Foggy conditions delayed the session which the Honda pair dominated, taking it in turns to lead. Challenging the former World Champion and the newly crowned Champion was SSP Yamaha's Broc Parkes. The Australian rider is hoping to finish his season on a high following an injury hit mid season. He took consecutive wins at Brands Hatch and Lausitz, but unfortunately his luck was out at Vallelunga where he finished in fourth place.
Spanish rider David Salom on the Yamaha Spain machine put in a late charge to jump up the time sheets to fourth place. Massimo Roccoli on the Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha also left it late to post his best time and finished in fifth place.
Tommy Hill put his Superbike riding skills to the back of his mind and concentrated on his Supersport technique to claim sixth place. He felt that during first qualifying that he was pushing too hard and riding the 600 like he would ride a Superbike.
Vazy Racing's Gregory Leblanc put in a good performance at his home track to finish in seventh place ahead of British rider Craig Jones. First qualifying didn't go to plan for Jones as he had a problem with his number one machine, he is hoping to rectify that in second qualifying.
Gianluca Vizziello on the SC Caracchi Ducati took ninth ahead of last time podium finisher Joan Lascorz. The Spanish rider suffered a high speed off early in the session sliding spectacularly down the side of the super fast track.
WSS free practice times (2) – Magny-Cours:1. Sebastien Charpentier
2. Kenan Sofuoglu
3. Broc Parkes
4. David Salom
5. Massimo Roccoli
6. Tommy Hill
7. Gregory Leblanc
8. Craig Jones
9. Gianluca Vizziello
10. Joan Lascorz