Johann Zarco offers himself the Grand Prix de France de MotoGP, a first for a Frenchman since 1954
Could there have been more good way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Bugatti circuit of Le Mans? A pole French position, that of Fabio Quartararo, for the main event of the Grand Prix de France de MotoGP, Sunday May 11. A race for the scenario upset by the irruption of rain, right at the time of departure at 2 p.m. An influx record, too, for a world championship in the discipline.
Only lacked the victory of a local pilot to top it off. Victim of a fall in the last turn of the fourth round (out of 26), Fabio Quartararo unfortunately could not fight. But to everyone’s surprise, his compatriot Johann Zarco, 11e On the grid, made the most than 120,000 people vibrate around the circuit, taking the lead in the race for the seventh round.
Excellent on wet track and more clever than his rivals of the day, by opting for rain tires from the start, the dean of the category, 34, it is offered his second career victory in MotoGP, for his 150e Grand Prix, after that in Australia in 2023. Without a doubt the most beautiful, in front of his parents who came to see him run for the very first time.
When crossing the finish line, the hero of the day was warmly celebrated by the public, in a real communion. It was 71 years old, that a Habs had no longer imposed himself at home at the Grand Prix de France in the queen category of the speed motorcycle. The last one? Pierre Monneret, in 1954. The event then took place in Reims.
“We now have a form of community”
“The last laps were very long and there it will take me a little time [pour réaliser]. It’s magic “reacted, in English, the hero of the day at the microphone of the organizers. Before continuing in French this time: “I would never have thought it happens like that (…) To greet the public on the last lap, it’s just exceptional and I have the impression that it only happens once in a life. It’s today! »»
Shortly before kick off the race, the Dorna, the promoter of the MotoGP had announced that this 2025 vintage at Le Mans had set an influx record, with 311,797 people welcomed at the Bugatti circuit, between Friday and Sunday. An unprecedented proportion therefore, in the history of the world championship, launched in 1974. The Grand Prix de France was already holding the previous reference, with nearly 298,000 spectators recorded last year.
“Le Mans has become a somewhat special and unavoidable meeting. We now have a form of community. People are almost in religion. It’s like OM in Marseille ”argued with the France-Presse agency, the organizer of the Claude Michy event. This round, which has become a reference for fans, has a bright future ahead of it: the contract binding the Bugatti circuit at the Dorna was extended until 2031.
