Danilo Petrucci in particular and Team Pramac in general experienced a difficult weekend in Sarthe, punctuated by great performances and disappointments.
Qualifying was disastrous and Petrux could not do better than the nineteenth time, which placed him at the back of the grid. Hope returned on Sunday morning during the warm-up with the fifth fastest time for the Italian.
In the race, Danilo made an excellent start which allowed him to complete the first lap in eleventh position. He then found himself fighting with Jack Miller and Jorge Lorenzo for eighth place. But he had an engine problem and had to retire.
Petrucci is the third driver to have a GP17, with both officials Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. So he has the newest bike, but serves as a test rider and experiments with the new stuff. Sometimes this is an advantage, but sometimes, like this weekend at Le Mans, the computer goes into “backup” position before the engine completely explodes, due to oil leaks.
For Danilo Petrucci, “ I had bad luck this weekend. Qualifying didn't go well and I had to start from 19th place, but I managed to start very quickly.
“I was behind Lorenzo and I felt that I had a good feeling with the bike. I tried to attack and felt like I could hit him. Unfortunately I had a problem with the bike and had to stop to save the engine.
“This is the second time this year and I am very disappointed. I want to have a good race at Mugello. »
Classification of the French Grand Prix:
1. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 43m 29.793s
2. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 43m 32.927s
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 43m 37.510s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 43m 41.016s
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 43m 43.312s
6. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 43m 53.795s
7. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 43m 55.526s
8. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 44m 2.396s
9. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 44m 15.577s
10. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 44m 18.125s
11. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 44m 19.829s
12. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 44m 22.454s
13. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 44m 22.972s
14. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 44m 25.225s
15. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 44m 36.671s
Provisional ranking of the World Championship:
| 1 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | SPA | 85 |
| 2 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | SPA | 68 |
| 3 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | ITA | 62 |
| 4 | Marc Márquez | Honda | SPA | 58 |
| 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | FRA | 55 |
| 6 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | ITA | 54 |
| 7 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | GBR | 40 |
| 8 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | SPA | 38 |
| 9 | Jonas Folger | Yamaha | GER | 38 |
| 10 | Jack Miller | Honda | AUS | 29 |
| 11 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | ITA | 26 |
| 12 | Scott REDDING | Ducati | GBR | 26 |
| 13 | Loris BAZ | Ducati | FRA | 19 |
| 14 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | SPA | 17 |
| 15 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | ITA | 15 |
| 16 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | SPA | 14 |
| 17 | Tito RABAT | Honda | SPA | 13 |
| 18 | Hector BARBERA | Ducati | SPA | 12 |
| 19 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | CZE | 9 |
| 20 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | SPA | 7 |
| 21 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | SPA | 6 |
| 22 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | GBR | 6 |
| 23 | Sam LOWES | Aprilia | GBR | 2 |
| 24 | Sylvain GUINTOLI | Suzuki | FRA | 1 |
