2026 French MotoGP News—Friday
Pit lane entry rules revised
After the controversial Sprint race at Jerez, Race Direction has tweaked the rules to ensure riders must enter pit lane at the official entry point, indicated by a dotted line.
“In all track sessions including races, the only permitted pit lane entry is by using the designated entry point and route, defined by the broken white line – following the pit lane entry road and crossing the designated pit lane entry timing point,” an official statement read.
This would have ruled out the chance of Marc Marquez cutting across the grass at Jerez’s final turn and entering pit lane from there. Should that happen, “where the broken white line is not crossed or the full pit lane entry road is not used by a rider, the FIM MotoGP Stewards may penalize as appropriate for practice sessions or races.”
Tech3 to stay with KTM?
After weeks of speculation Tech3 is poised to stay with KTM for 2027 and beyond after heavily considering a switch to Honda machinery.
Team CEO Guenther Steiner was non-committal over the decision. “At the moment we’re still talking. We want to make sure we’re in a good place in the next years. We want to make sure we take the right decision. We don’t need a quick decision; we need a right one.
“Speaking with the teams, it’s very difficult to decide because no one knows what the bikes will be like next year. Completely new regulations. Whatever you do, you take a gamble. Being new here, it takes longer to understand. I want to make sure I don’t take a decision and regret in 2 or 3 weeks. I’m speaking to a few people. Hopefully in the next few weeks we can confirm.”
But Cycle News understands a switch to Honda is unlikely after KTM offered some recent financial incentives for the French team to stay.
Marquez running different aero
Marc Marquez’s struggles continued on Friday in France, as he failed to make the Q2 cut in Practice for the first time this year. “I’m struggling with the front feeling,” he admitted. “but I think it’s more my riding style, I need to change some things to improve.”
It was also notable how Marquez had adopted last year’s side fairing – the three other GP26s remain with this year’s side aero – to combat his current problems.
“It’s a technical decision together with Ducati,” he explained. “In the end it’s the same direction as the fairing that they homologated, but the technicians believe I have a different size of body, with respect to Diggia, Pecco and Alex. They are much taller. And for my position of the body they believe that this is the correct fairing for me, made with the same direction as the others. So in the end the direction on the bike is the same.”
Friday MotoGP
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) began his 2026 home Grand Prix in perfect fashion by ending Friday at the summit. The French rider looked superb in the dry conditions throughout day one of the French Grand Prix, delighting the home supporters, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) sat only 0.010s adrift in second. Two-time World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) secured third place despite suffering a late tumble.
It proved a difficult opening to Practice for Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), as the reigning 2024 World Champion and French GP victor crashed at Turn 9 little more than five minutes into the session. He was far from alone, however, because 15 minutes later Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) also lost the front end, this occasion occurring at Turn 3 despite his efforts to rescue the bike. With under 30 minutes remaining, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) endured a major mechanical issue as his RS-GP burst into flames, briefly interrupting his Friday afternoon.
At the sharp end, it was Di Giannantonio who appeared to have found his rhythm quickest. The #49 rider was flying after claiming P2 during FP1 earlier in the day and now spearheading the pace in the afternoon. Yet that came only after a strong attack from last year’s home winner; Zarco not only climbed to P1 once, but then immediately improved again with consecutive fastest laps as the final ten minutes approached.
While Zarco continued to impress and fellow French favorite Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) climbed into the provisional top ten, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was charging hard before losing the front at the penultimate corner. Back on his feet quickly and sprinting to the pits for his spare machine, ‘The Shark’ still hoped to cement a direct Q2 place.
Meanwhile, another Honda moved to the top as Joan Mir set the pace once more. The Spaniard had topped the morning session and, with seven minutes left, repeated the feat again. That remained the case until double World Champion Bagnaia delivered a 1:30.045 to move ahead. It created a thrilling final shootout with only five minutes remaining.
One of the session’s late surprises arrived courtesy of Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who surged into the top ten alongside improvements from Martin and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). The Championship leader struggled for much of the session and only narrowly secured a top ten place at the end. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) also jumped into the top ten, pushing Marc Marquez outside it. Teammate Bagnaia crashed on his final flying lap, while the #93 failed to improve and faces his first Q1 appearance since Indonesia last season after finishing 13th.
Zarco ended Friday fastest at Le Mans, delivering a dream beginning to the weekend for the packed grandstands. ‘Diggia’ finished P2 once again and this time found himself behind a different Honda compared to FP1, while Bagnaia, Alex Marquez and Mir rounded out the top five. Martin, Bezzecchi, Rins, Ogura and Acosta in P10 ensured every manufacturer advanced directly into Q2 after Practice. Less than three tenths separated the top ten in another astonishingly close MotoGP session.
