MotoGP Race
Tensions were at an all-time high in the lead up to lights out as light rain scattered the Le Mans circuit in the build up. Heading onto the warm up lap, with everyone on Michelin’s slick tires, it was then abundantly clear that was the wrong tire to be on. Polesitter Quartararo was nearly down at Turn 3 and at the end of the warm up lap, unsurprisingly, every rider peeled into pit lane and that brought out the red flags due to an excessive number of riders at pit lane exit as we then set ourselves for a quick restart procedure at the French GP. The Grand Prix was also reduced by one lap to 26, with a wet race declared – that meant riders could come in and change their bikes at any moment once we got underway.
And there was more drama at the end of the sighting lap. More than half the grid, including Quartararo, Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez, were in while Bagnaia stayed on the grid.
Eventually we were lights out and underway and as he was in the Sprint, Bagnaia was down at Turn 3 on Lap 1! Meanwhile, Quartararo led from Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez, Aldeguer was fourth as Bagnaia made it back to pit lane to jump onto his dry weather bike. The Italian was miles behind but having pitted at the end of the sighting lap, over half the grid had double Long Lap penalties to take.
Quartararo, having led by over a second, was the first of the front runners to dive into the Long Lap loop. Alex Marquez, Aldeguer – who had passed Marc Marquez – and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) were the next to come in, but Marc Marquez didn’t. This happened after Bagnaia had been lapped – a disaster for Pecco, who then came in for dry tires. A decision that would prove costly again soon after.
Then, heartbreak. Quartararo was down at the final corner and so was Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) right behind the Frenchman. Gutting for the 100,000+ crowd, but back on circuit, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Viñales were back in the pit lane to switch back onto wet tires.
Where to look? Marc and Alex were next to come in and that left Aldeguer leading the Grand Prix by over 12 seconds, but now, the rookie was clearly on the wrong tire – and sure enough, the #54 came in on the next lap.
Right, where were we? Well, to the delight of the French faithful, Zarco led the French Grand Prix! The #5 had stuck it out on the wet weather tires and he was leading by seven seconds over Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), the Portuguese rider had done the same as Zarco, with Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez pressing Oliveira on Lap 9 of 26.
The brothers passed a struggling Oliveira with ease and with 17 laps to go, the gap between leader Zarco and the Marquez duo was 8.5s. That grew to nine seconds with 15 laps to go, then it was 9.3s as Zarco churned out low 1:46s, with Marquez near enough matching the home hero. Alex Marquez was losing touch on the #93, but the #73 had a six second buffer to fourth place Acosta.
With 11 laps to go, Zarco was marching towards an astonishing home Grand Prix victory. The gap had risen to 11.5s, then it was 12.4s as Zarco lapped at least a second quicker than anyone else on track. That trend continued as the advantage rose to over 14 seconds with seven laps as we witnessed two crashes – first Oliveria was down at the final corner, then Alex Marquez crashed at Turn 3. Luckily the former Championship leader remounted, and such were the gaps between a lot of riders, the Spanish GP winner re-joined the Grand Prix in P6. That off promoted Acosta to P3.
Having got back into the race, Alex Marquez was in the gravel again and unfortunately that was his French GP done. But Gresini’s podium hopes weren’t over because Aldeguer was catching Acosta at a rapid rate of knots. With two laps left, the rookie was right on the back of Acosta and at the front, Zarco’s lead was 19 seconds. The Frenchman simply had to nurse his Honda to the checkered flag.
Aldeguer did get Acosta but it was all eyes on the #5. One lap left Johann! And he brought it home. The roof was raised at Le Mans because for the first time since 1954, a French MotoGP rider clinched victory on home turf. Unbelievable. What a moment for Zarco, LCR Honda and the record-breaking French GP crowd.
Marc Marquez crossed the line 19.9s away from Zarco to collect a massive 20 points, with Aldeguer backing up his Saturday bronze medal with a debut MotoGP podium. What a weekend for the rookie.
