MotoGP: Quartararo wants to revive at Le Mans Grand Prix, Bagnaia wants to continue its momentum

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP 21:54 p.m., May 11, 2023

Struggling in Spain two weeks ago, Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) will try to restart at home at the France Grand Prix, while reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) will want to confirm his superiority this weekend at Le Mans. "I was hoping for better results when I arrived at Jerez so I hope to get my revenge at Le Mans this weekend. We left behind all the vicissitudes of the last race to focus on the work we have to do and the goals we want to achieve. I'm at home so I can't wait to see and hear from my fans. I want to keep a positive mindset, give the best of myself, and I hope to achieve good results," said the 24-year-old from Nice.

The Frenchman, 2021 world champion, will be eagerly awaited by French fans on the Bugatti circuit which will host the 1000th Grand Prix in the history of Moto GP but which, usually, does not succeed too well in the race. Indeed, in eight participations, all categories combined, 'El Diablo' has obtained only one podium, with a third place in 2021 in the premier category. However, he won three pole positions, including two in Moto GP (2020, 2021).

>> READ ALSO – Moto GP: Fabio Quartararo does not want to let go and says he is "always there for the battle"

Bagnaia also hopes

Bagnaia is also not successful in MotoGP at Le Mans where he has not done better than fourth in four participations. Last year, he crashed after starting from pole position. But the superiority of his 'Desmosedici' should help him win his first podium on the land of his great French rival. "It could be raining so the conditions could be difficult. The potential of our bike is really interesting so we could make a good result here but the competition will be tough," said the Turin native on Thursday.

In Jerez, the Italian, who remained on two falls, set the record straight by winning the race and finishing second in the sprint. Thus, he escaped the championship standings where he now has 87 points and is ahead of Italian Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati-VR46) and South African Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) by 22 and 25 points respectively. Quartararo is only 11th with 40 points.

>> DISCOVER HERE - Moto GP: Can Fabio Quartararo still hope to be world champion?

Mark back

The other Frenchman, Johann Zarco, who dropped to ninth place in the championship after crashing in Jerez when he was in fifth position, will also try to bounce back at home. "It's a circuit I love and hopefully I can fight for victory in both races. In Jerez I was more competitive than in previous weekends but unfortunately I didn't manage to get good results. I hope to do it here, even if the conditions could be difficult. But I will be able to adapt if necessary," explained the Avignonnais, who twice won second place at Le Mans in the premier class (2017, 2021).

The France Grand Prix will also be marked by the return of Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda), who injured his right hand in the season opener at Portimao. Starting from pole position at the Portuguese GP on March 26, the Catalan crashed on lap 2 while dragging Portuguese Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia) to the ground after colliding with his compatriot Jorge Martin (Ducati). For this accident, Marquez had received a penalty of two "long lap", a detour to be taken twice.

This penalty was supposed to apply at the next event contested by Marquez, but Honda had appealed this sanction and won this week. The MotoGP Court of Appeal considered that he had served his sanction by not participating in the next race, in Argentina.