MotoGP Round 5 - Le Mans - Le Mans, France - **Spoiler**

[budman]

Bonjour les fans de courses de motos.


The French Homies are ready to rock Lemans!!


Zarco is probably dreaming of another home win. Given the weather he has a shot!


Quick recap of 2025.

I would love to see Zarco's Dad cry again... and one more back flip of course as well!!
That was a very emotional win even for me. Loved it!



A Marquez is looking to keep his success rolling by stepping up to the top spot on the podium again. Certainly at least a podium has to be his goal for the races.

MM seems to just want to get his proper game on and I am sure will be at the top end of the grid. He finished 2nd in the GP last year.

Bez will want to get back to full stride I am sure and his Team mate will want to keep his success going. It has been cool to see the Martinator back in the game. The Trackhouse boys will looking to extend their solid performances as well. They had both guys in the top 10 here last year and both are looking pretty damn strong.

The other members of the Ducati gang should do well here.
Aldeguer got his first MotoGP podium here last year. Digi has been showing the other Duc bros his rear camera for the most part this year. Peco did not score a damn point here last year. He has to do better.

Pedro had a good showing in France in 2025. The kid has to be on fire inside knowing (like Fabio Q) he has the talent to win.

Jonas Folger (Who?) will be riding the KTM of Top Gun and return to the grid once again.

Honda has two of their Castrol riders in the top 6 but Taka is gone and we have a new rookie in his spot. Yamaha is just Yamaha at this point. I think we are all crossing our fingers they are making good decisions and being competitive again WILL happen.

Time for the Ooooh La La from France!!

Racing... WHEHOOOO!!!!

 

[Jaxter]

Jonas Folger had a promising MotoGP career, on the podium, but fell ill and dropped out as I remember, glad to see him back...relegated to back marker no doubt on the KTM. Looks to be a sloppy Sunday...Zarco repeat??

 

[budman]

What an exciting day...!!!

Talk about surprises. There are plenty of them.



The fastest dude in France today.

 

[budman]

Saturday is providing!!!

FP2... yes.

Q1 - Wholly shit!!

Spoiler

New Lap record. Fabio Q made it to Q2 so two Yamaha's!

 

[Ridley]

The American Racing Team had a great qualifying.

 

[Lucky Jones]

That start and those first 3 turns!!!!

the rest of the sprint was pretty good too.

 

[Jammer]

 

[budman]

Uh oh!!!

Q2 I did not expect this. Factory Ducati 1 - 2.

 

[budman]

Damn Marc...! Glad he walked away. A bit limpy but walked.



One of the best starts I have ever seen led to the win. Great ride

Great ride by Martin after and epic start!
Pecco looked good for the first time in a while.

Bez on the podium was the only surprise to me.



Jorge hanging around with Jack and StopRak??

 

[budman]

Happy eyes... very cool to see! Do it again tomorrow!!!

 

[Ridley]

I think if Marc raced during the 500cc 2-stroke era his career would have been over before the end of his first season. He really needs to retire.

 

[budman]

Looks like he is out with a fractured foot.

3.7M views · 39K reactions | A HUGE crash for Marc Márquez in the penultimate lap! 😱 The reigning World Champ has been declared unfit due to a fracture in his right foot ⚠️ #FrenchGP🇫🇷 | MotoGP

A HUGE crash for Marc Márquez in the penultimate lap! 😱 The reigning World Champ has been declared unfit due to a fracture in his right foot ⚠️ #FrenchGP🇫🇷

www.facebook.com

 

[budman]

What a day...!!!!! Here is my notes.

Well that was another Aprilia success story and Ducati nightmare really. The best ever GP race day for Aprilia.

Ducati had Marc injured and out. Peco tucks the front and out. A. Marq crashes and out. One fucking Ducati in the top 5..

Now team Ape... Fuck yeah. All 4 in the top 10.
Bez did Bez and broke away. Jorge did not get that killer first lap yesterday but the Martinator is BACK!

From 7th to a win is awesome. First GP win since coming back! Great ride chasing down the podium spots.

Ogura too... moving through the pack to battle for a podium. Unlike COTA Ogura's bike did not fail. The Aprilia podium lock out could have happened there. FOOOK!!!!!

Martin kept coming... cutting an almost 2 second gap to .3 with 5 laps to go!!!

And with 3 laps to go...

Hell Ogura was tracking down Bez at the end too...!! First Japanese rider on the podium in 14 years. Great ride Ai!!!!

Biggest smile I have ever seen from him!

Good day to be wearing my TrackHouse MotoGP shirt.

Congrats Aprilia!! Great ride Jorge!

Other notes.

• Fabio Q did a great job on his soft tire to grab 6th. Like a win in ways given the new bike.
• Fabio D was Ducati's lead man although Aldeguer slipped into the top 10.
• Mir crashed again.
• Marini top Honda in 10 with Zarco behind him. The Frenchman got roughed up early losing a bunch of spots (6?).
• Two KTM's in the top 10.

That was damn fun!!


Viv La France!

 

[Jaxter]

I think we may be in for a great Aprilia championship run this year. Good to see Jorge back to winning ways! Too bad for Zarco rain never appeared.

 

[GAJ]

I've always like Martin.

Now I hear he may be going to Yamaha next year with the Japanese phenom?

Crazy.

Maybe if he wins the title this year he can win on a third brand.

That has never been done before.

 

[budman]

Cycle News with the story and pertee pictures

 

[plaid]

Ripping good racing.

 

[Jaxter]

Ducati has produced an interesting vid on French GP and features a unique admission by Marc to the team regarding his physical conditioning...

 

[budman]

I am watching the highlights and realized I did not pay homage to Fabio’s home livery. A bold one.





Very different. Thought it was cool.

 

[plaid]

High concentration of coolness detected here, as well.