The Honda rider dominates the French Grand Prix through rain, penalties and unexpected twists
Rain can’t stop Zarco: first MotoGP victory at home
Johann Zarco finally seized his first MotoGP victory, and he did it in style—right in front of his home crowd at Le Mans. The unstable weather turned the French Grand Prix into one of the wildest races in recent memory, with last-minute bike changes, on-the-fly strategies, and a string of in-race penalties.
The start was delayed due to a compulsory bike swap. Soon after, most riders made another trip to the pits, triggering penalties for irregular procedures. As if that wasn’t enough, rain forced an additional tyre change, testing nerves and instincts to the limit.
The decisive move on lap 8
In the middle of the chaos, Zarco kept his cool. On lap 8, he took the lead and began to pull away lap after lap. His Honda responded flawlessly on the soaked circuit he knows like the back of his hand.
Marc Marquez managed to avoid major risks and secured a solid second place. His brother Alex, however, crashed out six laps from the end while running third—leaving a space on the podium wide open.
Aldeguer steps up, Bagnaia crashes out
That open spot was taken by Fermín Aldeguer, who capitalized on the crash and earned his place on the podium. A disastrous day for world champion Pecco Bagnaia, who hit the ground just a few turns in and finished in a disappointing 16th place.
A win that ignites the championship
Zarco’s win breathes new life into the season and lights up French fans. With no clear dominant rider so far, adaptability to unpredictable conditions may be the key. And Johann just gave everyone a masterclass in calm and control.
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