Sylvain Guintoli set the pace in qualifying one at Magny-Cours.

Aprilia’s leading World Superbike title hope Sylvain Guintoli produced a last-gasp effort to secure provisional pole on the opening day of track activity at French circuit Magny-Cours.

The factory RSV4 pilot turned in a 1m38.709 lap to close out qualifying one, nudging points leader, Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes, from the top step.

Strategy was turned on its head for teams and riders when rain began falling moments prior to the start of the session.

In an effort to bank a time, the field immediately began circulating at speed, but a break in the weather saw the track conditions improve and the regular back-and-forth qualifying battle continue.

BMW Motorrad GoldBet’s Chaz Davies set the third-fastest time, a tiny margin ahead of Fixi crescent Suzuki’s Jules Cluzel who was fourth.

Eugene Laverty set the fifth-faster lap on his Aprilia Racing Team mount, with the top 10 completed by Davide Giugliano (Aprilia), Vincent Phillipe (Suzuki), Marco Melandri (BMW), Michel Fabrizio (Honda) and Michele Pirro (Ducati).

Sole Aussie WSBK combatant Mark Aitchison produced a solid lap to qualify in 16th place.

Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha’s Sam Lowes set the pace in the first World Supersport qualifying session, edging ever closer to his first world title.

Lowes’ 1m42.144 lap topped championship rival Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) by over four tenths of a second, though the Turkish rider was unable to push on in the closing stages when a technical problem forced him to abandon his bike and walk back to the pits.

Lorenzo Zanetti slotted his Pata Honda into third place on the timesheets ahead of Christian Iddon (MV Agusta), Vladimir Leonov (Yamaha) and Kev Coghlan (Kawasaki).

Aussie Brodie Waters rounded out the day 31st fastest after experiencing some problems on his AARK Racing entry in qualifying. He finished the earlier practice session in the mid-pack.

Kawasaki riders Jeremy Guarnoni and Alessandro Nocco led the way in Superstock 1000 and 600 qualifying respectively, with Adrian Nestorovic (STK600) the sole Aussie representative in 19th.

Today’s track activity was rounded out by European Junior Cup free practice, headed comfortably by Guillaume Raymond.

2013 FIM World Superbike Championship
Round 13 – Magny-Cours, France

Superbike qualifying:
1. Sylvain Guintoli 1m38.709
2. Tom Sykes 1m39.095
3. Chaz Davies 1m39.378
4. Jules Cluzel 1m39.380
5. Eugene Laverty 1m39.451
6. Davide Giugliano 1m39.549
7. Vincent Philippe 1m39.579
8. Marco Melandri 1m39.678
9. Michel Fabrizio 1m39.799
10. Michele Pirro 1m39.821
16. Mark Aitchison (AUS) 1m41.137

Supersport qualifying:
1. Sam Lowes 1m42.144
2. Kenan Sofuoglu 1m42.531
3. Lorenzo Zanetti 1m42.721
4. Christian Iddon 1m42.950
5. Vladimir Leonov 1m43.119
6. Kev Coghlan 1m43.189
7. Michael Vd Mark 1m43.275
8. Ronan Quarmby 1m43.348
9. Roberto Tamburini 1m43.382
10. Fabien Foret 1m43.394
31. Brodie Waters (AUS) 1m48.035

Superstock 1000 qualifying:
1. Jeremy Guarnoni 1m43.047
2. Ondrej Jezek 1m43.090
3. Niccolò Canepa 1m43.291
4. Romain Lanusse 1m44.089
5. Christoffer Bergman 1m44.109
6. Lorenzo Savadori 1m44.175
7. Matthieu Lussiana 1m44.300
8. Leandro Mercado 1m44.448
9. Axel Maurin 1m44.833
10. Sebastien Suchet 1m44.906

Superstock 600 qualifying:
1. Alessandro Nocco 1m44.706
2. Franco Morbidelli 1m45.513
3. Bastien Chesaux 1m45.669
4. Christian Gamarino 1m45.773
5. Robin Mulhauser 1m46.011
6. Niki Tuuli 1m46.414
7. Marco Nekvasil 1m46.481
8. Gauthier Duwelz 1m46.601
9. Mathieu Marchal 1m46.989
10. Dakota Mamola 1m47.144

European Junior Cup practice:
1. Guillaume Raymond 2m01.751
2. Hannes Soomer 2m02.111
3. Kevin Manfredi 2m02.189
4. Augusto Fernandez 2m02.622
5. Jake Lewis 2m02.659
6. Michael Canducci 2m02.795
7. Javier Orellana 2m02.829
8. Peter Sebestyen 2m02.869
9. Richard Bodis 2m03.279
10. Joshua Harland 2m03.491

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