MotoReview

The qualifying results show a lot of promise for tomorrow's race - there are four different manufacturers in the top six and a good mixture of Bridgestone and Michelin runners in the first few rows of the grid.

Shinya Nakano's fantastic 1'34.201 looked as though it might have resulted in a pole for Kawasaki, but despite being demoted a place by Pedrosa the green team have still achieved their best ever qualifying result, with Randy de Puniet pulling off an impressive fourth fastest lap in front of a home crowd. In the past Kawasaki have managed to achieve some good qualifying results but have not been able to maintain a comparably quick race pace; whether that will be the case tomorrow or not remains to be seen.

Rounding out the first row of the grid is John Hopkins, who put in another excellent performance on the Suzuki GSV-R. Hopkins' quick lap resulted in the Suzuki's third consecutive front row start and the Anglo-American rider will be hoping he can go as well in the race as he did last weekend in Shanghai.

Elsewhere on the grid, championship leader Nicky Hayden qualified in tenth place  with a 1'34.988. The Repsol Honda rider has not had a great history at the Le Mans circuit, with sixth being his best ever result.

Valentino Rossi achieved what is now an almost typically poor qualifying result in seventh place.

2006 French Grand Prix Qualifying Results

1) Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1'33.990
2) Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team 1'34.201
3) John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'34.636
4) Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team 1'34.780
5) Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 1'34.795
6) Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 1'34.802
7) Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team 1'34.840
8) Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro Team 1'34.870
9) Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team 1'34.970
10) Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1'34.988
11) Casey Stoner Honda LCR 1'35.430
12) Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'35.705
13) Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda 1'36.058
14) Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha 1'36.260
15) Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts 1'36.501
16) Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 1'36.582
17) James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha 1'37.019
18) Alex Hofmann Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'37.267
19) Jose Luis Cardoso Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'37.812