Alvaro Bautista may only hold sixth in the current 250cc world championships standings, but the former 125cc world champion once again underlined that his pace isn't in doubt by taking provisional pole at Le Mans on Friday.

The Spaniard, who has taken two poles and one victory heading into round five, edged out Jorge Lorenzo's replacement, Alex Debon, by 0.106secs during first qualifying for the French Grand Prix, with Gilera's Marco Simoncelli third and star rookie Mattia Pasini fourth.

Thomas Luthi heads the provisional second row with world championship leader Mika Kallio only tenth fastest for KTM.

First qualifying - Le Mans:

1. Bautista (Aprilia)

2. Debon (Aprilia) +0.106secs

3. Simoncelli (Gilera) +0.200secs

4. Pasini (Aprilia) +0.309secs

5. Luthi (Aprilia) +0.463secs

6. Simon (KTM) +0.572secs

7. Poggiali (Gilera) +0.585secs

8. Espargaro (Aprilia) +0.705secs

9. Aoyama (KTM) +0.718secs

10. Kallio (KTM) +0.881secs

19. Laverty (Aprilia) +2.577secs