Bezzecchi bounced back as Bagnaia bounced through the gravel, turning championship history upside down after an action-packed French GP
“I can finally cut my mustache!” – MotoGP™ podium reaction
Hear the immediate reaction to the French GP as Bezzecchi, Martin and local hero Zarco celebrated the 1000th GP podiums
Take a minute to catch your breath after what has been an incredible SHARK Grand Prix! Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) holds a special place in history as race winner of the 1000th FIM Grand Prix after a superb break for glory in front of a record crowd at Le Mans, and there was drama, drama, drama all the way through the field.
First, Bezzecchi is now just a point behind championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) after the Italian retired from the race in a dramatic clash with Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales. Racing… gravel trap shouting match included, but both riders get away with it. Then Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) against Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) lit up the fight for second place in a tough but fair fight, but it then ended in a race-ending heartbreak for number 93 as he slipped. However, for French fans, it meant Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) was then promoted to a glorious home podium after an impressive pace on Sunday, bringing even more joy to the record crowd of 278,805 spectators.
The lights go out for the 1000th time
The grid formed in front of the biggest crowd MotoGP™ has ever seen and it was Marc Marquez who took the lead as Bagnaia dropped to P5. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) moved into P2 with Bezzecchi putting his VR46 Ducati into P3. Bagnaia then quickly fired back at Martin as the Ducati riders battled it out on the opening lap.
It was Marquez, Miller, Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Bagnaia and then Martin when they first crossed the line, and we had a race on our hands in MotoGP™. Miller was in no way intimidated by the eight-time world champion as the Australian tried to force his way over Marquez, but the Spaniard didn’t give in and fought back Marquez style.
Miller took the lead at the Dunlop chicane, meanwhile the reigning world champion was on the move as Bagnaia was now back on the podium with 25 laps to go…
Turnaround in the Championship, and big reshuffle in the race
The laps ticked by as a seven-moto battle for the win formed with Viñales fighting his way up to 3rd, the Aprilia seriously on the move. But then came the drama: the Spaniard collided with Bagnaia as the two riders fought over the same piece of tarmac, both crashing into the gravel. Riders ok and standing… then a lot of cries exchanged.
FREE: Bagnaia and Viñales clash at the start of the French GP
Contact between the No1 and the Aprilia star as they battle for P3 sees the two fall out of the lead group at the start of a dramatic Le Mans race
A U-turn later there was more drama in the gravel pits at Le Mans as Marini suffered a big crash coming out of the Dunlop chicane, just cutting the pavement. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) then got caught in the crash of the Italian as the peloton behind avoided the incident, the riders were OK again but another huge adrenaline rush rocked the race. Marquez was, to revert to an incident at the start of the race, later given a 3-position grid penalty for his next GP race as well – after forcing Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) earlier in the race and caused a domino effect with a number of runners mixed up.
FREE: Marini and Alex Marquez’s contact sees the two fall
A great stop attempt at turn 4 from Marini unfortunately left Alex Marquez with nowhere to go as both of their races end early in France
As the chaos subsided, we had a race on our hands. A four-way battle for the win had formed as Miller now found himself with Marquez, Bezzecchi and Martin for company, before Bezzecchi fought his way over Marc Marquez – and dropped the Spaniard from 2nd to 4th place. Number 93 was sent to another postcode although no harm was done, with the regrouping and Bezzecchi then told to drop a position for the move: a penalty he expected, and a penalty he he also purged wisely as he chose his moment to let Martin back. . And then took it over, with Marquez also following suit.
With 15 laps to go, Bezzecchi had 1.2 seconds in his pocket for Marquez behind, who was 0.5 seconds behind Martin, who had found his way over Miller. The Australian was starting to fall into the clutches of Zarco and Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3). It didn’t take long for Zarco to get his way either as the Frenchman moved up to P4 and Fernandez followed, leaving Miller sixth.
With six to go, Martin thought it was time to pounce on Marc Marquez. The Spaniard tried to force his way over the eight-time world champion, but the Repsol Honda man didn’t give in easily and fired back at the Prima Pramac Racing rider at every opportunity. This allowed Zarco to get closer and closer… and the crowd had definitely noticed.
Martin finally fought his way through with a lap and a half to go, and this time the drama was for number 93. Trying to hang on, the returning Repsol Honda rider tucked in the front and finished his Grand Prix de France in the gravel pit, but after a hell of a comeback to the upper echelons of the timesheets.
FREE: Belated heartache for Marc Marquez in stage fight
Returning No. 93 crashes on penultimate lap of Turn 7 while battling Martin for P2
It meant one thing for a partisan crown: Zarco was on the podium. The stands erupted around the French circuit as Bezzecchi crossed the finish line for a first win in dry weather, Martin ensured he was top scorer at Le Mans this year and then the home hero reached for the flag . The noise makes for an impressive welcome.
Fourth place was also something to shout about as Tech3’s Fernandez pulled off an impressive result after an impressive weekend. For the first time in Q2, the GASGAS driver had had the speed all weekend and paid it off perfectly on Sunday to bounce back.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) completed the top five as Binder recovered from being beaten in order on the first lap to work his way through the pack, take a long penalty for a shortcut, and still manage to take sixth place.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) had a tougher home Grand Prix but took a good chunk of the points on Sunday as the 2021 World Champion finished his weekend at Le Mans in a P7, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) and Franco Morbidelli took 8th, 9th and 10th places, just ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Lenovo Team) on his return to MotoGP™ to replace injured Enea Bastianini .
Race leader Miller crashed out with three laps to go after the Aussie relinquished control of his KTM machine, making it a weekend to forget in terms of results but one to remember for the speed. Can he bounce back at Mugello? Many will be looking to join him in doing so… With the ever-evolving championship plot in MotoGP™, it’s unclear what the chapter has in store as the paddock moves to the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley June 9-11 . Be sure to keep up to date with all the action as it unfolds motogp.com!
1. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team)
2. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) +4.256
3. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) +4.795
4. Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) +6.281
5. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) +6.726
6.Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +13.638
7. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) +15.023
8. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) +15.826
9. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda IDEMITSU) +16.370
10. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) +17.828
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