Jorge Martin victories in Le Mans in a three-way battle with Marquez and Bagnaia

There were cloudy skies and increasing winds as a threat of rain was on the horizon for the start of the French Grand Prix.

Jorge Martin looked to make it back-to-back victories from pole position and extend his championship lead. Francesco Bagnaia was forced to retire from the Tissot Sprint and needed to take his first win or podium at Le Mans in the premier class, Maverick Vinales rounded out the front row. Marc Marquez started from 13th place, he made up nine places on the opening laps in the sprint before going on to take second, he looked to repeat that feat but go one better.

The lights went out and it was Pecco Bagnaia who took the holeshot, Martin tried to pass him into turn three but ran wide and it was Bagnaia who lead out of the first sector.

Aleix Espargar was in third ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Vinales, Pedro Acosta was sixth but passed Vinales at turn six on the second lap. Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez were seventh and eighth.

Di Giannatonio attacked Espargaro into turn seven, but the Italian ran wide. Acosta was then hungry and tried to pass Di Giannantonio at turn eight but lost the front! Acosta made it four crashed in all four of his French Grand Prix’s.

Marco Bezzecchi lost the front at turn six after trying to turn underneath Bastianini on lap four.

Espargaro ran really hot into turn one and two on lap eight and Di Giannantonio tried to take advantage into turn six, but the Italian overshot the corner and settled back into fourth with Vinales closing in.

On lap ten Di Giannantonio sliped underneath Espargaro at turn eight to move into third place and had a 0.9 second gap to Martin in front.

On the following lap Espargaro went a bit wide into turn eight and Vinales went through, then Marquez immediately passed the Aprillia ride into turn nine.

Bastianini then tried to pass Espargaro into turn nine but ran in too hot and Espargaro was forced to take the escape road while Bastianini cut the chicane. Bastianini was then given a long lap penalty for cutting the chicane at turn ten and immediately took it on lap 14 and dropped from sixth to ninth.

Marquez passed Vinales on lap 14 at turn eight after the Aprillia rider ran wide; the eight-time world champion then set his sights on Di Giannantonio in third.

On lap 17 Marquez made his move on Di Giannantonio at turn three but the Italian toughed it out at turn four and the two made contact and the VR46 Ducati rider maintained third place with Vinales nearly passed Marquez but there was no room.

Fabio Quartararo who was doing an excellent ride in sixth place lost the front at turn nine and was out of the race, all the home fans were in dismay.

Marquez passed Di Giannantonio into turn one, Di Giggia tried to pass Marquez back but cut the chicane and then got a long lap penalty.

On lap 20 Martin made his first move of the race at turn three but Bagnaia got him on the exit of turn four, the gap to Marquez closed by five tenths.

Martin made the move stick at turn three on lap 21 and took the lead for the first time. All the battling meant that Marquez had joined the party.

On the last lap nothing could separate the three of them, Marquez attacked Pecco into turn nine and was able to make it stick meaning Martin had a gap to take victory in Le Mans and extend his championship lead, Marquez took second with Bagnaia in third.

Bastianini was fourth with Vinales in fifth, Di Giannatonio was sixth with Franco Morbidelli took his best finish on the Ducati in seventh ahead of Brad Binder in eight, Espargaro in ninth and Alex Marquez in tenth.

Jorge Martin leads the championship on 129 points, 38 points ahead of Bagnaia in second with Marquez now in third on 89 points as they ahead to Catalunya in Barcelona.

Featured Image: Joel Cooper Photography.