2021 French MotoGP, Le Mans - Full Qualifying Results
Quartararo snatches a last-gasp home pole position for the French MotoGP at a damp Le Mans, ahead of team-mate Vinales and Ducati's Miller.
Marc Marquez had been on pole with just a few minutes to go, but was pushed down to sixth.
Petronas team-mates Morbidelli and Rossi were the only riders to chose slicks at the start, buying them a few more minutes of track time compared to their rivals, who soon pitted for their 'dry' bikes.
However Rossi suffered a near highside at the final corner, ruining not only his first flying lap but meaning he was also slow across the line at the start of his next lap, by which time the others were also up to speed on slicks.
Oliveira fell with 3mins to go, bringing out yellow flags, just as rain began to fall once again.
But the session wasn't over yet with the likes of Zarco, Vinales and then Quartararo saving their best to last, while Pol Espargaro crashed out at Turn 3.
Quartararo is riding for the first time since arm-pump surgery on his right forearm.
Reigning champion Mir and current world championship leader Bagnaia didn't get beyond Qualifying 1 and will start from 14th and 16th respectively.
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.
Lecuona has a three-second time penalty for the race after causing a crash, with Alex Marquez, at Jerez.
Rain remains a risk throughout Sunday.
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| French MotoGP, Le Mans - Full Qualifying Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'32.600s | 9/9 | 312k |
| 2 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.081s | 9/9 | 311k |
| 3 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.104s | 9/9 | 322k |
| 4 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.166s | 9/9 | 309k |
| 5 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.277s | 9/9 | 323k |
| 6 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.437s | 6/8 | 313k |
| 7 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.520s | 5/7 | 321k |
| 8 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.550s | 5/8 | 320k |
| 9 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.791s | 9/9 | 310k |
| 10 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.267s | 6/6 | 311k |
| 11 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.658s | 5/7 | 303k |
| 12 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.665s | 9/9 | 319k |
| Qualifying 1: | ||||||
| 13 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | 1'43.418s | 8/9 | 307k |
| 14 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | 1'43.422s | 9/9 | 304k |
| 15 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | 1'43.523s | 9/9 | 306k |
| 16 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | 1'43.53s | 9/9 | 312k |
| 17 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | 1'43.857s | 9/9 | 301k |
| 18 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | 1'44.324s | 9/9 | 303k |
| 19 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | 1'45.146s | 5/6 | 306k |
| 20 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | 1'45.59s | 6/7 | 300k |
| 21 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | 1'45.911s | 5/8 | 301k |
| 22 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | 1'46.123s | 5/8 | 292k |
* Rookie.
Fastest Friday time:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 31.747s
(FP2)
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.
