MotoGP | Allez, Allez, Allez at Le Mans!
For the 22nd successive year the MotoGP World Championship will arrive at the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix Race Circuit. As we head into the 2021 #FrenchGP, Ducati have the upper hand, with Jack Miller winning the #SpanishGP and Francesco Bagnaia leading the World Championship. Could this be the beginning of Ducati’s domination?
In the history of the #FrenchGP, Le Mans and 7 other circuits have hosted a Grand Prix, including Paul Ricard, Clermont-Ferrand, Nogaro, Reims, Rouen, Albi and Magny-Cours. However, there have been just 5 French riders who have taken victory at the #FrenchGP; Jean Auréal (125cc 1969), Guy Bertin (125cc 1979), Patrick Fernandez (350cc 1979), Mike di Meglio (125cc 2008) and Louis Rossi (Moto3 2012). Can Fabio Quartararo or Johann Zarco join this exclusive club, and become the first French winner at the #FrenchGP in the premier class?
Last year’s #FrenchGP was frantic, as a wet race it threw the cat among the pigeons, however it would be Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci who would emerge victorious.
Last time out at the #SpanishGP, Jack Miller won his 2nd MotoGP race. 82 races have been held since Miller’s last win at the 2016 #DutchTT. Only 3 riders in Grand Prix history have waited longer to win again; Andrea Dovizioso (130 races), Alex Barros (94 races) and Phil Read (90 races). Miller is just the 5th Ducati rider to have achieved 10 or more podiums, joining Casey Stoner (42 podiums), Andrea Dovizioso (40 podiums), Loris Capirossi (23 podiums) and Danilo Petrucci (10 podiums).
Francesco Bagnaia finished the #SpanishGP 2nd, securing Ducati’s first 1-2 since the 2018 #CzechGP, and just their 7th 1-2 overall. Bagnaia leads the World Championship, scoring 66 points over the first 4 Grand Prix which is more points than he scored in the entire 2020 season.
The opening of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship season has been thrilling, providing 4 championship leaders in 4 races: the first time this has occurred since the current points system was introduced in 1993.
Honda’s last win at the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix Race Circuit came in 2019, as Marc Marquez won from pole position. This was also Honda’s 300th win!
At the 2021 #SpanishGP Takaaki Nakagami finished 4th, equalling his best finish, and just 6 tenths of a second from the final podium position. This 4th position finish is also Honda’s best finish this season.
Yamaha, who have had mixed fortunes this season so far, last won the #FrenchGP in 2017 with Maverick Viñales. Yamaha have won the #FrenchGP a mammoth 10 times in total!
The ‘Top Independent rider’ of the 2021 #SpanishGP was Franco Morbidelli, who finished 3rd. Morbidelli has achieved 6 podiums in his MotoGP career so far, the last 3 of which he has shared with Miller.
Suzuki’s last premier class win at Le Mans was with Chris Vermeulen during a very wet 2007 #FrenchGP. However, their best finish since their return to Grand Prix was when Viñales finished 3rd in 2016.
After crashing out of the #SpanishGP Alex Rins will look to return to winning form this weekend, as his teammate Joan Mir will be aiming to return to the podium as he defends his World Title.
As the 2020 #FrenchGP provided thrills and spills, Pol Espargaro secured 3rd, KTM’s best finish at the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix Race Circuit.
Aprilia’s best finish at the #FrenchGP in the MotoGP class was during the 2003 race, as Noriyuki Haga placed 8th.
Aleix Espargaro continues to make progress and bridge the gap to the leaders, crossing the line in 6th at the #Spanish, just 5.164s behind race winner Miller – Aprilia’s closest margin to the winner yet!
With rain forecast for much of this weekend’s proceedings it really is anyone’s race! Can wet weather king Miller bag another win? Will Quartararo take victory at his home GP, or can Nakagami end Honda’s drought? We look forward to finding out as MotoGP action begins with FP1 on Friday at 9:55am local time (GMT +2).