Acosta had to settle for P4 after he couldn’t live with Aldeguer’s late race pace, as Viñales handed KTM a double top five in France. Honda HRC Test Team’s Takaaki Nakagami took a magnificent P6 in his first wildcard ride for the Japanese factory, as Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) picked up his season best Sunday result in P7.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) rounded out the top 10, with Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) closed out the points, with Bagnaia acting as the final finisher in P16.
2025 French MotoGP Results—MotoGP Race
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | 45m 47.541s |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP25) | +19.907s |
| 3 | Fermin Aldeguer | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24) | +26.532s |
| 4 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +29.631s |
| 5 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +38.136s |
| 6 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | Honda Test Rider (RC213V) | +59.527s |
| 7 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP25) | +70.302s |
| 8 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) | +70.363s |
| 9 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Factory (RS-GP25) | +25.793s |
| 10 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP25)* | +26.529s |
Moto2 Race
Earning back-to-back wins in Jerez and Le Mans? That’s exactly what Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) has done in the last two rounds as the #18 beats second place Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) at the Michelin Grand Prix of France. It was a dominant weekend for the Spaniard who extends his title chase lead over third place finisher Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) ahead of a trip to Silverstone.
Heading into the Dunlop chicane on the opening lap, Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) shoved his Triumph powered Kalex machine up the inside of polesitter Gonzalez to grab an early lead, while both ELF Marc VDS Racing Team riders, Jake Dixon and Filip Salač, made great starts to climb up to P3 and P4 respectively. Baltus had dropped to P5 from the front row, with his teammate Canet shuffled back to P10 from the second row.
On Lap 4, Gonzalez hit the front for the first time at Turn 9 as Baltus carved his way brilliantly to P3 to latch onto the back of Moreira. The Belgian was then through on the Brazilian at the start of Lap 8 and set his sights on race leader Gonzalez, as Canet continued his comeback – the #44 was P4 on Lap 12 after a slick move at Turn 3 on Dixon.
A big moment coming out of Turn 4 followed though for Canet while battling Moreira. The Spaniard was pinged out of the seat but managed to stay on board, but it was crucial ground lost – he was back behind both Moreira and Dixon.
Heading into the final five laps, Gonzalez began to stretch his legs as Baltus fell over 0.5s behind for the first time in a while. That did drop back to 0.4s though so fair play to Baltus, he was making the pre-race favourite work hard for a potential 25-pointer. In the end though, Gonzalez had just enough in his back pocket to fend off Baltus for victory in Le Mans, with Baltus finishing 1.8s behind the win but 4.3s ahead of the brilliant fight for the final podium spot.
Canet, after that moment, did win that battle ahead of Moreira and Dixon, with Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) finishing P6, 0.6s ahead of Salač. Celestino Vietti (Folladore SpeedRS Team) claimed P8 ahead of top rookie Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI), a top job from the Spaniard, while Alonso Lopez (Folladore SpeedRS Racing) rounded out the top 10.
After a Long Lap penalty, David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) crossed the line in 11th ahead of Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Sergio Garcia (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI), Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and the final point scorer, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team).
2025 French MotoGP Results—Moto2 Race
| 1 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | 35m 05.439s |
| 2 | Barry Baltus | BEL | Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO(Kalex) | +1.811s |
| 3 | Aron Canet | SPA | Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO (Kalex) | +6.113s |
| 4 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +6.480s |
| 5 | Jake Dixon | GBR | Elf Marc VDS Racing (Boscoscuro) | +6.775s |
| 6 | Albert Arenas | SPA | Italjet Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +8.026s |
| 7 | Filip Salac | CZE | Elf Marc VDS Racing (Boscoscuro) | +8.621s |
| 8 | Celestino Vietti | ITA | Folladore SpeedRS (Boscoscuro) | +9.363s |
| 9 | Ivan Ortola | SPA | QJMOTOR – FRINSA — MSI (Boscoscuro) | +12.805s |
| 10 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | Folladore SpeedRS (Boscoscuro) | +13.071s |
Moto3 Race
Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) has brought the victory backflip back to Le Mans! The #99 spent his Michelin Grand Prix of France moving through the front group to be sitting third on the final lap as drama hit in the duel up ahead. An aggressive attack from David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) on then-leader Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) saw the two make contact and head wide – leaving Rueda to sweep through for the spoils.
