The third free practice session for the eni FIM Superbike World Championship started off with some damp patches on the track following some early morning rain. The conditions quickly improved allowing all riders to better their lap-times from Day 1. Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) topped once again the timesheets courtesy of a 1'30.566 lap-time set in the early stages, before crashing out at turn 11. Lowes is currently undergoing medical checks on his left ankle and his conditions will be reviewed after Free Practice 4.

The Brit ended up on top ahead of team mate Eugene Laverty and Ducati Superbike Team duo Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies. After yesterday's spectacular highside, Welshman Davies found the right feeling with his bike to edge reigning Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and an impressive NiccolòCanepa (Althea Racing Ducati), sixth aboard his EVO-spec 1199 Panigale.

Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) secured seventh place with Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike), Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) to complete the top 10 riders directly qualified to this afternoon's second Tissot-Superpole session. Former works BMW rider Melandri had an high speed crash at turn 9, but he escaped uninjured although he was unable to return to the track before the chequered flag.

Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma Aprilia), eleventh, and Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike), twelfth, along with the other riders who finished between 11th and 20th place, will battle their way up in the first session to take the remaining two slots in second Tissot-Superpole.

American Geoff May (Team Hero EBR) is undergoing medical checks on his left collarbone following a heavy crash at the last turn.