French MotoGP, Le Mans – Free Practice (4) 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)

MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo takes over from fellow home hero Johann Zarco at the top of the timesheets during final practice for the French MotoGP at Le Mans.

Jack Miller (Ducati) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) were both caught out by early front-end falls at Turn 7, with Marc Marquez ing from his Repsol Honda on the entry to Turn 9 in the closing minutes. 

Medium front tyres and soft rears were the preferred choices in preparation for Sunday’s race, Suzuki being a notable exception in using the medium rear.

However, all slicks could be redundant tomorrow if the forecast rain materialises.

Qualifying 1, for those outside the top ten after third free practice, including Joan Mir, will now get underway.

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