Unstoppable Marquez back on pole in France

Marc Marquez
Marc Marquez

Even a crash during Q2 couldn’t stop Marc Marquez from claiming his third pole position from five MotoGP races.

Wet and cold conditions, the track just 14°C and a brisk air temperature of 12°C, provided a gloomy welcome to the Le Mans circuit for Saturday’s running.

Conditions remained equally treacherous in FP4, Marquez suffering a harmless fall at Turn 9 early in the session. The reigning World Champion went on to set the fastest time of the session, completely unfazed by the off.

Rain returned to the 4.2 km long Le Mans circuit the same moment as pit lane opened for Q2. A second fall of the day, this time at Turn 6, after setting his fastest lap could not stop Marquez taking pole position for the French GP, his third pole from five races. Marquez’s 55th premier class pole draws him level with Valentino Rossi and just three behind Mick Doohan’s record 58 premier class poles.

Tomorrow’s 27-lap French Grand Prix will take place at 14:00 local time, the weather forecast remaining unpredictable. The race presents Honda with the first opportunity to seal their 300th premier class victory.

Marc Marquez
“Today was one of those days! The conditions meant you didn’t know if a slick or a wet tyre would be best with the light rain, it was really difficult. In Qualifying we knew we had to push on the first lap when there was the least water on track. Then with more water on track it got more difficult. I’m happy with this pole because it was a day where you could easily start from the back if you weren’t careful. Now we see what the weather does tomorrow!"

Lineup

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'40.952
2 PETRUCCI Danilo 9 ITA Mission Winnow Ducati Ducati 0.360
3 MILLER Jack 43 AUS Pramac Racing Ducati 0.414
4 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 4 ITA Mission Winnow Ducati Ducati 0.600
5 ROSSI Valentino 46 ITA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 0.703
6 MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha 0.729
7 NAKAGAMI Takaaki 30 JPN LCR Honda Honda 1.107
8 LORENZO Jorge 99 SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1.115
9 ESPARGARO Aleix 41 SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 1.498
10 QUARTARARO Fabio 20 FRA Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha 1.557
11 VINALES Maverick 12 SPA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 1.603
12 ESPARGARO Pol 44 SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM No Time Set
13 BAGNAIA Francesco 63 ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 1'39.982 Q1
14 ZARCO Johann 5 FRA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0.047
15 CRUTCHLOW Cal 35 GBR LCR Honda Honda 0.132
16 OLIVEIRA Miguel 88 POR Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 0.403
17 ABRAHAM Karel 17 CZE Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 0.500
18 MIR Joan 36 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 0.624
19 RINS Alex 42 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 0.724
20 RABAT Tito 53 SPA Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 1.369
21 SYAHRIN Hafizh 55 MAL Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 1.735
22 IANNONE Andrea 29 ITA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 1.804