The MotoGP championship visited the Le Mans circuit this weekend. The result was a mix of the ordinary and the unusual.
Fabio Quartararo again took his Yamaha to pole position – the second round in a row where he has done so. But the Marc Marquez dominance of Saturday’s sprint race continued as he passed early leader Quartararo to win ahead of his brother Alex in second and rookie Fermin Aldegeur in third. The podium was all Ducati riders. Quartararo held on to finish fourth.
On Sunday, the start of the full-length GP race was chaotic for several reasons centered around changing weather conditions – rain to dry to rain. After getting underway in largely dry conditions, the rain returned sending the riders to the pits to change to rain tires on their spare bikes. The slick track conditions caused several crashes, including one by Quartararo.
Johann Zarco (Honda), a Frenchman on his home track, mastered the chaotic race and seemed most comfortable on the track conditions faced by the riders. He won with a massive gap over second place Marc Marquez and third place Aldeguer.
For full results and points for Saturday’s Sprint race, visit the MotoGP site here. For full results and points for Sunday’s MotoGP race, visit the MotoGP site here.
Anyone know what it costs for regular people to replace the air bags in their leathers?
Now I know what to do with my extra hangers from the cleaners. Bend them up and stick them on a base to make a MotoGP Trophy worthy of the top racer on a slick, wet track.
It’s not going to win any trophy design awards is it? But one might also say that the old school trophy design does need an overhaul. This direction? You and I clearly don’t think so.
A friend of mine has an annual race/party where the winner of the hare scramble and the drag both get to keep the professional wrestling type “Burt Munro” belt for the year. The belts looks pretty cool. Whoever made them did a fantastic job.
Looks like a bunch of my Grandads sock stretchers.
Backflip with his helmet on ups the degree of difficulty. But an average ride for me.
Funny how rain races can give an unexpected rider a moment in the sun.
Yep, happy for Johann, seems to be a nice guy and a better rider than he’s credited for.
I’m happy for Johann. He’s earned that place in history because he has worked so hard over the years. He hasn’t had the best bikes over those years, but he never gave up. Well done, well deserved.
how often do you think he practices the backflip? in full leathers?
Right? I hope they dis-armed the inflatable stuff. I remember once when Quartararo celebrated a victory so vigorously that he set his off – instant marshmallow-man. It was funny.