2022 French MotoGP, Le Mans – Full Qualifying Results

* Rookie

Fastest Practice time:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 30.547s

Official Le Mans MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 30.547s (2022)
Fastest race lap:
Maverick Vinales SPA Yamaha 1m 32.309s (2017)

Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller sealed a factory Ducati one-two during qualifying for the French MotoGP at Le Mans, while home star Fabio Quartararo was knocked off the front row in the final minute.

Riding together for their final run, Bagnaia (leading) and Miller vaulted ahead of Quartararo, with the reigning world champion then demoted to fourth by Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, who had only one bike available after damaging the other in FP4.

Quartararo, again the only Yamaha rider to reach Qualifying 2, ultimately didn’t improve during his final run and will be joined on row two by Enea Bastianini and fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco.

Pol Espargaro nearly hit the back of a slow-moving Zarco at Turn 4, on his way to eleventh.

Repsol Honda team-mate Marc Marquez was another rider down to one bike after a late accident in FP4, and therefore couldn’t afford any more mistakes.

Marquez tried to follow Bagnaia and Miller at the start of qualifying but was only tenth by the mid-session tyre change… where he remained.

Jorge Martin and Joan Mir reached Q2 by leading Qualifying 1.

The best KTM rider in qualifying was Miguel Oliveira, in just 17th.

Although Friday and Saturday have been dry and sunny, there is a threat of rain for Sunday.

“4

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).

“5

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