Sykes on pole in Mangy-Cours

Tissot-Superpole for the French Round was held under mixed conditions and saw Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) claiming the front spot on the grid for the 8th time this year. The Brit will be joined on the first row by title contender Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), who was able to elevate himself to second in the closing stages, and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia). By the start of the second "wet" session the track had started to dry, meaning most riders opted to use slick tyres. Times dropped considerably throughout the 20 minutes, with Sykes being the first rider to break into the 1'39s barrier with 9 minutes left, finally setting a blistering 1'38.592s in his last attempt for pole. Other Championship contender Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) finished 4th ahead of Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike) and Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare). Works BMW duo of Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies will move off – in tomorrow's two races – from the third row on the grid, along with Vincent Philippe, substitute rider for injured Leon Camier in the FIXI Crescent Suzuki Team. Both Michele Pirro (Team Ducati Alstare), tenth, and Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike), fifteenth, crashed out at Turn 12 during Superpole 1: the Italian high-sided at mid-turn, landing badly on his back with no major consequences, while Leon Haslam low-sided while entering the corner, eventually crossing on foot the track to pick up his bike and successfully make it back to the pits. Results: 1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'38.592 average 161.064 kph; 2. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1'39.397; 3. Giugliano (Aprilia) 1'39.933; 4. Laverty (Aprilia) 1'40.410; 5. Fabrizio (Honda) 1'40.864; 6. Badovini (Ducati) 1'40.926; 7. Melandri (BMW) 1'41.361; 8. Davies (BMW) 1'41.375; 9. Philippe (Suzuki) 1'47.691; 10. Pirro (Ducati); 11. Elias (Aprilia); 12. Cluzel (Suzuki); 13. Salom (Kawasaki); 14. Lanzi (Ducati); 15. Haslam (Honda).