Muñoz was penalized for the incident and demoted to third too, putting Kelso into second on the podium. For Rueda, it was already a chance to gain big in the standings too as key rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) crashed out mid-race.
Off the line it was rookie polesitter Max Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) vs Kelso for the lead, and the rookie held on for much of Lap 1 until Kelso took over in the final sector. From there, the Australian got his head down and did much of the leg work in the lead, with the Moto3™ concertina classic in full song.
Kelso, Muñoz, rookie Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Rueda is what it had boiled down to after the crash for Piqueras out the chasing pack, and then there was a sudden slide out for rookie Pini. That left a trio at the front with another rookie, Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), on the chase – but the #83 couldn’t quite make up the gap as the laps ticked down.
Barring a couple of small mistakes, Kelso kept it near perfect at the front to hold on until the last lap, and there was no open door for Muñoz on the chase. But the #64 was determined to make one and went full send at the final corner complex – making contact with the Australian and both heading wide, leaving Rueda with a clear run round the final corner to the finish line.
Muñoz crossed the line second but was demoted to third for the move, putting Kelso into P2. Carpe took fourth just behind the podium-deciding shenanigans. The top five was completed by David Almansa (Leopard Racing) heading the second group, ahead of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Quiles as he faded slightly from the podium fight, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), the Argentine rookie completing the top ten for home team Tech3.
Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) were just off that group, with Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) and Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) completing the points. Pini rejoined and took P17, without points but with some good prestige after his impressive qualifying and race performance in France.
2025 French MotoGP Results—Moto3 Race
| 1 | Jose Antonio Rueda | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | 34m 01.752s |
| 2 | Joel Kelso | AUS | LEVELUP – MTA (KTM) | +0.636s |
| 3 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.736s |
| 4 | Alvaro Carpe | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +4.400s |
| 5 | David Almansa | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +6.613s |
| 6 | Taiyo Furusato | JPN | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | +6.955s |
| 7 | Maximo Qulies | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | +7.133s |
| 8 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +7.488s |
| 9 | Luca Lunetta | ITA | SIC58 Squadra Corse (Honda) | +7.804s |
| 10 | Valentin Perrone | ARG | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM) | +7.853s |
2025 French MotoGP News—Friday
Baggers to come to MotoGP!
Harley-Davidson will return to the World Championship in 2026 with a single-make Baggers series running alongside MotoGP at six rounds next year.
Each round will feature two Baggers races. One round will run at the Circuit of the Americas, with the other five to be held in Europe. “The grid is expected to comprise six to eight teams, each fielding two riders –supported by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing,” an official statement read.
“This is a bold new step for Harley-Davidson’s global racing ambitions,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “Harley-Davidson has been pioneering performance on and off the road since our beginnings over 120 years ago.
“Most recently, we’ve showcased performance through our racing at the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series and through performance differentiated product such as our new CVO RR motorcycle and our CVO Road Glide ST. We’ve seen how performance has resonated with riders and fans, and we know that they’re keen for more.”
Rules changed
There were significant amendments to the MotoGP rules before Le Mans. For a start, factories have been forbidden from testing their new 850cc prototypes for the ’27 technical shake up before next year.
After Marc Marquez’s dramatics in Austin, the start line procedure was also altered. If a rider leaves the grid to change tires less than three minutes before the warm up lap starts, they will serve a double long lap penalty, rather than a ride through.
And riders will no be allowed to test a MotoGP machine for one day on a designated test track if “they have missed 3 or more consecutive events” or “they have missed 45 consecutive days during a MotoGP season.” This can de called the Jorge Martin rule, to allow him to check his fitness at a test before confirming his participation in a Grand Prix.
