MotoGP joy in France after Jorge Martin 'never gave up'
Spain’s Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) delivered a stunning performance across the French Grand Prix, completing a perfect weekend at Le Mans by winning both the Grand Prix and Sprint race.
In Sunday’s Grand Prix, the 2024 world champion was sensational - coming from seventh on the opening lap to catch and pass his team-mate Marco Bezzecchi with three laps to go, taking the chequered flag 0.477 seconds clear and celebrating his first GP victory since the 2024 Indonesian GP.
The result leaves Martin just one point behind his Aprilia team-mate as they next head to Catalunya for round six of the championship.
Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura fought his way through from eighth on the grid to make it a landmark 1-2-3 for Aprilia and become the first Japanese rider to finish on the podium since Katsuyuki Nakasuga in 2012 at Valencia.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46) finished fourth, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) fifth and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) completed the top six at his home GP.
Race winner Martin said: “I think, over the last year, I learnt never to give up and today was one of those races.
"I didn’t start well but I never gave up...it’s unbelievable and I say ‘Vive la France’ because I am so grateful to all the fans.
"It was a good race and I really enjoyed it.”
Reigning world champion Marc Marquez’s troubled season worsened as the Spaniard crashed out on the penultimate lap of the Sprint race.
Although he was up on his feet, Marquez was diagnosed with a fifth metatarsal fracture in his right foot and declared unfit for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
After successful surgery on both his foot and shoulder in Madrid, it was also confirmed that he will miss the Catalan GP.
Izan Guevara claimed his first Moto2 win of the season and moved into second in the championship behind Manuel Gonzalez, who - along with Ivan Ortola - secured an all-Spanish podium.
Max Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) led the Moto3 race from start to finish, beating Adrian Fernandez by nearly two seconds by the chequered flag.
Matteo Bertelle completed the podium for his first rostrum since he was injured after the COTA race last April.
Ireland’s Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse) unfortunately did not finish after a brilliant opening lap saw him progress from 19th on the grid to eighth before crashing out at Turn 10 on lap 2.