Britain's Kyle Smith (Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) secured his first ever WorldSSP pole position after a dramatic session, in which he topped the timesheets, then fell before getting going again to improve his best lap time still further.

Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) posted a late home-town second place, splitting Smith from his team-mate Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) who was third fastest in the wet and tricky conditions.

He too fell but remained in third place after a push from fourth place rider Federico Caricasulo (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha).

Championship big hitters Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha) were fifth and sixth today.

Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) placed seventh and Cluzel’s team-mate Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha) eighth.

Isaac Vinales (Kallio Racing Yamaha) and top CBR rider Peter Sebestyen (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) rounded out the top ten in damp conditions.