Max Biaggi is confident he can prove a thorn in the side of the World Superbike title contenders after qualifying on the front row of the grid at Magny-Cours.

The Italian has made linear progress on the Aprilia RSV-4 over the course of the weekend, culminating in him reaching the Superpole shootout before putting in a lap time good enough for fourth on the grid.

An impressive performance on a circuit unknown to the Aprilia team prior to the event, Biaggi is looking to build on his Imola showing by once again taking on Yamaha, Ducati and Honda for race victory.

"It was a good performance and we are quite happy with the result,” he said. “We have made a nice improvement from yesterday and today was a real improvement with the pace.

“The Aprilia is working better than before so now we are almost set up where we should be and tomorrow we are in the race for the win."

Biaggi's new team-mate, Leon Camier, qualified 16th on his debut qualifying outing aboard the RSV-4.