An enthralling first two turns saw the Frenchman move into the top-four after he had been closed down leaving the start-gate in the Qualifying race. The Kawasaki rider, who had seen his own title aspirations disappear mid-season with a thumb injury which forced him to miss five GPs, confirmed that he is back to his best form as he battled the three title-chasers to the finish whilst respecting their title expectations.
 
Romain Febvre: "It was a good day. We have made some adjustments since Switzerland and I had a good feeling with the bike straight away today. The Timed Practice session was average as I only found one clear lap but the gate pick was OK for here. Unfortunately there was lot of confusion at the start with bikes touching but I recovered through the first few corners to race up front. I felt really comfortable on the bike; in the first part of the race I was faster than Prado but I couldn't find anywhere to pass him as the track was so flat and fast. It was the same in the last part of the race when I was behind Herlings."
 
Meanwhile KRT teammate Jeremy Seewer, fifth-fastest in Timed Practice, seemed destined for the holeshot until he was pushed by another rider at turn one and had to recover to eventually secure sixth at the finish; his final lap, as the Swiss endeavoured to snatch fifth, matched the pace of the leaders to raise confidence of a further top-placing in tomorrow's GP motos.
 
Jeremy Seewer: "I think today was the flattest the track has ever been in all the years we have been coming here; it was so fast, with just one line and no bumps or ruts. I got such a good start - me and Prado were clearly in front - and he just went into me so I was then completely outside at turn one and had to recover from there. P6 is OK for tomorrow; my race speed is good and I know I can get the start again."