Johann Zarco triumphs at Le Mans: a historic victory for French MotoGP
The 2025 French Grand Prix will go down in the annals of motorbike racing. On 11 May, on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans, Johann Zarco gave France a long-awaited victory in the premier class, the first since Pierre Monneret in 1954. In front of a record crowd of 311,797 spectators, the LCR Honda rider showed exceptional control in changing weather conditions.
A race marked by unpredictable weather conditions
The capricious Le Mans skies played a decisive role in the course of the race. Intermittent showers forced the riders to juggle between dry and wet tyres. Zarco made the most of these conditions by adopting the optimum strategy, which enabled him to open up a 20-second gap over Marc Márquez, who finished second. Spanish rookie Fermín Aldeguer completed the podium with his first top 3 finish in MotoGP.
A turning point for Honda
The win also marked a turning point for Honda, ending a run of 42 races without a victory, the longest in its MotoGP history. Thanks to the technical improvements made to the RC213V, particularly in terms of aerodynamics and handling, Honda moved up to second place in the constructors’ championship, just behind Ducati.
Quartararo shines in qualifying
The weekend had started well for Fabio Quartararo. The Yamaha rider took pole position with a record-breaking lap of 1’29″324, setting the Le Mans stands alight. Despite this performance, he was unable to follow it up in the race, finishing outside the podium following a crash. Nevertheless, his recent performances testify to Yamaha’s progress.
Ducati: mixed fortunes
At Ducati, results were mixed. While Marc Márquez continues to impress with a second place at Le Mans, his team-mate Francesco Bagnaia is going through a difficult period. After retiring in France, he expressed his discomfort with the Desmosedici GP25, declaring that he had ‘lost the feeling’ with his machine. This situation underlines the challenges Ducati faces in maintaining the competitiveness of all its riders.
Record attendance at Le Mans
The 2025 French Grand Prix set a new attendance record with 311,797 spectators over three days, surpassing the previous record set in 2024. This growing popularity confirms the enthusiasm of the French public for MotoGP and reinforces the Bugatti circuit’s position as one of the championship’s key venues.
All in all, this edition of the French Grand Prix will be remembered for Johann Zarco’s exceptional performance and the unprecedented enthusiasm of the fans. A page of history was written at Le Mans, promising a thrilling continuation of the season!
