Johann Zarco’s territory: Frenchman takes pole position at Le Mans

Le Mans, May 19: Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) stormed to an outstanding pole position at the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France, smashing the circuit lap record to become the first Frenchman to secure pole on home soil since Christian Sarron at Paul Ricard in 1988.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez threatened to spoil the party on his final lap, but it wasn’t enough. The World Championship leader starts P2. Q1 graduate Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) will start tomorrow’s race third on the grid, a great session for the Italian.

Zarco, straight out the blocks in Q2, didn’t disappoint. He topped the timesheets after his first flying lap. However, Marquez, as ever, was quick to reply. The reigning World Champion wasn’t at the summit for long though, as Petrucci put in his fastest lap of the weekend to go provisional P1. Zarco, on the final lap of his first run, sent a warning sign, going 0.330 seconds quicker than anyone else.

Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) briefly led the session when the riders came back out for their second runs, but Marquez then reset the benchmark, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) leaping up to second. Zarco though wasn’t done, again going quickest, this time by 0.130. Marquez’ efforts on his final lap sent French nerves into overdrive, but Zarco held on.

Iannone starts from P4 on his Suzuki, his time of 1:31.454 was less than a tenth off the front row. The Italian heads the two factory Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso, who will start fifth, and Lorenzo in sixth, both of whom look to have very strong race pace.

Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) was impressive once again in P7. He was in the mix throughout the session, making it four Ducatis in the top seven on a track the manufacturer has never won. Maverick Viñales and his Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team-mate Valentino Rossi will have work to do from P8 and P9 on the grid respectively. The two will be disappointed to be over half a second behind fellow-Yamaha rider Zarco.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), who came through Q1, will start from 10th on Sunday. He is joined by Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) who was a slender 0.025 behind compatriot and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro. The number 41 crashed at Turn 1 on his opening run – he was ok and ran back to the pits.

The top 11 riders are covered by eight tents, and it looks set to be a classic.

Franceso Bagnaia unbeatable in Moto2™ qualifying

Franceso Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) will start tomorrow’s Moto2™ race from pole for the first time in his Moto2™ career, setting a new circuit lap record along the way. Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP), who crashed on his final run, will start second on the grid, 0.202 behind, with Jerez winner Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) earning his fourth front row start of the year in P3.

Vierge was the early pace setter in the session, setting a lap record after just five minutes. Bagnaia, though, was right on his tail, and sure enough, the Italian moved the goal posts to set 1:36.188 on the following lap. Neither of the top two would go on to improve their times.

Jorge Martin snatches late pole in Moto3™

For the third time in 2018, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) will start the Moto3™ race from pole position after putting in a magnificent final run to take top spot at the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France. Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrustelGP) continued his great weekend, leaping up the timesheets at the end of the session to start from P2 on his 150th Grand Prix start. After a heavy fall at the start of the session, walking wounded Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) put in a valiant effort to start from third in Sunday’s race.