Quartararo: 'Special feeling' to take title lead to Le Mans

Having regained the MotoGP title lead with a return to the top step of the podium in Catalunya, Fabio Quartararo now heads for his home round at Le Mans this weekend.

After a pair of victories to start the season at Jerez, the Frenchman endured a five-race podium drought before winning in Barcelona.

Meanwhile, a DNF for Andrea Dovizioso means the Petronas Yamaha star now leads Suzuki's Joan Mir by eight points with six rounds to go.

Quartararo made a perfect start to his home event as a rookie last season by being fastest in FP1, but had to settle for tenth in a wet qualifying and could only manage eighth in the race.

Victory this weekend would make Quartararo the first Frenchman in premier-class history to win at Le Mans.

"I’m really happy to be able to have a home GP this year and it’s a special feeling to go there as championship leader," Quartararo said.

"Le Mans is a track that I really like. It is going to be important for us to fight for the victory and score as many points as possible.

"Normally it is a track that I do well at, I did finish eighth there last year but it was a really fast-paced race and I’m hoping to continue the good form from the Barcelona weekend.

"I just hope the fans that are allowed to come bring warm conditions with them because it is quite cold at the moment! I’m just really happy to have a home GP, as there are not a lot of races this year."

Team-mate and fellow 2020 race winner Morbidelli will arrive holding fifth in the world championship, 31 points behind his team-mate.

"Le Mans is a good track and I like it a lot. It’s a track that I have had some decent races there past and had some strong results: I had my first top-ten finish in 2014 and I won there in 2017. I’m feeling great, both physically and mentally, so I’m in a good shape to go into these next races," said the Italian.

"With this third triple-header we start the second half of the 2020 season, my best MotoGP season so far. Now, I’m looking forward to being back racing again after this very small break, we will try to be fast again and I’m ready to see what we can do in Le Mans, before we go to Aragon."