It seems incredible, but no transalpine driver has ever won the Grand Prix on home soil, so Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco are racing to make history this weekend.
About Diane Tamantini de Motoracing
The Bugatti Circuit of Le Mans will host the seventh round of the 2022 MotoGP season. fabio quartararo et Johann zarco will clearly be the most prominent, being the two home drivers. They will also be symbols for a movement which is slowly beginning to “awaken”, marked by initiatives aimed at searching for new talents. But the French Grand Prix will also be a new opportunity to try to lift a taboo: there has never been a victory for a French driver at home in the premier category! The two Frenchmen, protagonists of another double podium in Indonesia, will attempt the enterprise again. In the meantime, let's review the results of the past.
In fact, to look for French triumphs, you have to look at the other categories. The Le Mans circuit hosted the first GP valid for the World Championship in 1969, an event immediately celebrated with the first success of a home favorite. It is Jean Auréal, triumphing over Yamaha then in 125cc. The Bugatti Circuit alternated for years with other circuits and we had to wait until 1979, on the occasion of the 4th world GP on this circuit to see Guy Martin on the French Motobécane conquers success in 125cc, and patrick fernandez protagonist with Yamaha in 350cc. We must then move forward several years, to ensure that Le Mans becomes the permanent venue for the French GP, and beyond. We stop in 2008, to once again look at the 125cc. This is the year of Mike Di Meglio, who was world champion in the category, who won his first victory of the season on his own track. Later, it was Moto3 which brought glory: Louis Rossi has no rival, and with him comes the last French triumph in front of its public.
Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco will ride for history
We will also note some precedents on other French circuits, hosting events valid for the World Championship. Local pilots presented themselves for the first time in 1954 in Reims: Pierre Monneret triumphs both in 350cc (with AJS) and in 500cc (with Gilera). This is the only French victory at home in the premier category of the World Championship. Another truly memorable weekend for the tricolors was the 1982 GP at Nogaro: an event boycotted by many for the dangerous track, but a celebration for the local favorites, with three successes in all four classes in action. Jean-Claude Selini (Morbidelli) in 125cc, Jean-Louis Tournadre (Yamaha) in 250cc, Jean-François Baldé (Kawasaki) in 350cc. Only the fourth category, the 500cc, bears the signature of a non-French pilot, precisely the Swiss Michael Frutschi on Sanvenero.
The succession of French triumphs ends here. The Bugatti Circuit of Le Mans also appears to be a real “curse” for the local heroes… Johann zarco failed to win even in two years of glory in Moto2: he was 3rd in 2015, the following year he fell when he was 8th, restarted but only finished 24th. In MotoGP, however, he claims a double second place, the last obtained in 2021 behind his teammate Jack Miller, in front of the poleman and compatriot fabio quartararo. A podium which, for the reigning MotoGP champion, is also the best result of his career at home!
Once again, it will be the hunt for history for the two French people and the Pramac Ducati rider in particular: he will be keen to catch up after the zero in Jerez, and he will once again try to stop this record of podiums (13) without ever winning in the premier category.
