In tricky wet conditions at the French Round Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) took pole in a dramatic Tissot Superpole 2 session despite a crash early in the 15-minute shootout.

The World Champion - who could wrap up an unprecedented third successive title today – qualified an impressive 1.203s ahead of the second quickest rider in SP2, Leandro Mercado (IODARacing), with the front being completed by the tough Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) on his comeback from injury.

Rea went down in the French rain as the qualifying session commenced but recovered well to grab pole position for his title assault in Race 1.

Behind the front row qualifiers Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team), Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Davide Guigliano (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) will all feature on the second row.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) all line up on row 3, with Davies suffering a light crash in the session and Laverty going down twice in the difficult conditions at the 4.411km Magny-Cours circuit.

Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) will get away from row 4, after crashes for Italian pair Savadori and Melandri in SP2.

There were also crashes for Anthony West (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) and Roman Ramos (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) in the earlier SP1 session which saw Mercado and Giugliano graduate to SP2.

None of the riders sustained any serious injury despite the number of crashes on the slippery wet surface.

Returning from injury following a monster crash last time out in Portugal, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was able to secure a top ten finish in the opening day’s action at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.

Happy with the pace he was able to set on used tyres, the British rider is greatful to be able to return to the track action and keep up with his team-mate’s pace in France.

With sunny conditions greeting the riders for day one of the Pirelli French Round, Sykes was able to get some strong lap times with his race pace. Thanking his team for the set-up they have secured for him on the ZX-10RR, Sykes is hopeful ahead of Saturday despite the threat of rain.

Setting a lap time of 1.38.21, Sykes explains: “My hand has felt better but during the session we were second on race set up and used tyres, we tried some set up changes and to make myself more comfortable on the bike for the race set up and we only lost ground in the last few minutes to people who put new tyres on, I’m happy to be in the top ten."

"I’ve surprised myself, I’m only one tenth from Jonathan at the moment, of course I’m riding with a lot of pain but I need to thank all the doctors and physiotherapists who have been working on me"

"Thanks to my team for making me comfortable on the bike, sure it’s not perfect but we’re here and I’m very lucky to be doing what I’m doing. I’m enjoying it and tomorrow we will be able to be more sure of the pace." He added

With just three rounds remaining of the World Superbike Championship, Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) has taken the decision to sit out of the final two races as he recovers from a wrist operation.

Suffering from a crash in race one in Round 10 at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, the German was forced to sit out of the remainder of the weekend and returned home to undergo surgery on his right wrist, following a big highside.

With a with a torn scaphulonate ligament, the 27 year old faces a seven week recovery period, meaning the German will focus on his recovery. Disappointed to miss out on the final rounds of the season, Bradl will be supporting his Honda team from home.

“Obviously it’s quite a difficult time for me,” begins Bradl. “As it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be able to race for the rest of the season."

"I have to stay positive, though, and try to do everything needed to make sure that my hand and wrist are fully healed. Rest is now priority number one for the healing process."

"Luck hasn’t been on our side this year, but I couldn’t imagine that the consequences of my crash in Portimão were going to be so severe. I want to thank everybody who worked with me this year: it hasn’t been an easy one, not only from the sporting side but also for the tragedy we all had to endure early on. There’s not much I can do right now, but I will follow the races on TV and support the team from here.”

Marco Chini, WorldSBK Operations Manager added: “First of all, we want to with Stefan a speedy and full recovery, because that’s the most important thing. We felt things were going in the right direction at Portimão and we enjoyed seeing him improve his feeling and his speed on board the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, so that’s a real pity that we cannot have his talent by our side in the remaining rounds of the season."

"Jerez and Losail were two tracks he knew well, so we were looking forward to seeing him perform there. We will follow his recovery as we head into the last leg of the season."

As the flag was waved for free practise two at the Pirelli French Round, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) ended the opening day at the top of the timing sheets, with a lap time almost half a second faster than the rest of the field.

With the opportunity of Rea making history on Saturday, as he could become the first rider to ever take three back to back World Superbike Championships, he is remaining focused on the race with the weather also on his mind.

All Rea has to do is win the race tomorrow and he will have taken the title, and he is feeling comfortable with both his race pace and outright lap speed onboard his ZX-10RR.

However, as the weather forecast is showing a chance of rain the 31 year old has declared he must be ready to take whatever the French circuit of Magny-Cours throws at him. Rea’s time of 1.37.489 was able comfortably secure him the fastest time of the opening day in France.

“We just put the package together and the bike is working really well,” begins Rea. “We just need to decide how to hold the tyres Pirelli have brought here, we just need to decide which one we’re going to run tomorrow, we have a good idea."

"This morning we used the hard tyre and we can be really fast with that one, but this afternoon the temperature rose quite a lot and our bike character changed."

"I’m feeling good for the race distance and for the one lap attack, the tyre they brought here looks pretty good so let’s see tomorrow." He added

"The weather forecast looks variable, but whatever happens we will have to be ready because tomorrow is the first opportunity we have to mathematically win this championship and that’s an exciting prospect for me but the target is to focus on the race and do the best that we can.”