The home-country star was full of optimism as he posted third-fastest time in Timed Practice and quickly moved his way forward to second on the opening lap of Qualifying to exert pressure on the leader before a simple tip-over in a long rutted turn on lap three dropped him temporarily to seventh. Responding strongly he quickly made two decisive passes to pull back to fifth but then spent a frustrating final seven laps searching for a route through to fourth.
 
Jeremy Seewer: "I had a very positive feeling all day. I could have maybe even won, for sure top-three, but I just made one little mistake and I showed I'm on for the podium tomorrow. I tried to pass for the lead and if you push a little too much in those ruts they can break. Anyway P5 is good for the gate-pick and I'm sure the fans will come out tomorrow. You know, I like to do something special with my gear and this year we really hit the nail on the head with the 91-Limited-Edition. I have such a good relationship with the guys at Renen; I came up with an idea and the designers put it on paper and turned it round in just two days. I was so impressed and I think to show up in style for the home GP is cool for both myself and the fans."
 
After a frustrating Timed Practice, in which he never found a clean lap on the small crowded track, Romain Febvre had to start from an outside gate but the Frenchman showed resilience to push forward throughout the twenty-four minute race to convert a first-lap twenty-first to ninth at the finish. 
 
Romain Febvre: "It was a strange day. I didn't had a good feeling on this track today; I didn't feel fully-confident in the practice sessions and had a bad gate-pick for the Qualifying race. My race was not so bad, coming from far back to ninth, so I will have a better gate for the races. I hope that tomorrow I will have a different feeling; that will be the key."
 
Bike It Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team's Jack Chambers was amongst those who hit the gate at the start of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship Qualifying race. The American persevered from outside the top-twenty to pull through to sixteenth before a mid-race fall cost him one position again.
 
Jack Chambers: "This is the track where I started my EMX career last year so it's nice to come back here. I enjoy the track but it's tricky. Today didn't quite go to plan but I feel there is more to come tomorrow and for the rest of the season."