Jorge Lorenzo is on a Bugatti route which is at least as favorable as that of Jerez, frequented two weeks earlier. Indeed, he has scored five of the last seven Yamaha victories at Le Mans. However, he finished this Friday in Sarthe only tenth, 0.640s behind a teammate Dovizioso who took away his local lap record, while renewing his red lease for two more years…
An observation that did not escape Por Fuera, but which leaves him cold: “ I expected Dovizioso to stay at Ducati. I'm happy for him and for Ducati. They do a very good job together. They were competitive last year and they are again this year. But that doesn't change my situation. The two upcoming races are very important for me. Results must improve. We have to play for the podium. And both parties want to continue together ».
His performance during this first day in Sarthe did not move him any more: “ It's pretty much the same as in Jerez and on Saturday it would be good to start from one of the first two rows. The race feels like it did in Jerez too, which is positive. I think I can take the soft tires ". It will be recalled that at Le Mans it benefits from the new chassis: “ the sensations it gives on entry and at the apex of turns are better. It's easier with him to try adjustments. But I only have a new chassis. My second remains the old one. We made a mistake changing the settings while putting on fresh tyres. Without that, I did three tenths better ».
It will therefore be necessary to keep Lorenzo keep an eye on what happens next.
HJC French Grand Prix J.1: Chonos
| 1 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 1'31.936 | ||
| 2 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda | 1'32.104 | 0.168 | 0.168 |
| 3 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 1'32.179 | 0.243 | 0.075 |
| 4 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 1'32.204 | 0.268 | 0.025 |
| 5 | 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | 1'32.279 | 0.343 | 0.075 |
| 6 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | 1'32.302 | 0.366 | 0.023 |
| 7 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 1'32.414 | 0.478 | 0.112 |
| 8 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | 1'32.466 | 0.530 | 0.052 |
| 9 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1'32.572 | 0.636 | 0.106 |
| 10 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | 1'32.576 | 0.640 | 0.004 |
| 11 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | 1'32.586 | 0.650 | 0.010 |
| 12 | 53 | Tito RABAT | Ducati | 1'32.617 | 0.681 | 0.031 |
| 13 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 1'32.647 | 0.711 | 0.030 |
| 14 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | 1'32.752 | 0.816 | 0.105 |
| 15 | 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 1'32.803 | 0.867 | 0.051 |
| 16 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | 1'32.851 | 0.915 | 0.048 |
| 17 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | 1'33.072 | 1.136 | 0.221 |
| 18 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | 1'33.318 | 1.382 | 0.246 |
| 19 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | Yamaha | 1'33.435 | 1.499 | 0.117 |
| 20 | 21 | Frank MORBIDELLI | Honda | 1'33.667 | 1.731 | 0.232 |
| 21 | 45 | Scott REDDING | Aprilia | 1'33.830 | 1.894 | 0.163 |
| 22 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | 1'33.942 | 2.006 | 0.112 |
| 23 | 12 | Thomas LUTHI | Honda | 1'34.089 | 2.153 | 0.147 |
| 24 | 10 | Xavier SIMEON | Ducati | 1'34.311 | 2.375 | 0.222 |
