Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished Free Practice 3 on top of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship timesheets by the slimmest of margins ahead of Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), with just 0.005s separating them in the final practice session of the French Round. The #1 was able to usurp the #22 in the closing stages of FP3 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours after posting a 1’35.497s.

Razgatlioglu utilised the last 5-6 minutes of the session to set his best lap time of the session – and weekend – as he posted a 1’35.550s to move almost six tenths clear of his rivals, but that came down towards the end of the 20-minute session, including being demoted to P2. ‘El Turco’ faced stiff competition for P1, primarily from Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) with the #22 setting a 1’35.502s to briefly claim P1, before Razgatlioglu went 0.005s quicker than the British rider. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) rounded out the top three, just over a tenth away from Razgatlioglu.

Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured P4 in Free Practice 3 after posting a 1’36.013s. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) was sixth in FP3 and the highest-placed rider not to improve on his best time of the weekend, suggesting he didn’t use a fresh tyre at the end of FP3. His time from Saturday morning’s session was a 1’36.030s. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) made it three Yamahas in the top six with P6 after he set a 1’36.037s; the #65 had followed Locatelli throughout most of the session.

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) enjoyed a strong Friday in France and that continued on Saturday as he finished P7. Rookie Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) had put in a 1’35.974s, good enough for P4, but lost this lap due to track limits; his best time was therefore a 1’36.298s as he finished eighth. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was back inside the top ten as he finished in ninth with Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) in tenth, hoping to have put his Friday woes behind him.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) finished in 18^th place after only getting one timed lap in. The #19 had a technical issue on his Panigale V4 R on his out lap. He got out right at the end of the session to set a 1’37.068s.

The top six from WorldSBK FP3, full results here:

1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’35.497s

2. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.005s

3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.121s

4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.516s

5. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.533s

6. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.540s

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