French Grand Prix, MotoGP, 2018 Race: Marquez alone in the world

It is under a dominating sun and under the sign of Johann zarco that one will rush Grand Prix of France to the audience ready to sing the Marseillaise. Never has a Frenchman been so well placed on the grid for his national event in the premier category since 1988. It was with Christian Sarron at Paul Ricard. This shows the value of the feat of the Tech3 driver who will start from the front row for the ninth consecutive time. He also serves as the best Yamaha representative on the grid for the fourth time this year…

A final indication which emphasizes the immensity of the task which awaits the tricolor facing the Honda of Márquez or the Ducati of Dovizioso. Two manufacturers who have shared the trophies for 14 races…

Before getting started, here is the table which takes stock…

 

Le Mans MotoGP™ FP1	2017	2018
FP1	1'37.467 Jack Miller (See here)	1'32.476 Marc Marquez
FP2	1'41.673 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)	1'31.936 Andrea Dovizioso
FP3	1'35.674 Scott Redding (See here)	1'31.619 Maverick Vinales
FP4	1'32.906 Maverick Vinales (See here)	1'32.337 Andrea Dovizioso
Qualification 1	1'32.298 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)	1'31.818 Danilo Petrucci
Qualification 2	1'31.994 Maverick Vinales (See here)	1'31.185 John Zarco
warm up	1'33.049 Marc Marquez (See here)
Course	Vinales, Zarco, Pedrosa (See here)
All time lap record	1'31.185 Johann Zarco (2018)

 

Jean Auréal in 1969. Guy Bertin, ten years later as Patrick Fernandez, Mike Di Meglio and in 2008 Louis Rossi in 2012 were the five compatriots to win on the track of Le Mans at the end of a Grand Prix. Four different manufacturers occupy the first four positions on the starting grid, Ducati and Suzuki accompany Yamaha and Honda.

Maverick Vinales, eighth in qualifying, was on the podium for the last two years at Le Mans. Valentino Rossi posted the ninth fastest time in qualifying, his worst result on this track since 2011. Finally, Jorge Lorenzo, qualified in sixth position, is the rider with the most victories on this track: six wins in one in 250cc and five in MotoGP.

Incidentally, here is a reminder of the last events of the season…

24° in the air, 45° on the resurfaced Bugatti track, the question of tires arises here as elsewhere. Especially since, since this morning, there have been no less than fifteen falls...

zarco in medium soft, Marquez in medium hard and Petrucci soft soft, the choices are made. Lorenzo takes off in the lead and zarco makes room to keep second place by imposing himself virilely on Marquez who goes behind Petrucci and right in front Red in medium soft. Iannone crash in turn 2.

Lorenzo is in full soft, Dovi is third in medium soft. Baptist fall at turn 6. Rabat gets into it too. Three falls in two rounds! In third, DesmoDovi passes the Tech3 driver.

Casa Particular in Viñales in full soft and thirteenth in front of a Crutchlow decreases. Dovi gets back on Lorenzo…And passes without firing a shot… Before falling at the La Chapelle bend. It’s a turning point for the championship…

zarco et Márquez are in the aspiration of Lorenzo on your mind. Petrucci leads the peloton by a second. Lorenzo is in small 1'33 and his pursuers in large 1'32. Which allows Petrucci, also in this rhythm, to remonstrate... Márquez understands the message and offers himself the scalp of zarco…Who counterattacks! But he falls in stride at turn 8…

After eight rounds we have Lorenzo, Márquez Petrucci et Red at a second. Márquez pass and petrux begins to take care of the Por Fuera case. He doubles it while further Redding fall.

Márquez takes flight and Petrucci tries to hang on. Lorenzo collapses and falls into the clutches of Red. The Doctor passes his former teammate to the green garage. Here he is already on his thirteenth podium at Le Mans. The Majorcan's ordeal is not over because Miller rushes at him. And passes it in turn.

In front of, Petrucci does everything he can to stay in touch with Márquez. It remains within half a second of delay, which gives a good reference point to Red…which runs in time Márquez.

Nine laps from the goal, Márquez opens the throttle wide and escapes. Petrucci will have to defend its place against Red. Miller is fourth in front Lorenzo who sees the threat growing Pedrosa. Casa Particular in Viñales is an anonymous ninth while Syahrin et Morbidely are fighting for twelfth place and the status of best rookie.

With five laps to go, Pedrosa pass Lorenzo and points fifth. This is one of the only feats of arms to be recounted because the podium seems frozen with a Marquez walking in front Petrucci who controls Red happy with his fate in view of the last two days… And the performance of the sister Yamaha. Casa Particular in Viñales is only seventh and sees the Suzuki of Kidneys arrive…

We'll leave it there. Crutchlow, is a courageous eighth, ahead Aleix Espargaró, Kidneys et Pol Espargaro. Syahrin follows, twelfth and best beginner. A consolation for Tech3…

HJC French Grand Prix MotoGP Race: Standings

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 41m 49.773s
2. Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Ducati (GP18) 41m 52.083s
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 41m 55.123s
4. Jack Miller AUS Pramac Ducati (GP17) 41m 56.087s
5. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 41m 57.192s
6. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP18) 42m 0.128s
7. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 42m 13.531s
8. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 42m 15.568s
9. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 42m 15.979s
10. Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 42m 17.710s
11. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 42m 22.077s
12. Hafizh Syahrin EVIL Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 42m 24.735s
13. Franco Morbidelli ITA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 42m 27.654s
14. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 42m 28.072s
15. Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V)* 42m 31.759s
16. Thomas Luthi SWI EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 42m 35.033s
17. Karel Abraham CZE Angel Nieto Team (GP16) 42m 46.645s
18. Xavier Simeon ESP Reale Avintia (GP16)* 43m 1.890s 
    Scott Redding GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) DNF 
    Tito Rabat ESP Reale Avintia (GP17) DNF 
    John Zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1) DNF 
    Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP18) DNF 
    Alvaro Bautista ESP Angel Nieto Team (GP17) DNF 
    Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) DNF