Jorge Martin smashed the Le Mans Moto3 lap record to claim a 12th career pole for the French Grand Prix, while Jakub Kornfeil secured his first front row start since 2014 in second.
Martin's Gresini teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio was the early pacesetter in qualifying with a 1:42.927s, which he improved moments later to a 1:42.574s.
Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda rider Aron Canet – who will start last as punishment for causing a multi-rider incident at Jerez which included Martin – edged ahead by 0.035 seconds 10 minutes later, and remained intact when FP3 pacesetter Marcos Ramirez bailed from a lap which was set to break the lap record.
Canet remained top of the pile until the final 13 minutes, when Di Giannantonio returned to first spot with a 1:42.447s, though only for a moment, as Ramirez posted a 1:42.364s.
Enea Bastianini, who crashed earlier in the session at Turn 7, usurped the Spaniard seconds later with a 1:42.163s, and looked good to remain as the pole time.
However, Martin had other ideas, and went top with a 1:42.039s, while Kornfeil leaped ahead of Bastianini to start his 150th grand prix from second.
Canet qualified fourth, though his place on the grid will be filled by Ramirez, who was 0.002s outside of Canet's effort.
Albert Arenas, who also crashed in the opening stages of qualifying, qualified sixth, but will start fifth, with championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, Niccolo Antonelli, Di Giannantonio, Andrea Migno and Lorenzo Dalla Porta completing the top 10.
CIP KTM's John McPhee has a six-place grid penalty for causing a collision in the Spanish Grand Prix, and will start alongside Canet after a late fall left the Scotsman in 26th.
Gabriel Rodrigo and Makar Yurchenko, who qualified ahead of McPhee, also suffered crashes, with the former taken to the medical centre for checks following a heavy highside at the last corner. Adam Norrodin and Jaume Masia joined the list of crashers.
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