Suzuki has clinched the 2008 World Endurance Championship at the penultimate round, the Bol d'Or in France yesterday afternoon.

Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) riders Vincent Philippe, Mathieu Lagrive and Julien Da Costa raced their GSX-R1000 to their fourth consecutive title by leading from start to finish in the fifth-round 24-hour event to beat SERT's second team by six laps.

The World Champions recorded 747 laps with SERT 2 riders William Costes, Guillaume Dietrich and Olivier Four on 741. Third position went to Yamaha Austria Racing team with 738 laps and fourth, Team Kawasaki France on 733.

Suzuki's Superstock-class team Junior Team Suzuki LMS finished in eighth position ahead of many of the permanent teams, with 722 laps.

The final round will take place at Qatar on November 8th.

Provisional Results: 1 SERT (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 747 laps, 2 SERT 2 (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 741, 3 Yamaha Austria Racing Team (Yamaha) 738, 4 Team Kawasaki France (Kawasaki) 733, 5 Phase One Endurance (Yamaha) 732, 6 Yamaha GMT 94 (Yamaha) 731, 7 Yamaha Folch Endurance (Yamaha) 725, 8 Junior Team Suzuki LMS (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 722, 9 Bolliger Team Switzerland (Kawasaki) 721, 10 RMT 21 Racing (Honda) 720.