Michael van der Mark (Yamaha) overcame the pace of long time fastest man in Friday qualifying, Jonathan Rea, to lead the timesheets by just 0.008 seconds.
The Dutch rider, his form on the upswing in recent races, then suffered a massive highside crash exiting the final corner on the next lap, and was still being attended by medical start after a red flag came out to end the session only slightly early.
With Rea second championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third, and rookie rider – albeit WorldSSP Champion - Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha) fourth.
Alex Lowes (Yamaha) was fifth, another rider like Rea relying on his morning session best time, with Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) moving up to sixth.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team Ducati) was seventh at home, and factory rider Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) eighth.
Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha) and slow-speed crasher Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team) competed the top ten.
Wildcard rider Michele Pirro (Barni Racing Ducati) crashed in each Friday session and finished 12th overall.
