Victory for Jorge Martin, nice 6th place for Zarco
Spaniard Jorge Martin wins the sprint race of the French Grand Prix. He is ahead of Brad Binder and reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia. Great performance from Frenchman Johann Zarco who finished in 6th place, thus gaining four points in the world championship. Disappointment on the other hand for Fabio Quartararo who fell.
1-Martin
2-Binder
3-Bagnaia
4-Marini
5-M. Mark
6-Zarco
7-Bezzeacchi
8-A. Espargaro
9-M. Vinales
11/13: Martin rushes to victory
The Spaniard is more than 2” ahead of Binder, it smells like victory. Zarco is still 6th.
10/13: fall of Quartararo
The Niçois makes a mistake and falls, there will be no point for the former world champion.
10/13: Bagnaia 3rd
The world champion takes over Marc Marquez.
9/13: fastest lap for Zarco
The tricolor driver is hot. And if he was going to look for the top 5?
7/13: the French in the points
The French are on fire at Le Mans, Zarco is 6th while Quartararo is in 8th place.
6/13: Martin still in charge
The Spaniard Jorge Martin dominates this sprint race ahead of Binder and Marc Marquez.
5/13: Binder’s big shot
Brad Binder swallows two pilots and takes 2nd position!
3/13: Zarco in the points, things are better for Quartararo
Zarco is in 9th place and is now in the points. Quartararo moves up to 11th place.
2/13: Miller’s fall
The Australian Jack Miller falls at turn 7. He was 3rd.
1/13: cannon start from Bagnaia
The pole man retains the lead of the race after a great start. Zarco loses a place, he is 10th. Quartararo is 15th.
Imminent departure
It’s the warm-up lap.
Johann Zarco confident
Zarco at the microphone of Canal +: “There is a way to be in the top five. I feel good on the bike, so I can do good overtaking.”
Valuable points to earn
As a reminder, at the end of this sprint race, the first nine drivers to finish will pocket half the points of a classic race (12, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points) . In the general classification, the Italian Bagnaia is in the lead with 87 units. He is ahead of Bezzecchi (65) and Binder (62). Zarco and Quartararo occupy 9th and 11th places in the MotoGP world championship.
The starting grid for the sprint race, starting at 3 p.m.
1st line
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati)
2. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda)
3.Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-VR46)
2nd line
4. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM)
5. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac)
6. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia)
3rd line
7. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46)
8. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini)
9. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac)
4th line
10. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM)
11. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia)
12. Augusto Fernandez (ESP/GasGas Tech 3)
5th line
13. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha)
…
Bagnaia takes pole at the French GP, Zarco 9th
What a last lap of Pecco Bagnaia! The outgoing world champion won his 13th career pole in the premier category by setting the best time in this Q2 (1’30”705). The Italian is ahead of Marc Marquez and Luca Marini. Disappointment for Johann Zarco who will start from the third row, in 9th position.
Big crash for Aleix Espargaro!!
Less than three minutes from the end of this Q2, Aleix Espargaro fell heavily. The Spanish driver slipped at the start of the turn at almost 240 km/h, ending his race in the gravel trap at high speed… More fear than harm, it seems, fortunately…
Vinales in the lead ahead of Marquez, Zarco provisional 6th
Seven minutes from the end, Maverick Vinales is in the lead ahead of Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin. Will the Spanish driver take pole in the French Grand Prix? Returning to the pits, however, he seems to have a problem with his bike and loses precious time… Not sure that his time will last until the end!
Let’s go for Q2!
Pecco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez – back after three failed Grand Prix – and Maverick Vinales set off on the Le Mans track. On the tricolor side, Johann Zarco will try to give everything in front of an audience committed to his cause.
Quartararo eliminated in Q1, the Frenchman 13th on the starting grid
Real disappointment for the tricolor clan. Well into his Q1, very quickly in the lead with the best time, Fabio Quartararo was surprised at the end of the session by Augusto Fernandez and Luca Marini. The two riders finish ahead of the Yamaha rider and join Q2. El Diablo remains at the dock and will start in 13th position later during the sprint race (3 p.m.), but also during the “real” race on Sunday.
Augusto Fernandez best provisional time of Q1
Great performance from the Spaniard (KTM) who took the lead less than two minutes from the end. Quartararo is still second but Luca Marini comes back strong…
Quartararo already on fire!
The Yamaha rider is well ahead of his pursuers, the Frenchman laps in 1’31”366, nearly half a second faster than the other riders present in this Q1. A great way to start qualifying for “El Diablo”.
Let’s go for Q1!
The drivers have just started at Le Mans! Luca Marini is the first on the track. Fabio Quartararo is also starting his first lap in this Q1.
Bezzecchi down during practice
Already several falls during practice this Saturday morning, including that of Marco Bezzecchi, current second in the general classification.
Quartararo and the drivers spoke to the race marshals
A meeting took place on Friday between the drivers and the race marshals two days before the French GP on the Le Mans circuit. The former do not include certain penalties taken by the latter.
> All the details here
The program for this Saturday, May 13
10:10 a.m.-10:40 a.m.: free practice 3
10:50-11:30 a.m.: qualifying
3 p.m.: sprint race
Hello everyone
The crowd is expected this weekend at the Bugatti Le Mans circuit for the Moto GP French Grand Prix. For the 5th round of the season, Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco will want to shine at home.