French MotoGP, Le Mans - Free Practice (1) Results
Jerez winner Miller leads opening practice for the French MotoGP at Le Mans, held on a wet but drying track.
The Australian was typically the first rider to switch from wet to slick tyres with 12mins to go, immediately climbing to second behind home star Zarco despite rain spots falling, then breaking 2.3s clear at the top on his next lap.
Others rushed to respond on soft slicks, producing a frantic end to the session, but it was too late to challenge Miller who watched the final minutes from the pits.
Alex Marquez and Vinales fell during the session, the Yamaha rider just as he joined the track from pit lane, while world champion Mir was forced to park one of his Suzukis after a technical problem in the opening 15 minutes.
More bad weather is expected during the weekend, meaning riders were especially anxious to try and claim a top ten place this morning.
Quartararo is riding for the first time since arm-pump surgery on his right forearm. Like all the Yamahas, he was left outside the top ten in FP1.
Injured rookie Jorge Martin is again replaced by Rabat. Marquez, sidelined for nine months after complications to a broken right arm at Jerez last July, is taking part in his third event since returning to MotoGP action.
CLICK HERE for live updates…
| French MotoGP, Le Mans - Free Practice (1) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | 1'38.007s | 13/14 | 309k |
| 2 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +1.481s | 18/18 | 309k |
| 3 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +2.062s | 13/13 | 298k |
| 4 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +2.108s | 16/16 | 306k |
| 5 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +2.114s | 18/18 | 306k |
| 6 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +2.237s | 18/18 | 292k |
| 7 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +2.249s | 22/22 | 308k |
| 8 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +2.575s | 12/16 | 301k |
| 9 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +2.672s | 16/16 | 309k |
| 10 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +3.022s | 12/14 | 299k |
| 11 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +3.251s | 19/19 | 306k |
| 12 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +3.292s | 11/14 | 300k |
| 13 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +3.416s | 21/21 | 295k |
| 14 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +3.517s | 20/20 | 297k |
| 15 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +3.569s | 12/17 | 304k |
| 16 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +3.634s | 21/21 | 299k |
| 17 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +4.493s | 16/18 | 298k |
| 18 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +4.892s | 14/19 | 299k |
| 19 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +5.038s | 8/12 | 294k |
| 20 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +5.255s | 18/18 | 286k |
| 21 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +5.462s | 21/21 | 297k |
| 22 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +5.637s | 14/16 | 290k |
* Rookie.
Official Le Mans MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Johann Zarco FRA Yamaha 1m 31.185s (2018)
Fastest race lap:
Maverick Vinales SPA Yamaha 1m 32.309s (2017)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
