MotoGP: Stats Ahead Of The Michelin Grand Prix Of France

Le Mans has hosted a Grand Prix on 37 previous occasions, including the Grand Prix “Vitesse du Mans” in 1991, which is the only year that two GPs have been held in France in the same year. Le Mans hosted its first GP in 1969, when the 500cc race was won by Giacomo Agostini, who lapped all the other riders in the race on his MV Agusta. 2019 was the 50th anniversary of the first GP in Le Mans and 2025 is the 60-year anniversary of Le Mans “Bugatti” circuit. It’s over a quarter of a century that Le Mans has hosted consecutive motorcycle Grands Prix, starting in 2000.

In addition to Le Mans, there have been seven other circuits that have hosted the French GP: Paul Ricard (13 times), ClermontFerrand (10), Nogaro (2), Reims (2), Rouen (2), Albi (1), Magny-Cours (1). Five French riders have won Grands Prix at Le Mans: Jean Auréal (125cc – 1969), Guy Bertin (125cc – 1979), Patrick Fernandez (350cc – 1979), Mike Di Meglio (125cc – 2008) and Louis Rossi (Moto3 – 2012).

The best MotoGP result for a French rider at Le Mans is Johann Zarco who took second place in 2017 and 2021, and Raymond Roche’s second place in 1985. The other premier class podiums for French riders at Le Mans are: Zarco (P3 in 2023), Fabio Quartararo (P3 in 2021) and Christian Sarron (P3 in 1987). Of the 23 MotoGP races held at Le Mans in the modern era, 11 have either started in wet conditions or rain has started to fall during the race.

The years that the MotoGP race has been run under full dry conditions at Le Mans are 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014-2019 and from 2022 to 2024.

MOTOGP WINNERS AT LE MANS ON THE GRID

Marc Marquez 3 (2014, 2018, 2019)

Jorge Martin 1 (2024)

Maverick Viñales 1 (2017)

Jack Miller 1 (2021)

Enea Bastianini 1 (2022)

Marco Bezzecchi 1 (2023).

SPRINT WINNERS AT LE MANS

Jorge Martin 2 (2023, 2024)

FACTORIES AT LE MANS: BEST RESULTS

Honda’s last MotoGP win at Le Mans was Marc Marquez in 2019 from pole, which was Honda’s 300th win in the class. Marquez also won at the track in 2014 and in 2018. Yamaha’s last MotoGP at Le Mans was Viñales in 2017 from pole. Yamaha have had 10 wins at the track, including three consecutive wins with Jorge Lorenzo (2015 & 2016) and Maverick Viñales (2017), the latter of which marked the 500th win for a Yamaha rider in Grand Prix racing. Ducati have taken five premier class wins at the track, all in the last five years with five different riders: Danilo Petrucci (2020), Jack Miller (2021), Enea Bastianini (2022), Marco Bezzecchi (2023) and Jorge Martin (2024). Francesco Bagnaia qualified on pole in 2022 and 2023 and Martin in 2024, which are the only pole positions for Ducati in the class at this track. Martin won the two Sprints held at the track so far. Aleix Espargaro’s P3 in 2022 is Aprilia’s best MotoGP result in Le Mans. Pol Espargaro finished P3 at Le Mans in 2020, which is KTM’s best MotoGP result at the track.

EXTRA FACTS AND STATS 10 current riders have MotoGP podiums here: M. Marquez (5), Zarco (3), Viñales (2), Miller (2), Martin (2), Alex Marquez (1), Quartararo (1), Bastianini (1), Bezzecchi (1), Bagnaia (1). 6 have taken pole: M. Marquez (4), Quartararo (2), Bagnaia (2), Viñales (1), Zarco (1), Martin (1). 4 riders have scored points in all five of the MotoGP races so far this season: Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartararo and Luca Marini. And four have scored points in all five Tissot Sprints: Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Morbidelli and Bagnaia. It means only A. Marquez and Bagnaia have scored points in both the five GP races and Sprints. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF…

1954 Both Johann Zarco and Fabio Quartararo will be aiming to become the first French rider to take a MotoGP win on home soil since Pierre Monneret in Reims back in 1954. Jacques Collot finished P3 in that race, which was the first time two French riders shared a MotoGP podium.

115 If Marc Marquez finishes in the top three, it will be his 115th MotoGP podium, moving above MotoGP Legend Jorge Lorenzo in second on the list of riders with the most podiums.

86 If a Ducati qualifies in the top three, it will be the 86th consecutive GP that a Ducati rider starts on the front row, a run that stretches back to Valencia 2020.

72 Ducati are on a streak of 71 podiums in a row. Another will extend their own record to 72. The last manufacturer with more than 72 podiums in a row is Honda with 83 from the FIM GP 1993 to the Imola GP 1999.

23 A Ducati win would be their 23rd in a row, setting a record of the most MotoGP wins in a row.

20 Rookie Fermin Aldeguer will be 20 years and 36 days old on Sunday and can become the youngest MotoGP winner ahead of Marc Marquez (20 years and 63 days old in Austin, 2013).

7 If a rider other than M. Marquez (2019), Petrucci (2020), Miller (2021), Bastianini (2022), Bezzecchi (2023) and Martin (2024) wins the MotoGP race, they will be the seventh different winner in seven MotoGP races at Le Mans.

6 There are now six riders on the grid who could take their maiden MotoGP win this weekend: Raul Fernandez, Luca Marini, Pedro Acosta and rookies Ai Ogura, Somkiat Chantra and Fermin Aldeguer.

1 Aprilia and KTM riders could give their factory a maiden premier class win at Le Mans.

The post MotoGP: Stats Ahead Of The Michelin Grand Prix Of France appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.