Jorge Martin passes to win MotoGP race in French GP, as Marc Marquez too clears Francesco Bagnaia for second on the last lap.
It was a much better start from Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia to lead the MotoGP race in French GP at Le Mans and despite attempt from Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin to take the lead, the Italian managed to maintain his top spot at the end of Lap 1.
Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro was third from VR46 Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio, as a wide moment for Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales dropped him to fifth. GASGAS Tech 3’s Pedro Acosta moved up to sixth from Ducati’s Enea Bastianini, who started the lap in front.
Gresini Duati’s Marc Marquez was eighth from VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi who had a slow start as well, with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo rounding the Top 10 from KTM’s Jack Miller. As Bagnaia and Martin led the way, Acosta tried a move on di Giannantonio and Espargaro.
But a small clip in the right-hander sent him rolling onto the gravel, with di Giannantonio managing to save himself. There was a fall for Bezzecchi too on the next lap, as Yamaha’s Alex Rins was handed a Long Gap Penalty for taking a shortcut at Turn 9.
The fight for third intensified as di Giannantonio hurried Espargaro. The latter made a mistake to allow him through, but a wide moment from the former got him back through. But after a couple of laps, the Italian managed to pass him for third.
That allowed Vinales and M Marquez through as well to drop him to sixth. Bastianini then tried a move on the inside and made it stick but it sent Espargaro onto the tarmac while the Italian himself took a shortcut at Turn 10 for which he was penalised.
A Long Gap Penalty dropped Bastianini in ninth losing out to Quartararo in sixth followed by Espargaro and Trackhouse Aprilia’s Miguel Oliveira, as Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli rounded out the Top 10. At the front, Marquez got through Vinales for fourth after few attempts.
Marquez tried a move on di Giannantonio but the Italian fought it hard to retake the place. However, the Gresini rider came back on him on the next lap to eventually take third. A corner cut from the VR46 rider dropped him to fifth behind Vinales.
Even though he gave up the place, di Giannantonio was handed a Long Gap Penalty for taking a shortcut. Bastianini, meanwhile, was up to sixth after passing Espargaro again, with Morbidelli up to eighth, KTM’s Brad Binder in ninth and Gresini’s Alex Marquez 10th.
Oliveira was forced to pit due to a mechanical issue as Quartararo crashed out from sixth and Miller from points position outside the Top 10. Amid all this, Martin started to hurry Bagnaia for the MotoGP lead and he tried a move on the Dunlop chicane.
But it didn’t stick then. He tried again on the next lap and it stuck which allowed Martin to take the MotoGP lead in French GP and started to pull away, as Bagnaia came under pressure from Marquez, with Vinales and Bastianini in the Top 5.
Bastianini got through him for fourth but the fight for the win intensified in the last few laps. Despite a minor mistake from Martin, it didn’t deter him as he held off to win the MotoGP race in French GP ahead of two of the title contenders.
Bagnaia slotted himself to make a move on Martin on the final lap but lost second to Marquez after leaving a door open in the final few corners. He had to settle for third from teammate Bastianini, with Vinales rounding the Top 5 places.
Di Giannantonio was sixth despite losing it to Espargaro, who dropped to ninth on the final lap behind Morbidelli and Binder in seventh and eighth. A Marquez was 10th from Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez and lone remaining home hero LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco.
The sole remaining Tech 3 of Augusto Fernandez was 13th from LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami and Rins in the Top 15 points places, with Honda’s Luca Marini rounding the 16 runners.
More to come
Here’s how MotoGP sprint in French GP panned out