5 rounds down, 17 to go. MotoGP™ hits a true classic next as Le Mans prepares to celebrate its 25th consecutive year on the calendar. Get ready for a battle full of history, passion, and unpredictability.
Monday, 05 May 2025
After the fireworks of Jerez, the paddock rolls into another iconic European venue: the legendary Circuit Bugatti in Le Mans. As the 2025 season heats up, the Michelin Grand Prix of France is poised to add another unforgettable chapter to what’s already proving to be a thrilling title race. The atmosphere? Electric. The stakes? High. The legacy? Unquestionable. Welcome to one of the crown jewels of the MotoGP™ calendar.
Sibling Rivalry and a Tight Title Trio
At the top of the standings, it’s Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) who holds the advantage, marking the second time this year he’s led the Championship. This time, there’s no doubt he’s gunning for race wins. Le Mans is a favourite hunting ground for the younger Marquez, with past podiums offering confidence and motivation to stretch that lead.
Breathing down his neck is older brother Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team). The #93 is no stranger to drama at Le Mans—his incredible charge to P2 in 2024, passing current teammate Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap, remains a highlight. Pecco, meanwhile, has a complex history with the French round. Despite a podium last year, the Italian’s otherwise inconsistent form at the circuit includes two DNFs in 2022 and 2023. With just 20 points separating this elite trio, any slip could prove costly.
French Flair: Quartararo and Zarco Eye Big Home Results
There’s nothing quite like a home race, and for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), momentum couldn’t come at a better time. The Frenchman’s stunning pole position and emotional podium at Jerez signalled a return to form, and a successful Monday test—including a much-anticipated engine upgrade—has given the 26-year-old even more reason to believe. He’s got the bike, the pace, and now, finally, the confidence.
Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) also heads to his home round in solid form. Despite a challenging Spanish GP, his test performance was encouraging, and early-season top-five finishes prove he’s still got the speed. With both Frenchmen inside the top seven overall, could Le Mans finally witness one of its own standing tallest on the podium? The crowd will certainly be hoping so.
Viñales Sparks KTM Revival at Crucial Moment
Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Viñales is showing signs of a resurgence. The Spaniard, despite being penalised for a tyre pressure violation in Lusail, bounced back with an assured P4 at Jerez—KTM’s best finish of 2025 so far. As the Austrian brand returns to its spiritual home at Le Mans, where Viñales has previously won and finished in the top five just last year, expectations are high.
Teammate Enea Bastianini, the 2022 French GP victor, added another top ten at Jerez, while all four KTM riders finished inside the top ten—a notable milestone. Pedro Acosta returns following arm-pump surgery, and Brad Binder is hopeful recent testing has addressed the chatter issues that have plagued his early season.
Veterans and Wildcards: Unpredictable Threats at Le Mans
Le Mans is no stranger to springing surprises, and there are several names who know exactly how to conquer the French tarmac. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) tasted victory here in 2023 and arrives on the back of a positive Jerez test, despite a troubled race day that saw him salvage P14. Aprilia as a whole has a strong record in France and will be targeting the top once more—although the absence of reigning Champion Jorge Martin is notable.
Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) also has fond memories of France, his 2021 triumph remaining a fan favourite. But the Aussie will be hoping to bounce back after a Jerez DNF. Teammate Miguel Oliveira is slated to return after recovering from an injury sustained in Argentina, pending a medical check on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) remains in contention in fourth overall but must also pass a medical clearance following his Jerez crash. Teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio is closing in on him in the standings, now just 21 points behind. Rookie sensation Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) leads the debutant charge but has recently struggled to match the pace of Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), whose costly error from a top-four position at Jerez will be one to learn from.
Riders on the Rise: Chasing the Coveted Top Ten
There’s a fascinating battle brewing just outside the limelight. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) has finished every Grand Prix this year and continues his steady push towards the top ten. His teammate Joan Mir, in contrast, seeks a much-needed turnaround after three consecutive DNFs. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) has quietly racked up four straight points-scoring finishes and is knocking on the door of the top ten.
Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) shares the same goal as Rins, both still hunting their first top ten finish of the campaign. Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), recently recovering from arm-pump surgery, is hoping Le Mans will mark his breakthrough points-scoring round. Adding further intrigue, Takaaki Nakagami will wildcard for HRC after his appearance at the Jerez post-race test.
A packed crowd, national pride on the line, and a fiercely contested title fight—Le Mans promises fireworks. Rain or shine, this is one race not to be missed.
Moto2™: Gonzalez Back in Control Ahead of Le Mans
Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) couldn’t have asked for a better home GP at Jerez. The Spaniard converted pole into a dominant lights-to-flag victory, reclaiming the Championship lead in style.
He holds a slender seven-point advantage over Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego), who struggled to eighth in Spain but has fond memories of France. Canet claimed a podium at Le Mans in 2022 and was on pole here just last year—this is a track that suits him.
Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) now sits 20 points behind Gonzalez and will be aiming to re-enter the victory discussion after finishing ninth at Jerez. His teammate Filip Salač will also be looking to strike, with last year’s P2 finish in Le Mans providing a timely confidence boost.
Meanwhile, Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) is chasing redemption. With no points scored in the last two rounds, he’ll be targeting a return to form at a circuit where he’s taken two podiums in as many years. Fellow Boscoscuro rider Tony Arbolino is also a former winner in France and will be hoping for a similar upturn in fortunes.
In the mix too are Barry Baltus, Senna Agius, and Deniz Öncü—all three having solidified their positions inside the top seven thanks to impressive consistency. Can they hold on as the pressure mounts?
Moto3™: Rueda Retakes the Reins Ahead of French Showdown
Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) left Jerez on a high, regaining the Moto3™ Championship lead with a sensational home win. The Spaniard now leads compatriot Angel Piqueras (FRINSA-MT Helmets-MSI) by just four points heading into Round 6, with the two young guns responsible for all five victories so far this year—three for Rueda, two for Piqueras.
But this isn’t just a two-horse race. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) has emerged as a genuine title contender, sitting third after a trio of impressive results—P2, P4, and P3. That maiden victory is surely on the horizon for the Australian.
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) also returns to form after a strong P4 at Jerez. He currently sits fourth in the standings and will be eager to build on that in France. Watch out as well for the Honda Team Asia duo of Taiyo Furusato and Ryusei Yamanaka, both of whom have found their groove with podiums and top-six results in recent rounds.
And then there’s Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team). The Italian is the only current rider to have stood on the French GP podium in any of the last four seasons. After a tough outing in Jerez, he’ll be hoping Le Mans once again delivers.
The Michelin Grand Prix of France is almost upon us. The drama, the stakes, the weather—it’s all lining up for another unforgettable weekend. See you at Le Mans.