Aldeguer arriving
The potential was clear in Austin, Qatar and Jerez. But Fermin Aldeguer backed that up with a result in the Sprint in Le Mans as he rode to a brilliant third place in just his sixth round as a premier class rider.
“I’m super happy,” he said. “The first podium of the season, the first podium of my life [in MotoGP]. But also I think also in Austin, Qatar, and Jerez, we were fast. We had a good pace to fight for this podium. When you are a rookie, you don’t need the pressure, and I don’t have any, only the pressure I put on myself.”
The Spaniard had the grace to not pretend he beat Quartararo in the Sprint due to talent. “We have a better bike for sure. For him it’s difficult to fight with Ducati’s bike, but he is riding in an incredible style, in an incredible way.”
Saturday MotoGP Sprint Race
Grabbing the holeshot, Marc Marquez got to the fast Turn 2 first but ran wide, allowing home star and polesitter Quartararo to hit the front and launch away in the early stages. It was an early exit for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), as the rider P3 in the standings crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 2, despite a great start up from P6 to P4. Elsewhere, a miserable start for Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who ran off into the gravel; he was able to rejoin the action but way out of points contention.
As Lap 4 ended, there was another crasher, this time Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at Turn 9; he remounted but entered the pits. Meanwhile, at the start of Lap 6, it was Quartararo still ahead, but Marquez made his first attempt to try and lead the Sprint. He attacked at Turn 3 but ran wide, allowing ‘El Diablo’ to get back through on the cutback. However, he wasn’t as fortunate at Turn 8, with Marc able to squeeze down the inside and not allow any retaliation from the Frenchman.
At the start of Lap 8 and now heading towards the final third, there was no way for Quartararo to resist the #73 of Alex Marquez, who blasted by on the way up to Turn 2. Now the #20’s attention was moving towards Alex Marquez’s teammate Aldeguer, once again having a sensational weekend in his rookie season. He found a way ahead for P3 at Turn 3 but not willing to relinquish a top three at home, Quartararo struck back at Turn 6 with contact between the two. Not backing down, the #54 responded with equal if not more brutal force, shoving Quartararo back to fourth at Turn 7.
There was a last lap battle between the KTM duo of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) over P5, with the #12 attacking ‘El Tiburon’ into Turn 3 but unable to make it work. Then, the unthinkable on the final lap at Turn 13, as Acosta fell all of his own accord, denying himself of a first top five in the Sprints this season.
Out front, it was dreamland for Marc, who became the first rider to win six consecutive Sprints, retaking the Championship lead from his brother by two points, with Alex taking second as the brothers once again locked out the top two places. In third, a mighty first Sprint rostrum for Aldeguer, who was one of the fastest riders in the closing stages, so keep an eye out for him in the Grand Prix. Quartararo was a determined fourth, whilst Viñales completed the top five courtesy of Acosta’s last fall.
Sixth place gave another reason for the home crowd to cheer as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) came through from P11, pipping Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who likewise climbed the order from P17 to P7. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) grabbed his first Sprint points since COTA in 2023. The last point went to Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), denying Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) who rounded out the top ten.
2025 French MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint Race
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP25) | 19m 49.022s |
| 2 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24) | +0.530s |
| 3 | Fermin Aldeguer | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24)* | +2.164s |
| 4 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +2.840s |
| 5 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +5.285s |
| 6 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | +7.939s |
| 7 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) | +8.367s |
| 8 | Alex Rins | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +8.930s |
| 9 | Joan Mir | SPA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) | +9.858s |
| 10 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP25) | +11.599s |
MotoGP Qualifying
As usual, the first hurdle for those unable to get into the top ten in Practice yesterday was Q1 but the session wasn’t without dramas. There was a red flag after Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) fell at Turn 9 but he was OK, it was the bike needing some extra time to be retrieved as it revved on. By the time the session got back underway, it was close at the summit but Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) went top with less than three minutes remaining, ahead of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team). Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) charged late on but missed out on a Q2 spot by 0.010s, with the top five covered by just 0.080s. However, moving through, Zarco got part one done, with Fernandez into Q2 for the first time since Thailand.
