All-time attendance record smashed as fans rewarded with first home winner in 71 years in multi-crash MotoGP epic
Fans at the legendary Le Mans race circuit smashed an all-time attendance record and were rewarded with an astonishing MotoGP home win. A rain-soaked and crash-heavy Grand Prix was won by Frenchman Johann Zarco – the first home winner of the historic race in an agonising 71 years. Zarco was in bits as the French national anthem blasted outSky Sport Germany His dad was an emotional mess in the garage The 34-year-old Cannes-born talent had only won a MotoGP race once before in his career, and it looked like his time at the top was over. Yet at Le Mans he mastered the toughest of conditions which took down reigning champion Pecco Bagniaia and championship leader Alex Marquez in two brutal crashes. In fact ten riders crashed out in France in a race that was delayed by rain at the start. Riders dipped to change to their wet bikes before the Grand Prix had even started and then half of the grid returned to the pitlane to change back. The early stages were controlled by another Frenchman, 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, but when he hit the gravel it looked like home fans would be left disappointed. That’s particularly true given that the Marquez brothers have had complete control of the season, with the elder Marc winning nine out of 12 races in both sprint and feature format. Yet six-time premier class champion Marc ended up 19.9 seconds behind a dominant Zarco, which was enough to reclaim the championship lead from his brother. For once the Spanish duo were the sideshow, though, as Zarco’s mother and father were seen sobbing as he clinched the chequered flag for just his second win in 150 races. He became the first French home winner since Pierre Monneret in 1954, and did so in front of 311,797 spectators, an all-time MotoGP record. After returning to the garage he then crossed the track to celebrate in front of his countrymen as the tears began. The race began with pitlane chaosESPN And saw the championship leader and reigning world champion both suffer nasty fallsFox Zarco then whipped out his trademark backflip celebration, something that’s only ever been used for podium finishes, other than his only other victory in Australia in 2023. Speaking to Canal+ after, he said: “Unbelievable! I still don’t understand what’s going on. “The last laps were very long. It’s magical. The rain came and it got better and better. “I never would have believed it would happen like this, especially when rain was forecast. “Waving to the crowd one lap from the finish, I feel like it happens once in a lifetime and it’s today.” Zarco instantly became front page news in Europe and France, with leading home outlet L’Equipe calling it ‘Zarco’s Day of Glory’. Le Mans is one of motorsport’s crown jewels, having hosted endurance racing since 1923, but never has it seen scenes quite like this.
Fans at the legendary Le Mans race circuit smashed an all-time attendance record and were rewarded with an astonishing MotoGP home win.
A rain-soaked and crash-heavy Grand Prix was won by Frenchman Johann Zarco – the first home winner of the historic race in an agonising 71 years.
The 34-year-old Cannes-born talent had only won a MotoGP race once before in his career, and it looked like his time at the top was over.
Yet at Le Mans he mastered the toughest of conditions which took down reigning champion Pecco Bagniaia and championship leader Alex Marquez in two brutal crashes.
In fact ten riders crashed out in France in a race that was delayed by rain at the start.
Riders dipped to change to their wet bikes before the Grand Prix had even started and then half of the grid returned to the pitlane to change back.
The early stages were controlled by another Frenchman, 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, but when he hit the gravel it looked like home fans would be left disappointed.
That’s particularly true given that the Marquez brothers have had complete control of the season, with the elder Marc winning nine out of 12 races in both sprint and feature format.
Yet six-time premier class champion Marc ended up 19.9 seconds behind a dominant Zarco, which was enough to reclaim the championship lead from his brother.
For once the Spanish duo were the sideshow, though, as Zarco’s mother and father were seen sobbing as he clinched the chequered flag for just his second win in 150 races.
He became the first French home winner since Pierre Monneret in 1954, and did so in front of 311,797 spectators, an all-time MotoGP record.
After returning to the garage he then crossed the track to celebrate in front of his countrymen as the tears began.
Zarco then whipped out his trademark backflip celebration, something that’s only ever been used for podium finishes, other than his only other victory in Australia in 2023.
Speaking to Canal+ after, he said: “Unbelievable! I still don’t understand what’s going on.
“The last laps were very long. It’s magical. The rain came and it got better and better.
“I never would have believed it would happen like this, especially when rain was forecast.
“Waving to the crowd one lap from the finish, I feel like it happens once in a lifetime and it’s today.”
Zarco instantly became front page news in Europe and France, with leading home outlet L’Equipe calling it ‘Zarco’s Day of Glory’.
Le Mans is one of motorsport’s crown jewels, having hosted endurance racing since 1923, but never has it seen scenes quite like this.
