- 2024-05-12
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SPORTS
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MotoGP French GP: Jorge Martin Takes Pole Position & Wins Sprint Race at Le Mans
The Round 5 of MotoGP 2024, Michelin® Grand Prix de France took place at Bugatti Circuit Le Mans, France on May 11, 2024.
In Qualifying, Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) took his second pole position this season with a new lap record after crashing in the latter part of the session, following QatarGP.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) crashed while under the lap record, and finally kept 2nd position behind Jorge Martin by 0.192s. This marks his first front row start of 2024 season.
Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) returned to the front row and took 3rd position.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati), Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) will start on the second row.
Local hero Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) was 8th behind rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and ahead of former team-mate Franco Morbidelli (Pramac Ducati).- In the Sprint Race, pole sitter Jorge Martin dominate the race, and led all 13 laps. He took his 12th career sprint victory.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) leaped from 13th on the grid and finished 2nd after a late crash for Marco Bezzecchi.
Maverick Vinales kept 3rd in the face of late pressure from Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo).
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) penalised with a double long-lap penalty for jumping the start while in 3rd place, and finished 5th ahead of rookie Pedro Acosta.
Francesco Bagnaia had a big snap under breaking for Turn 7 on lap 3 and ran into the gravel, end up finishing the race for his third DNF this year.
Local heroes Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) were 10th and 13th, respectively. - Jorge Martin said, “It was a really nice race. I did a great start and then I tried to push a lot. I tried to put all my pace out there on the track. But Marco was quite strong, he was trying to keep that gap [close], so I had to push a bit too much! And then finally he forced the crash. From that point, I just tried to manage the distance with the Marc and make it to the end. It wasn't easy making those lap times. I think the pace [tomorrow] won't be the same because today was a bit too much. I think I cannot make 27 laps in this pace, but if we manage to be in first we can do a really strong race and really fast race. We have to understand the forecast and be prepared for every situation, for whatever comes. Try to make it to the end and get some points.”
Michelin® Grand Prix de France Qualifying Results- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / 1'29.919s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.192s
- Maverick Vinales / Aprilia Racing / +0.394s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / VR46 Ducati / +0.517s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +0.634s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +0.653s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +0.731s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +0.767s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / +0.863s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +0.867s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +1.088s
- Miguel Oliveira / Trackhouse Aprilia / +1.156s
- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / 1'30.586s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / 1'30.676s
- Johann Zarco / LCR Honda / 1'30.891s
- Alex Rins / Monster Yamaha / 1'31.067s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / 1'31.148s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / 1'31.186s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 1'31.274s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / 1'31.473s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / 1'31.837s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / 1'32.228s
Michelin® Grand Prix de France Sprint Race Results- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / 19m 49.694s
- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +2.280s
- Maverick Vinales / Aprilia Racing / +4.174s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +4.798s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +7.698s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +9.185s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / VR46 Ducati / +11.190s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +11.516s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / +12.257s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +12.699s
- Miguel Oliveira / Trackhouse Aprilia / +13.492s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / 15.578s
- Johann Zarco / LCR Honda / +16.439s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +16.816s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +16.969s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +19.123s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +23.618s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / +27.854s
Photo by MotoGP - source : MotoGP
