- 2023-05-14
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SPORTS
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MotoGP French: Francesco Bagnaia Takes Pole Position, Jorge Martin Wins Sprint Race at Le Mans
The Round 5 of MotoGP 2023, SHARK Grand Prix de France took place at Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, France on May 13, 2023.
This time, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) returned to the race since crashing the Portuguese GP with a hand injury.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) took his second pole position of 2023, following Americas GP.
Marc Marquez was 2nd behind Francesco Bagnaia by 0.058s and missed his 65th career pole position.
Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati) took 3rd position for the second time in 2023, following Americas GP.
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM), Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati), and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) will start on the second row.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati) was 7th ahead of Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati).
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) was 10th.
Local hero and the 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) could not advanced to Q2 from Q1 and was 13th.
Francesco Bagnaia said, “I was struggling a bit with the tyres. Maybe it was too cold or too hot for the warm-up I did with the tyres. I needed two or three laps to get back the tyres to have the same feeling. I was struggling there and Jorge [Martin], when he overtook me, was so much faster at that moment. I just had to remain a bit calm and it was easy to make mistakes today. The front feeling was not as expected. Maybe for tomorrow we have to do something. I was struggling a bit so finishing in the top three is always really good. We had a great battle today. When there is contact you can be upset because of the adrenaline and the tension, but for me, a battle like this is normal. We have to keep like this and not like two weeks ago when, for the same overtakes, I took a penalty. For me, this is normality. I just said to him that it has to be like this always. Having aggressive fights and we have to be allowed to do that and not to be scared about penalties. When I was behind him I was scared - I had two opportunities in corner seven and was there saying to myself 'I go or not'.”
In the Sprint Race, Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) took his first victory of 2023.
He overtook Francesco Bagnaia on lap four of 13 and moved up to top. Finally, he reached the chequered flag ahead of 2nd place Brad Binder by 1.840s.
Francesco Bagnaia completed the podium after fending off Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati).
Marc Marquez was 5th on his racing return from injury.
Fabio Quartararo started just 13th on the grid, dropped to 16th on the opening lap. He moved up to 8th place, ended up to crash out on the way into Turn 9 on lap 10.
Jorge Martin said, “I didn't expect to fight… well, to fight [for the podium] yes, but not for the win. Today I thought it was a day to prepare for tomorrow's race because yesterday and this morning I didn't feel great. I felt like I didn't have the bike to fight for it, but with this temperature I felt good. I feel like something has unblocked in my head. It's only a sprint race, but it's been a long time since my last victory. So, I feel I had this thing in my head that didn't allow me to put all my potential on track and it seems like I'm getting it back. I was fast, hopefully tomorrow I was fast also. I will try to battle for the victory, but for me it's more important to finish on the podium and keep scoring points to keep progressing. About this block, it's not that I have a block [from being competitive]. Normally when you are a long time without winning, everything comes easier [when you do]. You get the motivation, you get the confidence back. So, I feel like I am in that moment.”
SHARK Grand Prix de France Qualifying Results- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / 1'30.705s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +0.058s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +0.137s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +0.279s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.318s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +0.415s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +0.468s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +0.570s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +0.593s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +0.740s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +0.818s
- Augusto Fernandez / Tech3 GASGAS / +0.891s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / 1'31.366s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 1'31.545s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / 1'31.718s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / 1'31.81s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / 1'31.886s
- Alex Rins / LCR Honda / 1'31.959s
- Danilo Petrucci / Ducati Lenovo / 1'32.092s
- Lorenzo Savadori / RNF Aprilia / 1'32.41s
- Jonas Folger / Tech3 GASGAS / 1'33.605s
SHARK Grand Prix de France Sprint Race Results- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / 19m 59.037s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +1.840s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +2.632s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +3.418s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +3.541s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +4.483s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +5.224s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +6.359s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +8.336s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +9.439s
- Alex Rins / LCR Honda / +12.388s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / +14.125s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / +15.121s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / +15.383s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +15.591s
- Danilo Petrucci / Ducati Lenovo / +19.415s
- Lorenzo Savadori / RNF Aprilia / +26.992s
Photo by MotoGP- source : MotoGP
