Light rain immediately prior to the MXGP Qualifying race on the hard-pack track with a slight covering of loose dirt urged caution as it made the surface extremely slippery. The Frenchman emerged fourth from turn one and made a smart move for third on lap two but, secure in the knowledge that his title rival was four placed further back in seventh and with passing opportunities rare, he wisely maintained his secure third place to the chequered flag to extend his advantage at the head of the championship to thirty points with just five races remaining.
 
Romain Febvre: "It was an OK day and good for the championship to take some points. It's a tiny track but I was feeling good all day; it's really warm here but it's the same for everybody. I didn't get a really good jump at the gate but I turned well in the first turn to be fourth and I could pass Maxime  on lap two. I was feeling comfortable behind the two leaders, but I let them go in the last few laps; they are not my points rivals so it was good to finish third. We know now why we didn't get the jump today so we can make some adjustments to the settings for tomorrow."
 
KRT teammate Pauls Jonass held a secure sixth place for the first two laps of Qualifying before a slight moment on the slippery surface cost him two positions, but the Latvian then maintained eighth position to the finish.
 
Pauls Jonass: "I got a good start in P6 but then I made one slip on lap two and ran off the track; that would not have been so bad but it was at a place where there was a row of race banners so there was nowhere to re-enter the track quickly. It was a costly mistake which cost me two positions. I just need another good start tomorrow and no mistakes."
 
Kawasaki Racing Team MX2's Mathis Valin confirmed his pace with fourth-fastest time in Timed Practice for the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship, but faced a frustrating Qualifying race after gating eighth. He advanced to seventh already on the opening lap but remained there for the remainder of the race on a decidedly one-line track which presented few passing opportunities.
 
 Mathis Valin: "I was feeling good on the track and I think everyone  was enjoying it, but it's not easy to pass without contact with so many tight corners. I didn't have a good start in Qualifying so I was mid-pack and didn't have the best flow, but we learnt from it and will get ready for tomorrow with a few adjustments."
 
Bike It Kawasaki's Kay Karssemakers again showed his gating skills with a top-six start in Qualifying but he was soon demoted to twelfth before settling into his regular race rhythm later in the race.
 
Kay Karssemakers: "The start was really good but I was pushing too hard and making too many mistakes during the first few laps. I settled down after that, was riding better and better and my lap times got faster and faster in the last ten minutes. It's really humid out there, so back to the hotel now to recover and come out fighting tomorrow and be better at the beginning of the races."