Johann Zarco takes emotional win at Le Mans with Marc Marquez taking a crucial second with Alex Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia not scoring

Spots of rain were in the air on the grid for the start of the French Grand Prix at Le Mans. Home favourite Fabio Quartararo started from pole position ahead of championship leader Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez. Fermin Aldeguer started in fourth and was hungry to take his first Grand Prix podium after his first Tissot Sprint podium yesterday, Maverick Vinales was the top KTM in fifth and Francesco Bagnaia was sixth and needed to redeem his mistake from the sprint.

The race was red flagged at the end of the warm up lap after all riders went into pitlane to change bikes and the race distance was reduced from 27 to 26 laps. Half the grid were on slicks and half on wets. Marc Marquez was on slicks and Bagnaia on wets. The lights eventually went out and Quartararo lead out of the chicane, Bagnaia was taken out at turn three by Enea Bastianini and Joan Mir went down as well but Bagnaia and Bastianini rejoined the race.

On lap two Alex Marquez overtook Marc Marquez into turn 11 for second place with Quartararo one second in front. Bagnaia had gone down pit lane and swapped to his dry bike.

On lap three Quartararo was the first rider to take the long lap penalty, any rider who swapped bikes had before the warm up lap had to take a double long lap penalty.

Aldeguer had passed Marc Marquez and Marc tried to overtake the rookie at turn seven and they made contact. The two Gresini Ducati’s then took their long lap, Quartararo and Brad Binder then crashed at the final corner on lap four.

On lap five Pedro Acosta and Vinales pitted for wet tyres as the rain was starting to get heavier, Jack Miller was the top wet runner in ninth place.

Marc Marquez had completed his second long lap penalty and Aldeguer took the lead of the race, both Marquez brothers came down pitlane to change tyres.

Fabio Di Giannantonio was in second with Lorenzo Savadori in third and all top three riders changed tyres. Johann Zarco had taken the lead of the race being the top wet tyre runner with Miguel Oliveira in second and the Marquez brothers were third and fourth.

The Marquez brother passed Oliveira on lap nine to move into second and third, Zarco had an eight second lead over them.

Zarco was the fastest rider on track and had pulled a 9.4 second lead over Marc Marquez, Acosta passed Oliveira for fourth at turn three.

Vinales and Oliveira battled for fifth place on lap 15 with Vinales getting the better of the Portuguese rider.

On lap 17 Aldeguer passed Oliveira at turn three to move into sixth place, Zarco was the fastest rider on track by over a second and by the end of lap 19 had a 14.5 second lead.

Oliveira high-sided at the final corner and was out of the race, HRC test rider Takaaki Nakagami moved into seventh place.

Aldeguer moved into fifth place overtaking Vinales at turn seven.

On lap 21 Alex Marquez high-sided at turn three out of third place but was able to rejoin in sixth, this promoted Acosta into third place.

On lap 21 Alex Marquez crashed again, this time at turn 11 and was out of the race, Nakagami inherited sixth place.

On the penultimate lap Aldeguer was the fastest rider on track and was able to out-drive Acosta out of turn six to move into third place.

Johann Zarco crossed the line to take a historic and emotional home Grand Prix victory in Le Mans to the delight of everyone. This victory was Honda’s first since the 2023 US Grand Prix and the first non-Ducati victory in 22 races since the 2024 US Grand Prix. Marc Marquez took an important second place, securing 20 points when Alex Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia scored zero points. Aledguer took his first Grand Prix podium in third, Acosta was fourth with Vinales in fifth and Nakagami in sixth on his wildcard ride. Pecco Bagnaia crossed the line a lap down in 16th, a disastrous weekend for Bagnaia.

Marc Marquez leads the championship on 171 points, Alex Marquez was 22 points behind with Bagnaia 51 points behind.

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