The stage is set for another super Saturday with key names split across Q1 and Q2 – and a home hero through
The quest for direct entry into Q2 at the Michelin® Grand Prix de France was nothing short of thrilling, with the battle for the top 10 spots reaching a nail-biting conclusion. Friday ended with a tight competition at the summit, as the top three were separated by just 0.187s. Thanks to a stellar new lap record, however, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) emerged as the frontrunner ahead of his 2023 rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), while rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) made a remarkable statement by securing third place, much to the delight of his team on their home turf.
For Martin, the session was a steady progression, consistently hovering within the top 10 before unleashing a blistering lap with 10 minutes remaining, ultimately setting an impressive 1:30.388 on his final run. Bagnaia attempted a late surge, briefly leading the pack with 20 minutes left, but Martin’s final sector proved unbeatable, relegating the reigning World Champion to second place. Acosta, on his debut at Le Mans with a MotoGP™ bike, showcased his potential by surging to third in the last 10 minutes of the session.
In fourth position stood Maverick Viñales of Aprilia Racing, a mere 0.269s adrift from the top spot at the close of Friday’s action at the French GP. He was followed by Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing) in sixth, who enjoyed a positive Friday session, particularly after fitting a fresh soft rear tire in his final stint.
Despite a strong finish to the day, Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) encountered some challenges, narrowly avoiding a crash after running through the gravel at turn two. On the other side of the garage, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) endured a tough day, suffering his third crash of Friday and ending outside the Q2 spots.
Aleix Espargaro capped off a fruitful day for Aprilia Racing by finishing in seventh place, briefly holding the top spot at one stage. Behind him, Franco Morbidelli of Prima Pramac Racing secured direct entry into Q2 once again, finding pace in the latter stages of the session.
Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing), the 2023 winner, clinched ninth place, securing a Q2 spot and trailing the top spot by just 0.397 in the highly competitive field. Rounding off the top 10 to the delight of the French crowd was home hero Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), narrowly edging out some formidable competitors to secure his place in Q2.
Notably, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) faced the disappointment of having to navigate through Q1 on Saturday after finishing 13th. Despite a crash early in the session, Marquez pushed in the final minutes but fell short of a top 10 position. Joining him in Q1 will be Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who ended the day in 19th after spending most of practice outside the top 10.
Binder, along with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), will also prepare for Q1 appearances on Saturday, aiming to secure spots in Q2. Meanwhile, French fans will be rallying behind Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), who finished 20th and faces the challenge of improvement in the upcoming sessions.
The schedule for Saturday includes FP2 at 10:10 (UTC +2), Q1 at 10:50, Q2 at 11:15, and the Tissot Sprint at 15:00.
Moto2 Garcia grabs top honours from Lopez on Friday
It was a thrilling Friday afternoon in Moto2™, with several key contenders revealing their potential at the Michelin® Grand Prix de France. In what remains one of the most unpredictable Moto2™ seasons to date, Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) made a strong statement by claiming the top spot at the end of Friday, setting a new lap record at Le Mans with a remarkable time of 1:35.473 in the final five minutes of the session. Despite losing the front at the conclusion of the session while on a fast lap, Alonso Lopez (Folladore SpeedUp) secured second place, with his teammate Fermin Aldeguer grabbing third after a last-minute surge up the order.
Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) secured fourth position as he eyes a maiden win this weekend, while Championship leader Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) completed the top five.
Be sure to return for more action at 9:25 local time (UTC+2) for Practice 2, followed by qualifying at 13:45 local time.
Moto3 Alonso obliterates the lap record to pull half a second on Esteban, Holgado
It was a fast-paced afternoon for the Moto3™ field at the Michelin® Grand Prix de France, with CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s David Alonso once again asserting his dominance at Le Mans. The Colombian sensation shattered the lap record for the second time on Friday, clocking an impressive 1:40.470. Alonso led the charge ahead of teammate Joel Esteban (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), the only other rider to break the 1:40 barrier, albeit trailing Alonso by 0.480s. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) secured third place after briefly claiming the top spot with 10 minutes remaining, further solidifying his position as a race contender.
The session was filled with drama as riders pushed to their limits, resulting in multiple changes for the top spot between Alonso, Esteban, and Holgado. Despite the intensity, there were also a few crashes, fortunately with all riders escaping unharmed.
In a notable return to racing, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished Friday in fourth place, narrowly edging out Jerez winner Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) by just 0.014s. Veijer, despite a crash in the session’s closing stages at turn 13, secured the fifth position.
With Alonso’s impressive pace, can he bounce back from the disappointment of the Spanish GP? The first step is to secure passage to Q2 via P2 at 8:40 (UTC+ 2), followed by qualifying at 12:50. Stay tuned for more action on Saturday!
Official MotoGP Press Release
