Marquez draws level with Stoner

Spaniard Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) took a record-breaking victory at the MotoGP round at Le Mans in France on Sunday, May 20, which now has the reigning world champion equal on 38 premier class wins with Aussie Casey Stoner.

Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Ducati) was a superb second – his first podium of the season – ahead of Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) and impressive Aussie Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Ducati).

The French fairytale wasn't to be for polesitter Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) after the home hero crashed out at turn eight on lap eight. Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar) was another rider to crash, falling out of contention on lap one at la Chapelle after making a good start. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) then made a rare error at the same corner four laps later, making Le Mans another pivotal race in the championship.

The exits of Zarco and Dovizioso lightened the load for Marquez, who motored to his third win in a row and a 36pt lead in the standings over Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha), who was seventh at Le Mans – behind Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) and early leader Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati) in fifth and sixth.

“I’m particularly happy with this win here in Le Mans, as it’s one of the most difficult tracks for us,” said Marquez. “Today I was the only one on a hard rear tyre, and that made my approach to the race a bit different because I knew it would take a little more time to reach the right temperature.

“But during the warm-up, I had the opportunity to verify that once the tyre was ready, it was very constant, and I was able to keep a very good rhythm. To be honest, things were a bit challenging at the beginning of the race: Zarco touched me in the second corner and I went a bit wide, then Iannone crashed and nearly hit me, so I lost some more positions.

“I decided to cool down for a while. When I saw that Dovi and Johann were out, my approach to the race again changed a bit. At a certain point, I had one big moment in turn three, where I had already crashed in FP3, which is why I was being extremely careful there; I think that helped me to avoid a crash in that moment.

“I’m currently experiencing a very ‘sweet’ period with my bike, and when you’ve got that kind of feeling, you also work better; then you ride better, and the bike works better. Things don't exactly become easier when you get into this zone, but they’re more ‘natural.’ Of course it’s a very long season, and not all the races will be the same, so we’ll just try and keep the momentum.”

Miller was rapt with his performance. He said “It was a good race. I am pleased to have been with the front group all the time,” said Miller. “I tried to take Valentino for the podium but in the end I wasn’t able to do it.

Despite not yet being “podium ready”, Miller admits days like today are preparing him well for future races.

“It wasn't an easy day, but another really learning day for me. We struggled a little with top speed, I was losing a lot on the front straight, most from the acceleration. I feel I really had to work hard today, I think it’s preparing me really well at the moment.

"We’re not quite ready for the podium just yet, but I think I’m learning more every time, and riding with these guys I’m getting a lot of experience. I hope in the races to come we can really fight for the podium, and not just be so close.”

At the start, it was Lorenzo who got the holeshot from the second row, repeating his incredible launch of the Spanish GP to take off in the lead – and hold onto it. Zarco dropped from pole but then struck back almost immediately into the chicane to take second, with Petrucci, Dovizioso, Marquez and Rossi all close at the front until Iannone crashed out – leaving a gap back to Marquez as the two Ducatis and Zarco stayed close together at the front.

The Frenchman then headed slightly wide and Dovizioso struck, honing in on teammate Lorenzo in the lead and not leaving long before trying an attack. Getting the job done quickly, it seemed the Italian was then going to unleash his pace shown in practice – but he suddenly slid out of the lead and into the gravel, leaving the number 99 of Lorenzo’s Ducati out front.

Zarco and Marquez closed in before the reigning champion shot past the Frenchman for second – but Zarco, in signature style, was quick to respond. The second bolt of drama was about to hit the race, however, as the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider then slid off – leaving Marquez versus Lorenzo in the lead.

On Lap 10, the number 93 made his move before Petrucci followed the Honda rider through a lap later. Rossi and Miller soon carved their way past the five-time world champion, who started the race on softer rubber, with Pedrosa waiting in the wings.

The gap between Marquez, Petrucci, Rossi and Miller stayed consistent, with all four exchanging quickest laps. That was until six-time world champion Marquez pulled the pin on lap 16, setting the fastest lap of the race to bridge to gap to a second over the chasing GP18. From there, Marquez was able to stretch the gap tenth by tenth, with Petrucci also keeping Rossi at bay. Pedrosa was later able to pass Lorenzo for fifth, with the Ducati rider having to settle for sixth.

Further down the order, after failing to get the start he was looking for, last year’s winner Viñales made his way back up to seventh after being outside the top 10 for the first half of the race. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) had a great ride, holding onto eighth until the last lap but then coming home ninth. Passing him on the last lap was a superhuman Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), who had a magnificent ride battling to eighth from 13th on the grid – riding through the pain barrier after a huge highside on Saturday.

Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) battled with Viñales and Espargaro throughout the race, eventually rounding out the top 10 in his first ride at the track in the premier class, having missed the event in 2017 due to injury. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) picked up another solid result in 11th for some more good points for KTM, with Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) eventually getting the better of Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to finish as top rookie.

FULL RESULTS AND STANDINGS HERE