Johann Zarco stormed to a home MotoGP pole position at Le Mans with a new lap record, holding on to top spot despite a late charge from championship leader Marc Marquez.
Tech3 rider Zarco energised the home crowd by setting the benchmark pace in the opening stages of Q2 with a 1:32.082s, though was deposed moments later by Marquez with a 1:31.893s.
Q1 pacesetter Danilo Petrucci shot to the top of the timesheets at the end of his first run with a 1:31.658s, but was immediately usurped by Zarco by just 0.013 seconds.
With 90 seconds left in the session, Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo staked his claim for pole with a 1:31.590s, but was quickly pipped by Marquez, who fired in a 1:31.315s.
Zarco crossed the line with 30 seconds remaining with a 1:31.185s, but was not able to go any better on his final lap, while Marquez set the timing screens ablaze through the first sector.
A small moment exiting Turn 7 cost Marquez time, but he clawed back a two-tenth deficit to get to within a tenth of Zarco as he headed through the final sector.
However, the Honda rider was unable to do more than a 1:31.293s, giving France its first home premier class pole position since Christian Sarron in 1988.
Petrucci sneaked back onto the front row for the first time since Qatar, with Suzuki's Andrea Iannone heading Ducati pair Andrea Dovizioso and Lorenzo.
Jack Miller trailed his Ducati stablemates in seventh on his Pramac GP17, while the factory Yamaha pairing of Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi – who crashed in FP4 – could only manage eighth and ninth, having ended FP3 first and third.
Dani Pedrosa followed Petrucci through Q1 and will start 10th on the second factory Honda, while Tito Rabat and Aleix Espargaro – who fell early in Q2 at Turn 1 – completed the top 12.
Cal Crutchlow was left with work to do for Q1 after losing one of his bikes in a crash in FP4. Sitting third as he started his final run, the LCR rider suffered a monster highside exiting Garage Vert.
The Briton had to be stretchered off track, and the red flag was flown at the end of the session to allow Crutchlow to be safely removed from the circuit. He is currently undergoing checks in the medical centre.
Tech3's Hafizh Syahrin managed his best qualifying result of the year in 14th, the Malaysian edging 0.004s clear of Suzuki's Alex Rins, while Franco Morbidelli will start 16th.
A late fall for Pol Espargaro left the KTM rider down in 18th behind team-mate Bradley Smith, while Alvaro Bautista recovered from an early crash to qualify 20th. Angel Nieto team-mate Karel Abraham also crashed, and will start 24th.
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