As it happened: Francesco Bagnaia claims pole for the French MotoGP
Round seven of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship heads to Le Mans, France
Johann Zarco heads into qualifying fastest on combined times after setting a new all-time lap record in FP3.
It appeared as though Francesco Bagnaia would claim top spot after he too set a new lap record shortly before the checkered flag came out, but Zarco responded on his last time attack effort to pip the Italian by just 0.031s.
Jack Miller made it three Ducati’s inside the top five with fifth, while Fabio Quartararo and Marc Marquez finished third and fourth respectively.
On the eve of the event Suzuki released news of their intention to pull out of MotoGP at the end of 2022.
It means Mir and Alex Rins are officially looking for a seat in 2023, and thus will want to perform as speculation of where they could be riding intensifies.
Fabio Quartararo heads into his Sunday’s race as the outright championship leader after finishing second in Jerez.
The Monster Energy Yamaha rider is yet to win at Le Mans in any class, as is the case for fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco.
The Pramac Ducati rider has stood on the podium three times at Le Mans (twice in MotoGP), with the last of those coming in 2021.
Miller, who is coming under intense pressure as it relates to his factory Ducati seat, won last season’s French MotoGP.
The Australian took advantage of wet conditions and Marc Marquez crashing from the lead to win his third race in the premier class.
Should Ducati win this weekend it will mark the third consecutive year they’ve won at Le Mans, after MotoAmerica rider Danilo Petrucci won in 2020.
Ducati’s best hope could be in the form of Francesco Bagnaia as the Italian appeared back to his best in Jerez. Winner of the Spanish GP, Bagnaia has climbed up to fifth in the championship standings.
Second in the championship is Aprilia rider Espargaro, who outside of Quartararo has been as consistent as one through the opening six races.
Of the current crop of premier class riders, Marc Marquez has taken the most victories at Le Mans (3), while Miller and Maverick Vinales are the other two that have won at the Bugatti circuit in MotoGP.