With two Frenchmen into Q2, there were always going to be fireworks to decide pole. A new lap record was set as Marc Marquez obliterated his Practice time from Friday with a 1:29.442 in his first run, holding over three tenths over Quartararo who moved onto a provisional front row slot ahead of Championship leader Alex Marquez. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was down in P11 as he struggled again to make progress up the grid.
All eyes were now on the second run for riders but surely there was no catching Marc Marquez on top, despite Fermin Aldeguer’s (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) best attempts, going P2 before he crashed at Turn 3. He wasn’t the only crasher as Zarco fell at Turn 8 having put himself in P6 before having his lap time deleted. Alex Marquez was on a strong lap too with less than 90 seconds left on the clock, demoting his teammate to take P2.
Despite Marc Marquez looking near certain for pole, there was no guarantee in Quartararo’s mind, as the #20 pulled out a heroic lap to snatch a home pole and deny the #93 for a second consecutive Grand Prix. The crowd went crazy as for the first time since 2021, it’s back-to-back poles for ‘El Diablo’, ahead of the Marquez brothers: Marc in P2 and Alex P3. Heading up the second row and missing out on a career-first front row, Aldeguer still makes it a personal best on the grid, whilst Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) is on the second row for the third straight GP in P5. Bagnaia also made up some ground to bag sixth and will need a fast start to have a say on the podium battle. That has been a speciality, however.
On the third row, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was the best of the Aprilia riders whilst Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) has his eyes on a prize from the middle of the third row. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashed on his final flying lap so will go from ninth, with Raul Fernandez completing the top ten, his second of the season in qualifying. Joining him on the fourth row, Zarco and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), with the latter struggling in the 15-minute shootout.
2025 French MotoGP Results—MotoGP Qualifying
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1’29.324s |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP25) | +0.118s |
| 3 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24) | +0.247s |
| 4 | Fermin Aldeguer | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24)* | +0.452s |
| 5 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.699s |
| 6 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP25) | +0.723s |
| 7 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP25) | +0.859s |
| 8 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.867s |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP24) | |
| 10 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP25) | +1.061s |
Moto2 Qualifying
Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) had continued his run of poles in style at the Michelin Grand Prix of France, the Championship leader putting in a number of times good enough for the top to remain unchallenged at the end of Q2. In second and third it’s a couple of late charges for glory for Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in P2 and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the front row.
Baltus put in a stunner near the start of Q1 to near-guarantee his graduation to the fight for pole, and the Belgian then sat out the last few minutes content to remain unchallenged – and he was. Only by 0.052 in the end though as David Alonso (CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) moved up into second late on, joined by Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI) in Q2.
Once Q2 was underway, it was a familiar name on top: Gonzalez. After Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) set one new lap record, his arch rival had a response and, it would turn out, three of them. The #18 put in a trio of laps good enough for pole, ultimately keeping a gap of over three tenths at the top.
Second was decided late on in a flurry of final challenges, with Baltus steaming through into second place and Moreira then stealing third too. Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) also impressed to take over in fourth, with one final place demotion coming in for Dixon as he was pushed down to sixth by Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in P5.
Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) heads Row 3 ahead of Alonso Lopez (Folladore SpeedRS Team) and teammate Celestino Vietti, with Ortola taking his first top ten in Moto2 in P10, and via Q1.
