Parkalgar Honda's Sam Lowes has bagged a front-row start for tomorrow's World Supersport race at Magny-Cours but champion-elect Chaz Davies struggled to find pace and will line up on the outiside of row two in France.
Lowes is less than two-tenths slower than poleman Broc Parkes on the Motocard Kawasaki and only just kept stablemate James Ellison behind him as the experienced Kendal man fell short of Lowes' 1'41.586 by just 0.002s and will start from fifth.
"I am happy with a front row position and more than that I am pleased with my pace over race distance. We have worked hard this weekend and we have the ability to challenge at the front. It's been a big team effort so far and I'll be doing my best to deliver Parkalgar Honda a good result," said Lowes.
Davies is the next British rider along but has title rival and team-mate Luca Scassa to worry about. The Italian is sitting in second with Massimo Roccoli next to him and Parkingo Yamaha's Davies will have to get through a lot of traffic off the line.
Step Honda's Gino Rea had a crash early in the afternoon session but re-joined to finish in 13th while temporary team-mate Martin Jessopp, usually a Ducati-mounted British Superbike man, is down in 28th.
