Chaz Davies wins opening race at Magny-Cours

The 29-year-old Welshman crossed the line nine seconds ahead of Honda rider Michael van der Mark and Kawasaki's Tom Sykes who took third in race one on Saturday. Championship points leader Jonathan Rea, who started the day in pole position, finished in fourth place.

Davies lay in 13th place during the early part of the race as Kawasaki duo Rea and Sykes burst into the lead with Honda's Van der Mark and Nicky Hayden hot on their tails.

MV Agusta Reparto Corse's Leon Camier was close behind all four riders before pulling away to take the lead in lap seven but Davies' decision to use intermediate tyres paid off as rivals Rea and Sykes opted to make tyre changes.

Camier was eventually caught by IodaRacing's Lorenzo Savadori before Davies overtook the Italian and sealed the win. Despite the tyre change dropping him to ninth at one stage, Rea stormed back to finish fourth.

Davies still remains in third spot in the overall standings with 86 points separating him from leader Rea while Sykes lies 44 points adrift in second.