2025 French MotoGP Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | 1m 34.315s |
| 2 | Barry Baltus | BEL | Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO(Kalex) | +0.327s |
| 3 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.339s |
| 4 | Albert Arenas | SPA | Italjet Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.345s |
| 5 | Aron Canet | SPA | Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO (Kalex) | +0.356s |
| 6 | Jake Dixon | GBR | Elf Marc VDS Racing (Boscoscuro) | +0.367s |
| 7 | Filip Salac | CZE | Elf Marc VDS Racing (Boscoscuro) | +0.396s |
| 8 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | Folladore SpeedRS (Boscoscuro) | +0.439s |
| 9 | Celestino Vietti | ITA | Folladore SpeedRS (Boscoscuro) | +0.496s |
| 10 | Ivan Ortola | SPA | QJMOTOR – FRINSA — MSI (Boscoscuro) | +0.583s |
Moto3 Qualifying
He stunned on debut in COTA and now he’s back from injury, Maximo Quiles only continues to impress. The CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team rider is on pole for only the second Grand Prix he’s contested, heading a rookie 1-2 ahead of Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP’s Guido Pini. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) continues his frontrunning form to complete the front row.
It was a tense duel in Q1 as Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was leading the way but crashed with three minutes of the session remaining, meaning he was vulnerable in the closing stages. There was no reason to worry though as he stayed top, ahead of a late-charging Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), replacement rider Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA) and Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team), denying Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) by just 0.015s.
Once we were into Q2 to decide pole, after the opening run it was Quiles on top on his return, and with quite a gap as the rookie returned to qualifying with a bang. After nearly taking pole on his first GP appearance in the Americas GP, this time he got the job done as no one could deny him.
Kelso was up into second with his penultimate flying lap but there was a mega lap incoming from Pini, taking over in P2, making it two debutants up top as Kelso adds the experience on the front row in third.
Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) heads up the second row ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) with a season-best qualifying and David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), completing the second row.
Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) took a very strong P7 on his team’s home turf, ahead of Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who continues to look for the form with which he dominated at Jerez. David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Carraro complete the top ten, denying Japanese duo Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), leaving them in P11 and P12 respectively.
2025 French MotoGP Results—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 | Maximo Qulies | SPA | CFMOTO GaviotaAspar Team (KTM) | 1m 39.947s |
| 2 | Guido Pini | ITA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.089s |
| 3 | Joel Kelso | AUS | LEVELUP – MTA (KTM) | +0.098s |
| 4 | Angel Piqueras | SPA | FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +0.202s |
| 5 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.404s |
| 6 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.411s |
| 7 | Valentin Perrone | ARG | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM) | +0.496s |
| 8 | Jose Antonio Rueda | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.530s |
| 9 | David Almansa | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.533s |
| 10 | Nicola Carraro | ITA | Rivacold Snipers Team (Honda) | +0.647s |
2025 French MotoGP News—Friday
Bagnaia resigned?
There was a hint of resignation about Pecco Bagnaia on Friday as he admitted he will have to change his riding style to adapt to Ducati’s GP25.
The Italian has sought numerous changes to give him his usual confidence in braking in the first five rounds. But at Le Mans he described the situation where he has been told to stop experimenting with settings and adapt.
“We tried everything to find what I want, that is braking and entry in a more solid way. This season I feel much more movement from the front in this area, so today I just tried to adapt myself and do a step on my own. I’m not confident to do it, but it’s the only way to be more competitive. I’m not upset, but I feel mad that my greatest point, that was braking and entry, is not any more a good thing.
“It’s not an easy process, because it’s from 2020 that I’m riding in this way. The bike was changing, but the feeling was very similar on braking and entry. And this season not, I can’t find this feeling back.”
Yamaha’s new engine
Yamaha’s four runners have an updated chassis and engine at Le Mans, which was first tested at the Jerez test. It added further momentum to the resurgence of the Iwata factory, with Fabio Quartararo and Jack Miller competitive in France.
“The new engine is confirmed,” said the Frenchman. “In fifth and sixth (gear) it’s a bit better. Here the straights are quite short, let’s say, but it’s positive because we see that it’s better. It doesn’t affect anything, just a little bit of free time, so it’s good.”
And Jack Miller said the time at Jerez offered him the chance to experiment with certain settings that have given him added confidence in corner entry. “We played with the position of where we are, fork height and angle,” he explained. “Inserts. Played with that. we made a step there. Happy to see that translate to here.”
