With two Frenchmen in the lead in MotoGP, including Johann Zarco in the lead, we couldn't have dreamed of a better start for a French Grand Prix. The Ducati Pramac rider seems comfortable on both wet and dry tracks, although he admitted that his performance in FP2 must also be attributed to the fact that he had Maverick Viñales in his sights. This Saturday will be the big day of qualifying, a now essential exercise which conditions the race on Sunday...
La rain will remain the adjustment variable for this fifth meeting of the season and it can turn everything upside down, as demonstrated by a surprising FP1 from which a Lorenzo Savadori subscribed to the last places with his Aprilia. The brand will unfortunately not have taken advantage of the good conditions of the afternoon and its two drivers are currently out of a top 10 which invites them to enter directly into Q2.
This is also the case for the championship leader bagnaia while his teammate at Ducati, Jack Miller, leader in the morning, was messy in the afternoon with a fall. The winner of the last Spanish Grand Prix is seventh ahead Marc Marquez who left leadership at Honda to Pol Espargaro, fourth. Casa Particular in Viñales is third and with Morbidely fifth then Red ninth, Yamaha has its four machines in the first part of the ranking. A strategic position in MotoGP thatOlive tree, sixth, allowed KTM to also hold on.
France Zarco: “this time, Ducati has everything to win the drivers’ title”
On the first appearance of this French Grand Prix, Johann Zarco did not hide the fact that a duel with his compatriot Quartararo was looming, like the one between Ducati and Yamaha, which has been unavoidable since the start of the season: “çit could be“, admits zarco . « Fabio can be very fast immediately, if the track remains dry. But with worn tires the situation is more level, so we can play ».
«I think there were a lot of accidents because it's the first Grand Prix that we run in cold weather ", added zarco. " You have to be careful, but it's not easy when you push hard. However, I feel comfortable with the soft front tire ».
And obviously Johann also feels very comfortable with the Desmosedics , a motorcycle that this year seems effective: “ this time, Ducati has everything to try to win the drivers' title », admits the Frenchman.
What will this second day of French Grand Prix ? To make sure you don't miss anything, here are the times:
Saturday May 15
09:00 – 09:40: Moto3, FP3
09:55 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.: MotoGP, FP3
10:55 – 11:35: Moto2, FP3
11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.: MotoE, FP3
12:35 – 12:50 p.m.: Moto3, Qualifying 1
13:00 – 13:15 p.m.: Moto3, Qualifying 2
13:30 a.m. – 14:00 a.m.: MotoGP, FP4
14:10 p.m. – 14:25 p.m.: MotoGP, Qualifying 1
14:35 p.m. – 14:50 p.m.: MotoGP, Qualifying 2
15:10 – 15:25 p.m.: Moto2, Qualifying 1
15:35 – 15:50 p.m.: Moto2, Qualifying 2
16:10 p.m. – 16:50 p.m.: MotoE, E-Pole
17:15 p.m.: Northern Talent Cup, race 1 (15 laps)
