The Swiss made his usual excellent start to round turn one second and, despite surrendering a position halfway round the opening lap, he maintained third until lap seven when one of the title candidates slipped underneath him in a long sweeping turn.
 
Jeremy Seewer: "I got a good start even though the guy next to me hit the gate and that could have spoilt my concentration; even then I almost took the holeshot again but Jorge had a wider angle to the corner and could brake later. I was riding well but Jeffrey was really aggressive to pass me quickly. I could follow him with a good rhythm in third but Tim was pushing; with the title on the line he has to give everything and he passed me in the end. But I think I can fight for the podium tomorrow."
 
After posting fifth-fastest time in Timed Practice the Qualifying race got off to a frustrating start for Romain Febvre as the rider next to the Frenchman at the gate flinched; the KRT rider reacted too and his front wheel was stuck in the gate as it dropped. He faced a long tough race from last to claim eleventh on the final lap on a track where overtaking proved extremely difficult.
 
Romain Febvre: "I had a good feeling with the track this morning when we came here for the first time but unfortunately I hit the gate at the start of the Qualifying race and started last; with the dust, the stones and the sun it's really difficult to pass here but I did my best to salvage a decent gate-pick for tomorrow. I think that it's possible to get a good start from the eleventh gate."