Acosta arm pump
Pedro Acosta was passed fit to compete at Le Mans after undergoing arm pump surgery the previous Tuesday.
“I was having (arm pump) already in Argentina, I was having already in Qatar,” he explained. “But it was not that dramatic. But then in the Jerez test I was also having problems. Even in short runs, and this was not normal. For this it was better to make it now and get it done.”
Asked how his arm reacted on Friday, he said, “Really Good. We’re not at 100%, we’re not at 90, but it’s ok. Sometimes I have a pinch of pain. Depend if the inflammation becomes a bit bigger or whatever. But the rest is quite ok.”
Friday MotoGP
A new all-time lap record for Practice honours at the Michelin Grand Prix of France? That’s exactly what Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) served up as his 1:29.855 sees the six-time MotoGP World Champion acting as the rider to beat after the opening day of running. Leading the chase is home hero Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), much to the delight of the packed Le Mans terraces, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) pocketed a P3.
Leading the way into the final 30 minutes was Marc Marquez, with Quartararo 0.4s adrift in second place and Bagnaia third. That soon changed though because Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) jumped into P2 as Top Gun flew the KTM flag highest as we crept into the final 20 minutes of Practice.
The first big mover was Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol). The Italian leapt to P4 from outside the top 10 on a soft Michelin rear tire, but fortunes weren’t as favorable for teammate Joan Mir as the 2020 World Champion suffered a crash at Turn 13 with 17 minutes left on the clock.
On fresh rear rubber, Viñales closed the gap to Marquez to sit 0.005s off the #93 and pushing to get the better of his compatriot, Viñales crashed unhurt at Turn 9. Meanwhile, Bagnaia had improved his time to go P3 and with 10 minutes to go, the home crowd were applauding Quartararo as the he went 0.3s clear at the top. However, that was short-lived because five seconds later, Marquez slammed in a 1:29.855 – a new all-time lap record.
Could anyone get close to that was the question. Bagnaia went P2 to close the deficit to 0.184s and not long after, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) jumped ahead of Quartararo into P3. A late crash for Johann Zarco (Honda HRC Castrol), coupled with a Marini improvement, saw the Frenchman lose out on a place in the top 10, while the other home hero landed a late lap to back to P2. That, of course, was Quartararo.
Rookie Aldeguer continues to impress as the #54 ends Day 1 in P4 ahead of teammate and World Championship leader Alex Marquez. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) enjoyed a fruitful session, the Australian sails into Q2 in P6, as a pair of KTMs – led by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – head into Q2, with Viñales eventually ending Practice in P8.
Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was P9 and a last-lap push from Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) ensured the Italian snatched the final automatic Q2 spot in P10 – meaning Marini narrowly missed out.
2025 French MotoGP Results—Friday MotoGP
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP25) | 1:29.855s |
| 2 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.177s |
| 3 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP25) | +0.184s |
| 4 | Fermin Aldeguer | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24) | +0.366s |
| 5 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24) | +0.401s |
| 6 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.422s |
| 7 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.453s |
| 8 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.635s |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP24) | +0.654s |
| 10 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP25) | +0.767s |
Friday Moto2
Despite a red flag towards the end of the session intensifying the need for a lap time further, nobody was able to land a blow on Manuel Gonzalez’s (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) Le Mans charge as the Spaniard went unbeaten on Friday in France. Diogo Moreira’s (Italtrans Racing Team) late lap saw the Brazilian grab P2 ahead of third place Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team).
It was an eventful afternoon affair in Moto2, with some notable crashes and gremlins. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was an early faller at Turn 7 but was thankfully OK, whilst Salac suffered a mechanical problem around the halfway point. Then, with just over five minutes to go, a red flag for a fall involving Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team) at Turn 14 brought out at the red flag due to gravel on track.
Just three tenths of a second adrift of the all-time lap record after just Friday’s sessions, Gonzalez looks good to add to his win tally in 2025, but there’s plenty of track time left for the chasers to close in. Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) was P4, both having led at times throughout the session, with Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) and Lusail winner Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) rounding out the top six, making it three Spaniards inside the top six on home soil on Friday.
