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29/09/2005: "Suzuki win world endurance title"

Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, Suzuki Castrol has taken victory in the final round of the World Endurance Championship at Vallelunga in Italy after 79 laps and 200 miles.

World Endurance Champions Keiichi Kitagawa and Matthieu Lagrive competed without team mate Vincent Philippe - who was injured yesterday - and led from the third lap to beat Yamaha Phase One Endurance by almost one-and-a-half minutes. The British-based team were the only team to finish the race on the same lap as French-run Suzuki Castrol.

Yamaha Austria's team of Igor Jerman and Thomas Hinterreiter finished in third place after a final-session battle with Phase One. The two teams had been trading places after every fuel stop but Nowland caught and passed the Austrians with only eight laps to go.

Said Kitagawa: "Except for Suzuka, we have won all the races so overall I am very comfortable with this season. I wanted to win at Suzuka as well of course, but I am very happy with this result."

RESULTS:

1 Suzuki Castrol - FRA - (Suzuki GSX-R1000) - Philippe, Kagayama, Lagrive - 79 laps. 2 Yamaha Phase One Endurance - GBR - (Yamaha YZF-R1) - Nowland, Cudlin +1:29.236. 3 Yamaha Austria - AUT - (Yamaha YZF-R1) - Jerman, Hinterreiter -1lap. 4 Kawasaki Bolliger - SUI - (Kawasaki ZX10R) - Kellenberger, Morillon -1 lap. 5 Ducati Spring Team - ITA - (Ducati 999) - Colombo, Mauri, Gennari -2 laps.

6 Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se - SWE - (Suzuki GSX-R1000) - Notman, Carlbark -2 laps. 6 Shell Endurance Academy - GBR - (Yamaha ZF-R1) - Hogan, Rohtlaan, Wylie -2 laps. 8 Yamaha X-One - ITA - (Yamaha YZF-R1) - Tessari, Ricci, Clementini - 2 laps. 9 Suzuki No Limits & RT - ITA - (Yamaha YZF-R1) - Ruozi, Giachino, Codeluppi -3 laps. 10 Kawasaki RMT21 - GER - (Kawasaki ZX10R) - Fluckiger, Roth, Wildisen - 3 laps.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.co.uk)