World Superbikes: Jonathan Rea crashes on lap one as Michael van der Mark takes victory in France

Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu had won the previous 13 races in the championship, a record, but will not compete this weekend after being involved in a heavy crash during practice on Friday.

He was treated at the medical centre, where he suffered a contusion in his back and after several checks at the hospital he was declared unfit to race.

Van der Mark’s lead at the front was 8.3 seconds, while Ducati rider Bautista had a further 16 seconds advantage over Petrucci at the finish.

Englishman Scott Redding finished fourth, ahead of Andrea Iannone and Xavi Vierge. Several other riders fell on the wet track.

Razgatlioglu leads the standings with 365 points, followed by Bulega with 273, Bautista with 243 and Lowes with 213.

Rea still sits tenth in the overall standings with 86 points and only one podium finish to show for his efforts this season, which came in July at the Superpole race in the UK at Donington.

The final Superpole race will be held on Sunday at 10:00 (BST), followed by the second main race at 14:30.

Four more rounds will be held over six weeks to complete the 2024 championship.