Suzuki’s Jules Cluzel claimed fourth on the timing, with temporary teammate Vincent Phillippe a respectable seventh – the multiple World Endurance champ filling in for the injured Leon Camier. The GSX-Rs bookend Aprilia riders Eugene Laverty and Davide Giugliano, who placed fifth and sixth. 

Laverty sits second in the points, the Irishman trailing Sykes by 23 after rebounding with three SBK wins in the past four races. The man rumored to be replacing him on the Aprilia next year, Marco Melandri, was eighth-fastest on the day aboard his BMW S1000RR. 

Rain touched the track before the first qualifying session but did not worsen. The points leading Sykes and Guintoli, who trails the English rider by 24, are both adept in wet track conditions – each notching some of their first SBK wins in the rain. It’s an attribute that may come in handy, with precipitation in the forecast throughout the weekend. 

2013 World Superbike Magny-Cours Friday Results: 
1. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 1'38.709 
2. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'39.095 
3. Chaz Davies (BMW) 1'39.378 
4. Jules Cluzel (Suzuki) 1'39.380 
5. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) 1'39.451 
6. Davide Giugliano (Aprilia) 1'39.549 
7. Vincent Philippe (Suzuki) 1'39.579 
8. Marco Melandri (BMW) 1'39.678 
9. Michel Fabrizio (Honda) 1'39.799 
10. Michele Pirro (Ducati) 1'39.821 
11. David Salom (Kawasaki) 1'40.085 
12. Leon Haslam (Honda) 1'40.202 
13. Ayrton Badovini (Ducati) 1'40.263 
14. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) 1'40.352 
15. Toni Elias (Aprilia) 1'40.483 
16. Mark Aitchison (Kawasaki) 1'41.137 
17. Federico Sandi (Kawasaki) 1'41.281 
18. Fabrizio Lai (Ducati) 1'42.474 
19. Vittorio Iannuzzo (BMW) 1'43.180