Noriyuki Haga held onto pole position heading into this afternoon's Superpole as damp conditions at Magny-Cours prevented anyone notable from making any improvements on their time.

Although the lap times from provisional qualifying proved almost three seconds down on James Toseland's record, they were still good enough to stand as riders struggled to find confidence on the dry-wet surface.

The weather was sunny as the riders descended onto the circuit, but with track temperature reaching just five degrees, the track never dried fully.

Although the riders got close to their times in the latter stages after finding around ten seconds as the session progressed, only Regis Laconi and Ivan Silva managed to post an improvement. Even then, Laconi would remain 21st, while Silva would move up one place from last.

As such, the provisional Superpole positions from yesterday stand today, meaning all the favourites have made it through comfortably.

Haga will go last, despite not even setting a time in Qualifying 2. He will follow Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa, Fonsi Nieto and Troy Corser.

Roberto Rolfo and Lorenzo Lanzi reach Superpole for the second race in a row in sixth and seventh, while Ruben Xaus, Yukio Kagayama and Max Naukirchner were all comfortably through as well.

Home favourites Yamaha France will be thrilled to see both David Checa and Sebastian Gimbert make it through easily, while Max Biaggi, Kenan Sofuoglu, Michel Fabrizio and Gregorio Lavilla will be pleased that no late improvements were able to bump them down either.

Despite his improvement, Laconi joins Kawasaki team-mate Makoto Tamada in missing Superpole, as does Ten Kate substitute Martin Bauer in 17th, Karl Muggeridge in 18th and Jakub Smrz in a very lowly 26th.