Ducati's Andrea Iannone set the quickest time in third practice for the French Grand Prix, partly in thanks to a tow from Jorge Lorenzo down the straight, to post a 1m32.528s.
The Italian finished ahead of Lorenzo by the smallest of margins, with just 0.005s separating the pair, ahead of Yamaha Tech 3 rider Pol Espargaro.
Honda's Marc Marquez was fourth with Suzuki rider Maverick Viñales in fifth. Both riders were under three tenths from Lorenzo’s best time, the battle for pole position is sure to be fierce as the new Michelin tyres are helping to tighten the field.
Valentino Rossi saw some of the biggest improvements during the first half of the session, cutting eighth tenths off his FP2 time, though the Spain winner could only manage seventh, almost half a second down on Iannone.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) all secured safe passage to Q2 by ending in the top ten.
Aleix Espargaro lost the front of his GSX-RR going into Turn 14, sliding off before pushing his bike back to the pits. He will be forced to go through Q1 with the likes of Scott Redding and the returning Danilo Petrucci as they ended outside the top ten on combined times.
Tito Rabat fell midway through the session at Turn 3 but was unharmed.
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