The 2025 MotoGP French Grand Prix will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest moments in the history of French motorcycle racing. In front of a record crowd and in an electric atmosphere, Johann Zarco achieved the feat an entire nation had been waiting for for more than seven decades: to win his home Grand Prix. He thus became the first Frenchman to win on his home soil since Pierre Monneret in 1954. This victory, snatched at the end of a thrilling race full of twists and turns, thrilled the crowd, but also and especially the Zarco family, present for the first time in full on the circuit to experience this moment.
Nothing suggested such a scenario could have unfolded last Sunday at Le Mans. After already exciting Moto2 and Moto3 races, the rain arrived just as the 22 MotoGP riders were preparing to compete in a dry race. The rain reshuffled the cards, forcing the riders to make crucial choices on the grid: slick tires or wet tires?
Johann Zarco opted for rain tires, a risky bet as the track was still partially dry.. From the start, the race promises to be chaotic: a collision at turn 3 with Joan Mir forces Zarco to go straight on, relegating him to 17th. Meanwhile, other riders like Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia and Brad Binder crashed in the opening laps, as the rain intensified and trapped many riders..
But Johann Zarco didn't give up. Taking advantage of the worsening conditions, he found himself in a better position than his rivals. On lap eight, when his competitors had to face the fact that rain tires were more effective, Johann Zarco took advantage of the pit stops to take the lead. He would never relinquish it.. His handling of the changing conditions and his superior pace allowed him to open up an impressive gap: he crossed the finish line with a lead of almost 20 seconds over Marc Márquez.
Deprived of the national anthem during his first MotoGP victory at the 2023 Australian GP, the Marseillaise finally resonated for Johann Zarco on the top step of the podium. After the press conference, while the excitement was gradually dying down in the other pits on the grid, the LCR Honda box was just beginning its celebrations. The star of the day thus showered the crowd with Prosseco, before going out one last time in front of the Le Mans crowd to celebrate in front of the approximately 100 people gathered in the grandstands of the Bugatti circuit that day.
Johann Zarco creates emotion: "My son will become a legend"
Before the festivities continued in a small group, we were able to get a few words from Johann Zarco's parents. Their presence, rare on the racetrack, made this victory all the more exceptional. It was in this atmosphere filled with memories and smiles that his father, Yvon, shared his pride with us.
"The last time it was won here by a Frenchman was in 1954. That's 70 years ago, I'm 75. With my wife, it's the best day of our lives, he says. Our latest addition, which is delighting all of France, couldn't be better!
And if you think the magical moments he experienced make him want to come back, think again! Admitting to having hesitated until the last moment before making the trip, Mr. Zarco seems to have stocked up on emotions for a lifetime.
"No! I refused [to come], I told my wife to go with your sister, you'll have fun, the latter admits again. It was at the last moment, I don't know, I said: 'I'm coming!' Now, we're not going to party any more than that., because we're a family that parties all the time! If we do more, we end up in the hospital..."
His mother, Françoise, who was coming to watch her son race for the very first time in his 17-year career, had chosen her weekend well. "He wanted me to feel a little bit of everything that was happening, because I watch him a little bit on television. Not when he's riding, I watch afterward, I listen. I have trouble watching him. This time, I watched him until the end. I wanted him to hold on, to stay on the bike. He did something exceptional, he almost went into the gravel, he came back, found himself in front and then went far ahead. It was amazing."
As calm gradually returned to the LCR Honda pits, the Frenchman's entourage began to realize the magnitude of this success. This gave Johann Zarco's mother the opportunity to conclude with some powerful words: "My son is going to become a legend, isn't that beautiful?"