David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) continued his strength found in Qatar and is through to Q2 once again with P7 and teammate Daniel Holgado was right behind him, just 0.026s away in P8. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) completed the top ten, with the latter making a miraculous save at Turn 1.
Next up, his teammate Alonso Lopez in 11th and safely through to Q2, along with Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Turn 1 crasher Filip Salac (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Brazilian star Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team). Moreira just denied rookie teammate Adrian Huertas by 0.030s, forcing the #99 to go through Q1.
2025 French MotoGP Results—Friday Moto2
| 1 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | 1:34.744s |
| 2 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.335s |
| 3 | Filip Salac | CZE | Elf Marc VDS Racing (Boscoscuro) | +0.383s |
| 4 | Jake Dixon | GBR | Elf Marc VDS Racing (Boscoscuro) | +0.445s |
| 5 | Celestino Vietti | ITA | Folladore SpeedRS (Boscoscuro) | +0.547s |
| 6 | Jorge Navarro | SPA | KLINT Forward Factory Team (Forward) | +0.555s |
| 7 | Sergio Garcia | SPA | QJMOTOR – FRINSA — MSI (Boscoscuro) | +0.559s |
| 8 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | Folladore SpeedRS (Boscoscuro) | +0.597s |
| 9 | Albert Arenas | SPA | Italjet Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.608s |
| 10 | Tony Arbolino | ITA | BLU CRU PramacYamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | +0.657s |
Friday Moto3
Moto3 was its usual energetic and frenetic self in a 35-minute session to determine who moves into Q2 directly and who has to fight it out in Q1. Topping the session without any such dramas, David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) bounced back from a crash at Turn 14 to go top late on and lead the charge into Saturday.
Muñoz led the way at the chequered flag but he highsided on the exit of Turn 14 early on in the session. A second faller at the corner a few minutes later was Jakob Rosenthaler (DENSSI Racing – BOE), which then resulted gravel on the circuit and a red flag whilst the marshals cleaned up. On the return to the track, Turn 14 was proving problematic as rookie sensation Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) saved a big moment before Rosenthaler’s teammate Cormac Buchanan crashed there in a similar way. This caused for yellow flags and then, in the closing stages, Buchanan fell again, making it two in one session for the #14 New Zealander.
This meant more yellow flags but sneaking a lap in to go top – after missing the first half of the session, Muñoz pipped Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and the morning’s fastest rider, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) crashed at Turn 11 despite his best efforts to repeat his COTA save but came home fourth, ahead of best rookie and returnee Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and fellow rookie Pini. Completing the top seven, Quiles’ teammate, Dennis Foggia.
Following his big crash in the morning, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) was solid to move through with P8, whilst Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) struggled throughout but salvaged ninth. Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) rounded out the top ten ahead of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA), David Almansa (Leopard Racing) – who crept in during the closing minutes – and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), making it four rookies into Q2 as well as the home Tech 3 outfit. Big names missing out included Perrone’s teammate Jacob Roulstone, Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team).
Having dominated FP1, there was no catching Rueda again in the afternoon heat as from the get-go, the Spaniard was P1. Once the out-and-out time attack laps landed towards the end of Practice, Rueda stretched his legs further to lap just under a second away from the all-time lap record.
2025 French MotoGP Results—Friday Moto3
| 1 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | 1m 40.236s |
| 2 | Ryusei Yamanaka | JPN | FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +0.105s |
| 3 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.143s |
| 4 | Angel Piqueras | SPA | FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +0.151s |
| 5 | Maximo Qulies | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | +0.239s |
| 6 | Guido Pini | ITA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.248s |
| 7 | DennisFoggia | ITA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | +0.317s |
| 8 | Taiyo Furusato | JPN | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | +0.334s |
| 9 | Jose Antonio Rueda | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.356s |
| 10 | Scott Ogden | GBR | CIP Green Power (KTM) | +0.356s |
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