The 2004 champ was never headed during the session as he gradually worked his lap time down to 1min 40.718secs. He has put the difficulties of last weekend at Vallelunga behind him, where a crash in race two severely hit his points lead.

Second fastest was Michel Fabrizio on the DFX Treme Honda who jumped up the time sheets at the close of the session. The talented young Italian will partner Troy Bayliss next year on the Xerox Ducati and it was his future team-mate that he relegated to third place. Bayliss is still hungry for race wins and wants to end the 999's career on a high before the 1098 takes over next year.

In fourth place was the man who will be replaced by Fabrizio, Lorenzo Lanzi who was just ahead of Max Neukirchner. Yukio Kagayama won't be racing this weekend as he is still suffering from the injuries he picked up at the Eurospeedway when he high sided and broke a bone in his right hand while also damaging his right knee. He is being replaced by Neukirchner who managed to run in third for part of the session. The young German rider took part in the Bol D'Or endurance race a few weeks ago and is putting that track experience to good use.

Noriyuki Haga on the Yamaha Italia machine is keen to spoil Toseland's party by chasing him all the way to the title in both races this weekend. He has said that it will come down to who wants it most and who has the best set-up, he finished free practice in sixth place.

PSG-1 Kawasaki's Fonsi Nieto who hasn't re-signed with the team, was running in seventh and is hoping to repay his team for all their work this year with two top ten finishes.

Haga's team-mate Troy Corser who had a weekend to forget at Vallelunga was in eighth place. He is still to claim a race win for his new team and as this is his last chance to do it he will be all out for a win.

Spanish rider, Ruben Xaus took ninth on his Sterilgarda Ducati and Regis Laconi completed the top ten on his green machine.

Max Biaggi, Toseland's nearest title rival, made a slow start to the weekend in 13th.


WSBK free practice times (1) – Magny-Cours:

1. James Toseland
2. Michel Fabrizio
3. Troy Bayliss
4. Lorenzo Lanzi
5. Max Neukirchner
6. Noriyuki Haga
7. Fonsi Nieto
8. Troy Corser
9. Ruben Xaus
10. Regis Laconi