14:15
Quartararo is coming under threat from Mir now for fifth, while Marc Marquez isn't really making much impression on this.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 French MotoGP
© Gold and Goose
MotoGP France sprint as it happened: Jorge Martin wins, Marc Marquez out after big crash
Live coverage of qualifying and the sprint for the 2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Jorge Martin wins sprint, Marc Marquez crashes
- Pecco Bagnaia takes first pole of 2026
- Marc Marquez fastest in Q1 with lap record
- Fabio Quartararo goes into Q2
The 2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix continues on Saturday 9 May with qualifying and the sprint from Le Mans, with home hero Johann Zarco hoping to delight the crowd once again.
The LCR Honda rider made history in 2025 with his win in wet conditions at Le Mans, and has faced numerous questions about repeating this coming into the weekend amid grim forecasts for Sunday.
But Johann Zarco showed he and his Honda have pace in the dry, too, on Friday, after he topped Practice by just 0.010s from VR46 Ducati's Fabio Di Giannantonio.
In what was a tight Practice, Honda looked solid over one lap as well as race pace, while Ducati continued its strong form from the Spanish Grand Prix, with Di Giannantonio leading Pecco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez.
Marc Marquez was the big casualty of the top 10 shootout on Friday afternoon, as the reigning world champion failed to make it directly into Q2. Though the Ducati has made a step since the Jerez test, the seven-time world champion appears to still be struggling to get the most out of his bike.
Aprilia had a mixed day at Le Mans on Friday, but Marco Bezzecchi was fast over long-run pace, while both he and team-mate Jorge Martin made it directly into Q2.
KTM's Pedro Acosta was second at the end of Friday's running, as he comes into Saturday at Le Mans looking for his second sprint win of the season.
Following qualifying, Pecco Bagnaia claimed a first pole of the season ahead of Marc Marquez.
2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix: Saturday schedule
FP2 - 9:10am BST-9:40am BST
Q1 - 9:50am BST-10:05am BST
Q2 - 10:15am BST-10:30am BST
Sprint - 2pm BST
09 May 2026
14:15
Lap 9/13
No change at the front. Martin's lead has grown again to 1.3s over Bagnaia.
Bagnaia is about a second ahead of Bezzecchi.
If it finishes as is, Martin will halve his championship deficit to Bezzecchi.
14:13
Lap 8/13
Onto lap eight. Martin's lead is 1.2s over Bagnaia.
14:13
Martin's lead has grown to 1.2s again.
14:12
Marc Marquez's pace has picked up a bit, but fourth is probably the most he can hope for today.
14:12
Crash - Morbidelli
Morbidelli has gone down at the last corner.
14:12
Lap 7/13
Half distance reached.
No change at the front. Martin's lead is about a second still.
14:11
Order on lap six:
- Martin
- Bagnaia
- Bezzecchi
- Acosta
- Quartararo
- Mir
- M.Marquez
- A.Marquez
- Ogura
14:10
Lap 6/13
Onto lap six and Martin leads by a second over Bagnaia.
Bastianini has crashed at the last corner.
14:10
A replay of Martin's heroic start from eighth.
14:09
Lap 5/13
Martin continues to lead, but Bagnaia has taken a few tenths out of him.
14:08
Acosta attacks Quartararo at Turn 12 and gets fourth.
14:07
Crash - Di Giannantonio
Di Giannantonio has gone down at Turn 4 in front of his team-mate Franco Morbidelli.
14:07
Lap 4/13
Onto lap four now. Martin's lead is up at 1.1s. Bagnaia's going to have to dig deep to beat the Aprilia rider here.
14:07
Marquez has typically been better in sprints this year than grands prix. This is concerning.
14:06
Bez has gone wide at Turn 7 and has allowed Bagnaia into second.
14:06
Marquez said after qualifying that he couldn't understand how to ride right now. And clearly there's no confidence on that Ducati right now.
14:06
Lap 3/13
Martin leads onto lap three by 0.8s from Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.
Marquez has been pushed back to seventh by Acosta and Mir. What is going on?
14:05
Crash - Jonas Folger
Jonas Folger has also gone down at Turn 6.
14:05
Crash - Luca Marini
Luca Marini has crashed at Turn 6.
14:04
Bagnaia has a look at Bez into Turn 3, but stays put.
Quartararo is running well in fourth, while Marquez is being hounded by Acosta in fifth.
14:04
Lap 2/13
Onto lap two and Martin leads Bezzecchi.
14:03
DiGia had a nightmare. He had a terrible start and is down to 14th.
14:03
Martin came from eighth on the grid! He leads an Aprilia 1-2 from Bezzecchi. Bagnaia third. Marquez is back to fifth.
14:03
2026 French MotoGP - Sprint start (Lap 1/13)
The French Grand Prix sprint is GO!
Jorge Martin leads at Turn 3!