Crocked BMW World Superbike star Marco Melandri used his last run of laps after a red flag to pip Kawasaki's Tom Sykes for top spot in this morning's second qualifying period at Magny-Cours.
The Italian, who is riding with cracked ribs, went top with only a minute left to run, lapping at 1'38.152 compared to Sykes' time from yesterday which was 0.048s slower. The Huddersfield man didn't manage to go quicker today, posting a 1'38.628 as his best.
Reigning champion Carlos Checa was marginally faster with a 1'38.565 but is a little over four-tenths of a second off the pace while Honda's Jonathan Rea has found the thick end of half a second overnight to end the session in fourth after a scrap for the position with world champion-elect Max Biaggi.
Pata Ducati's Sylvain Guintoli also located a huge chunk of pace compared to yesterday, leaping up to sixth on the timesheet with his 1'38.682, enough to head former team-mate Leon Haslam who is riding with a sore hand (click here). The Derbyshire man is only 0.017s behind Guintoli.
Davide Guigliano was eighth ahead of an improving Loris Baz, who was a second quicker today, while Eugene Laverty rounded out the top ten. The Irishman was quick yesterday on old tyres but can't seem to find pace out of the box on a new Pirelli. Worrying for Superpole later on today.
Michel Fabrizio finished 11th ahead of WSBK debut man Claudio Corti while Leon Camier and Chaz Davies were next in line. Like yesterday morning, Davies spent a lot time in the pits but this time it was due to an early crash at the last chicane. He got out after the Lundh-induced stoppage to post a 1'39.053.
