The Frenchman is overhauled by the #93, then the #73... and then Aldeguer as the rookie makes his first rostrum visit in France
Pure emotion, adrenaline and excitement, the 2025 Michelin® Grand Prix of France still has the Grand Prix race to entertain but Saturday’s stunning on-track action left plenty of goosebumps. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) vs Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), the fight we wanted to see, the fight we got. The #93 came out on top to become the first rider with six consecutive Sprint wins but the stat itself isn’t the entire story as BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP celebrate a double Saturday podium with Alex Marquez and rookie Fermin Aldeguer coming through to complete the rostrum.
OPENING STAGES: Quartararo pulls the pin for the home crowd
Grabbing the holeshot, Marc Marquez got to the fast Turn 2 first but ran wide, allowing home star and polesitter Quartararo to hit the front and launch away in the early stages. It was an early exit for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), as the rider P3 in the standings crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 2, despite a great start up from P6 to P4. Elsewhere, a miserable start for Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who ran off into the gravel; he was able to rejoin the action but way out of points contention.
As Lap 4 ended, there was another crasher, this time Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at Turn 9; he remounted but entered the pits. Meanwhile, at the start of Lap 6, it was Quartararo still ahead, but Marquez made his first attempt to try and lead the Sprint. He attacked at Turn 3 but ran wide, allowing ‘El Diablo’ to get back through on the cutback. However, he wasn’t as fortunate at Turn 8, with Marc able to squeeze down the inside and not allow any retaliation from the Frenchman.
MORE BATTLES: Alex Marquez and Aldeguer come to the fore
At the start of Lap 8 and now heading towards the final third, there was no way for Quartararo to resist the #73 of Alex Marquez, who blasted by on the way up to Turn 2. Now the #20’s attention was moving towards Alex Marquez’s teammate Aldeguer, once again having a sensational weekend in his rookie season. He found a way ahead for P3 at Turn 3 but not willing to relinquish a top three at home, Quartararo struck back at Turn 6 with contact between the two. Not backing down, the #54 responded with equal if not more brutal force, shoving Quartararo back to fourth at Turn 7.
THE FINAL MOMENTS: Acosta in late drama as Marc makes his mark
There was a last lap battle between the KTM duo of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) over P5, with the #12 attacking ‘El Tiburon’ into Turn 3 but unable to make it work. Then, the unthinkable on the final lap at Turn 13, as Acosta fell all of his own accord, denying himself of a first top five in the Sprints this season.
Out front, it was dreamland for Marc, who became the first rider to win six consecutive Sprints, retaking the Championship lead from his brother by two points, with Alex taking second as the brothers once again locked out the top two places. In third, a mighty first Sprint rostrum for Aldeguer, who was one of the fastest riders in the closing stages, so keep an eye out for him in the Grand Prix. Quartararo was a determined fourth, whilst Viñales completed the top five courtesy of Acosta’s last fall.
Sixth place gave another reason for the home crowd to cheer as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) came through from P11, pipping Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who likewise climbed the order from P17 to P7. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) grabbed his first Sprint points since COTA in 2023. The last point went to Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), denying Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) who rounded out the top ten. Find full results HERE!
After a showdown to remember in the Tissot Sprint, the stage is set for another stunner at Le Mans. Will we get fireworks? And we will get rain? We’ll find out at 2pm local time (UTC+2).
Gonzalez throws down the gauntlet to head Baltus and Moreira in France
Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) had continued his run of poles in style at the Michelin Grand Prix of France, the Championship leader putting in a number of times good enough for the top to remain unchallenged at the end of Q2. In second and third it’s a couple of late charges for glory for Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in P2 and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the front row.
Baltus put in a stunner near the start of Q1 to near-guarantee his graduation to the fight for pole, and the Belgian then sat out the last few minutes content to remain unchallenged – and he was. Only by 0.052 in the end though as David Alonso (CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) moved up into second late on, joined by Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR - FRINSA – MSI) in Q2.
Once Q2 was underway, it was a familiar name on top: Gonzalez. After Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) set one new lap record, his arch rival had a response and, it would turn out, three of them. The #18 put in a trio of laps good enough for pole, ultimately keeping a gap of over three tenths at the top.
Second was decided late on in a flurry of final challenges, with Baltus steaming through into second place and Moreira then stealing third too. Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) also impressed to take over in fourth, with one final place demotion coming in for Dixon as he was pushed down to sixth by Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in P5.
Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) heads Row 3 ahead of Alonso Lopez (Folladore SpeedRS Team) and teammate Celestino Vietti, with Ortola taking his first top ten in Moto2 in P10, and via Q1.
For full results, click HERE – and tune in for more Moto2 on Sunday!
Quiles back with a bang for maiden pole ahead of Pini and Kelso
He stunned on debut in COTA and now he's back from injury, Maximo Quiles only continues to impress. The CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team rider is on pole for only the second Grand Prix he's contested, heading a rookie 1-2 ahead of Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP's Guido Pini. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) continues his frontrunning form to complete the front row.
It was a tense duel in Q1 as Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was leading the way but crashed with three minutes of the session remaining, meaning he was vulnerable in the closing stages. There was no reason to worry though as he stayed top, ahead of a late-charging Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), replacement rider Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA) and Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team), denying Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) by just 0.015s.
Once we were into Q2 to decide pole, after the opening run it was Quiles on top on his return, and with quite a gap as the rookie returned to qualifying with a bang. After nearly taking pole on his first GP appearance in the Americas GP, this time he got the job done as no one could deny him.
Kelso was up into second with his penultimate flying lap but there was a mega lap incoming from Pini, taking over in P2, making it two debutants up top as Kelso adds the experience on the front row in third.
Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) heads up the second row ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) with a season-best qualifying and David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), completing the second row.
Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) took a very strong P7 on his team's home turf, ahead of Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who continues to look for the form with which he dominated at Jerez. David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Carraro complete the top ten, denying Japanese duo Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), leaving them in P11 and P12 respectively.
Can Quiles take that maiden podium or win? Will Pini upset the fight for the rookie spotlight? Or will the likes of Rueda and Piqueras hit back once the lights go out? We'll find out on Sunday! Find full qualifying results HERE.