Le Mans (AFP)
Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco, the two French riders entered in MotoGP, are at home this weekend at Le Mans, the first to try to regain the lead of the world championship and the second to try to secure his first victory in the premier class .
Quartararo's first task on the Bugatti circuit, deserted this year from any spectator due to the Covid, will however be to show that he is recovering from his operation on May 4 to remedy muscle pain in his right forearm.
During the last Grand Prix in Spain on May 2, the 22-year-old French driver had to slow down in the race while leading, victim of "compartment syndrome" causing him to lose all strength in his forearm.
Operated since, the Yamaha rider is aiming for a third victory this season and hopes to regain the lead of the championship from the Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) who precedes him by two points.
"I feel good. The scar is pulling a bit but I'm looking forward to driving tomorrow (Friday) and I don't think it will be a problem," the French driver assured Thursday, his arm caught in a compression sleeve.
Another obstacle, the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans is not really successful for him: 8th in 2019 for his first season in the premier class, 9th last year, he has however this year a very fast machine which has won three of the first four races. of the season.
Yamaha seems to have overcome the tuning issues encountered late last season that cost him the title while riding for the Yamaha-SRT satellite team.
But Ducati is not left out.
"Pecco" Bagnaia leads the championship and his Australian teammate Jack Miller won the last GP, taking advantage of Quartararo's muscle problems.
- Rain, a plus for Ducati?
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Zarco intends to take advantage of the good form of the machines of the Borgo Panigale firm to finally register his first victory in MotoGP.
Aged 30, he has already been crowned twice world champion in Moto2.
"In the rain, we may have an advantage with the Ducati", underlines the rider of the Ducati-Pramac team.
He has the same machine as the factory riders and currently occupies 5th place in the championship thanks to two second places at the start of the season.
Because the weather promises to be very uncertain for this weekend in Le Mans.
Last year it was the Italian Danilo Petrucci, now at KTM-Tech3, who won in a Ducati, taking advantage of a downpour just before the start.
The Suzuki, who won the championship last year with Joan Mir, have been disappointing since the start of the season but could quickly become serious competitors again.
There remains the unknown Marc Marquez.
The six-time MotoGP world champion has been back on his Honda for two races, after a year of absence due to a fractured right arm followed by complications.
But he struggles to regain his past form and could not do better than 7th then 9th.
The question remains to know when he will be able to claim a podium again.
"The goal this wee-kend is to have fewer complications and to continue working to improve. I'm getting stronger little by little and the goal is to continue on the path of the progress that we have already made", emphasizes the Spanish.
As for his eternal rival, Valentino Rossi, seven times crowned in the premier class and now with Yamaha-SRT, he is only a shadow of himself.
He hasn't made it into the top ten once since the start of this season, which could well be his last, at 42.
In Moto2, the first four races saw three different winners and Australian Remy Gardner, son of Wayne, the 500cc world champion in 1987, leads the championship.
In Moto3, the phenomenon Pedro Acosta, 16, will try to pin his 4th straight victory this season as he starts in this championship where another Frenchman, Lorenzo Fellon, is also doing his classes.
Note that the MotoE (for electric) will also be part of this weekend for their second race of the season.
© 2021 AFP