French MotoGP, Le Mans - Free Practice (3) Results

Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP2.
= Rider is same position as FP2.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP2.

* Rookie

Fastest Friday time:
Enea Bastianini ITA Ducati 1m 31.148s

Official Le Mans MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 31.185s (2018)
Fastest race lap:
Maverick Vinales SPA Yamaha 1m 32.309s (2017)

Johann Zarco thrills the Le Mans fans by rocketing to the top of a frantic Free Practice 3 for the French MotoGP, at a bright and sunny Le Mans.

Fellow home hero and reigning champion Fabio Quartararo was first to break the official lap record, with Ducati's Jerez winner Francesco Bagnaia on top as the chequered flag was waved.

But Zarco wasn't done yet and steered his Pramac Ducati to a time of 1m 30.537s, 0.031s better than Bagnaia, on his 21st and final lap.

Marc Marquez hitched a tow behind Quartararo to claim fourth in the final minute, the pair shaking hands after the chequered flag.

Jack Miller, Aleix Espargaro, Takaaki Nakagami, Alex Rins and Pol Espargaro (who fell) completed the top nine withEnea Bastianini clinging to the final direct transfer place for Q2 courtesy of his Friday best, having been forced to park his Gresini Ducati at the side of the track due to a technical problem.

Among those heading to Qualifying 1 will be Jorge Martin, Maverick Vinales and Joan Mir.

Tech3 KTM's Raul Fernandez is returning to action this weekend after being ruled out of the Portimao and Jerez rounds due to a right-hand injury.

Jack Miller won last year’s French Grand Prix, after a flag-to-flag race caused by a heavy rain shower. The Australian was joined on the podium by home heroes Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco.

Quartararo returns to Le Mans holding a 7-point title lead over Aleix Espargaro with Enea Bastianini in third (20 points).

Jerez winner Francesco Bagnaia is 33 points adrift, in fifth.

Le Mans is also the first event since the shock news that Suzuki intends to leave MotoGP at the end of this season.

French MotoGP schedule – UK Time

Friday May 13

8.00-8.40am - Moto3 Free Practice 1

8.55-9.40am - MotoGP Free Practice 1

9.55-10.35am - Moto2 Free Practice 1

12.15-12.55pm - Moto3 Free Practice 2

1.10-1.55pm - MotoGP Free Practice 2

2.10pm-2.50pm - Moto2 Free Practice 2

Saturday May 14

8.00-8.40am - Moto3 Free Practice 3

8.55-9.40am - MotoGP Free Practice 3

9.55am-10.35am - Moto2 Free Practice 3

11.35am-11.50am - Moto3 Qualifying 1

12-12.15pm - Moto3 Qualifying 2

12.30-1pm - MotoGP Free Practice 4

1.10-1.25pm - MotoGP Qualifying 1

1.35-1.50pm - MotoGP Qualifying 2

2.10-2.25pm - Moto2 Qualifying 1

2.35pm-2.50pm - Moto2 Qualifying 2

Sunday May 15

8.00-8.10am - Moto3 warm-up

8.20-8.30am - Moto2 warm-up

8.40-9am - MotoGP warm-up

10am - Moto3 race

11.20am - Moto2 race

1pm - MotoGP race