A three-way fight for victory, a record-breaking crowd and more – MotoGP weekends don’t get much better than what was served up at the 2024 Grand Prix de France, round five of 20 at the weekend.
Spain’s Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) won the MotoGP race and extended his championship advantage ahead of a trip to Barcelona for round six at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in just over a week’s time, on the weekend of May 24-27.
After a sensational pace throughout the race in France on Monday morning (NZ time), Martin stormed to victory in front of a new all-time record at Le Mans with nearly 300,000 fans watching the action unfold across the busy weekend.
Spain’s Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) secured an impressive runner-up finish after passing Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the final lap of the race.
Bagnaia could still stand on the podium, crossing the line in third and taking vital points after a disappointing sprint race the day before.
Now, as the dust settles, it’s time to glance at some of the main talking points that surfaced in Le Mans.
Martin: “If they don’t want me, I’ll give my talent to other people”
That coveted spare factory Ducati Lenovo seat alongside Bagnaia in 2025 is causing a stir.
After fending off world No.1 Bagnaia in Le Mans and beating comeback king Marquez and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Martin discussed the topic in his post-race interview.
“I think I don’t have anything to demonstrate. I think, about my future, I can say that the things that happen in the next races won’t change (anything). Even if I win, even if I crash, I think I’ve already done what I needed to do and I’m really happy about my performance.
“For sure it’s important, I think maybe it’s more clear, but I don’t think it will change. I am the same rider as yesterday, the same rider as Thursday.
“So, they have to take a decision, I think they have already chosen and whatever it is, it will be good. I really want to go to the Ducati factory team but if they don’t want me, for whatever reason that we don’t know, then I will give my talent to other people.”
Photo courtesy Ducati
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Leading MotoGP World Championship standings after round 5:
Pos. Rider Nation Points Team
1 MARTIN Jorge SPA 129 Pramac Racing
2 BAGNAIA Francesco ITA 91 Ducati Lenovo Team
3 MARQUEZ Marc SPA 89 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP
4 BASTIANINI Enea ITA 89 Ducati Lenovo Team
5 VINALES Maverick SPA 81 Aprilia Racing
6 ACOSTA Pedro SPA 73 Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3
7 BINDER Brad RSA 67 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
8 ESPARGARO Aleix SPA 51 Aprilia Racing
9 DI GIANNANTONIO Fabio ITA 47 Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team
10 BEZZECCHI Marco ITA 36 Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team
11 MARQUEZ Alex SPA 33 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP
12 QUARTARARO Fabio FRA 25 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
13 MILLER Jack AUS 24 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
14 OLIVEIRA Miguel POR 23 Trackhouse Racing
15 FERNANDEZ Raul 25 SPA 18 Trackhouse Racing
16 MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA 15 Pramac Racing
17 FERNANDEZ Augusto 37 SPA 13 Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3
18 MIR Joan SPA 12 Repsol Honda Team
19 ZARCO Johann FRA 9 LCR Honda
20 PEDROSA Dani SPA 7 KTM Test Team
21 RINS Alex 42 SPA 7 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
22 NAKAGAMI Takaaki JPN 6 LCR Honda