Among those missing the cut were Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), fellow KTM contender Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), and Marc Marquez in 13th. 2025 polesitter Quartararo could manage only 17th, while last year’s double podium finisher Aldeguer finished down in 21st. Just two remaining Q2 places will be decided on Saturday morning.
2026 French MotoGP Results—Friday MotoGP
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | 1:29.907s |
| 2 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +0.010s |
| 3 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +0.138s |
| 4 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +0.138s |
| 5 | Joan Mir | SPA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) | +0.185s |
| 6 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +0.221s |
| 7 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +0.270s |
| 8 | Alex Rins | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.288s |
| 9 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +0.289s |
| 10 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.289s |
Friday Moto2
A blistering and very early 1:34.348 from Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) ensured the Spaniard ended Friday atop the Moto2 standings on an ultra-close opening day. Just 0.002s shy of P1 was second-placed Celestino Vietti (Folladore SpeedRS Team) as Boscoscuro launched the weekend with a 1-2 finish, while another 0.001s further back sat third-placed Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing). A mere 0.003s covering the top three – and there should be plenty more of that all weekend long.
Fourth position belonged to Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – El Motorista – MSI), with the Spaniard only 0.044s away from the summit, while fellow countryman Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) was another 0.088s behind in fifth place.
It proved a positive day for Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) following difficult outings in Austin and Jerez, as the former championship leader finished just over a tenth away from P1 in sixth. However, on the opposite side of the garage, it wasn’t the Friday David Alonso had been hoping for. The Colombian rider ended Practice in P18, 0.664s adrift of Guevara, and failed to feature inside the top 14 throughout the session. Plenty of work remains for the #80 in France.
The top two riders in the World Championship, Manuel Gonzalez and Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP teammate Senna Agius, completed Friday in P8 and P9 respectively. Most importantly, both safely secured their places in Q2.
2026 French MotoGP Results—Friday Moto2
| 1 | Izan Guevara | SPA | BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | 1:34.348s |
| 2 | Celestino Vietti | ITA | Folladore SpeedRS Team (Boscoscuro) | +0.002s |
| 3 | Barry Baltus | BEL | REDS Fantic Racing (Kalex) | +0.003s |
| 4 | Ivan Ortola | SPA | QJMOTOR – El Motorista – MSI (Kalex) | +0.044s |
| 5 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | ITALJET Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.088s |
| 6 | Daniel Holgado | SPA | CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.104s |
| 7 | Collin Veijer | NED | Red Bull KTM Ajo (Kalex) | +0.149s |
| 8 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.161s |
| 9 | Senna Agius | AUS | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.185s |
| 10 | Ayumu Sasaki | JPN | Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.288s |
Friday Moto3
David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) delivered an impressive performance to finish fastest on the opening day of Moto3 action at Le Mans, France. The French Grand Prix rarely disappoints and Muñoz, who challenged for victory here last season, will now be aiming to secure the first win of his 2026 campaign after throwing down the marker on Friday.
The #64 spent much of the session circulating near the front before snatching top spot away from teammate David Almansa in the closing minutes. Almansa had occupied P1 for the majority of Practice before Muñoz surged to the summit late in the session; Almansa then crashed on his final flying lap at Turn 8 but escaped unharmed. Completing the top three was Argentine talent Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), who also displayed strong pace throughout Friday.
Directly behind the leading trio, Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) claimed an impressive fourth ahead of late improver Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Jerez podium finisher Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). Elsewhere inside the top ten, Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower) secured seventh at his squad’s home GP while Championship leader Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) grabbed P8 despite an early tumble at Turn 6. It was also a productive Friday for the Gryd – MLav Racing team, with both Joel Kelso and Eddie O’Shea advancing directly into Q2.
Several big names ended the day outside the top 14 at the chequered flag and therefore face a trip through Q1. COTA winner Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) could only manage 15th following a crash, while Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), second in the standings and leader of the opening FP1 session at Le Mans, ended the day down in P17 after his own fall. Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA) has started from the front two rows in each of the last three Grands Prix but must now battle through Q1 to continue that streak.
2026 French MotoGP Results—Friday Moto3
| 1 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | 1:40.211s |
| 2 | David Almansa | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.014s |
| 3 | Marco Morelli | ARG | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | +0.085s |
| 4 | Hakim Danish | MAL | AEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +0.232s |
| 5 | Brian Uriarte | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.387s |
| 6 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.425s |
| 7 | Scott Ogden | GBR | CIP Green Power (KTM) | +0.535s |
| 8 | Maximo Quiles | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | +0.543s |
| 9 | Veda Pratama | INA | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | +0.568s |
| 10 | Valentin Perrone | ARG | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM) | +0.622s |
