now been determined, and the Kawasaki #11 will start from 3rd place at 3pm tomorrow – in brilliant sunshine, if the forecast holds.