In a thrilling display of speed and skill, Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) has secured pole position at the MotoGP Grand Prix de France, held at the iconic Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans on Saturday, May 10, 2025. This marks Quartararo's second consecutive pole, following his impressive performance in Jerez, Spain, where he also claimed the top spot. The 26-year-old Frenchman shattered the existing track record with a blistering lap time of 1:29.324, leaving the crowd of thousands of enthusiastic fans in awe.
Quartaro's outstanding effort placed him ahead of the Marquez brothers, with six-time world champion Marc Marquez (Ducati) taking second and his brother Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) starting in third. This pole position is particularly significant as it ends a four-year drought for French riders at the Le Mans circuit, a place where home support often plays a crucial role in the performance of local favorites.
Despite his recent success, Quartararo has faced challenges in the past few seasons, having not won a race since the GP d'Allemagne on June 19, 2022. However, he demonstrated a resurgence by finishing second at the Grand Prix d'Espagne on April 27, 2025, and now aims to convert his pole position into a long-awaited victory.
“It’s exceptional to make pole position at Le Mans. I knew we could do a good time, but I didn’t expect to go as fast as I did,” Quartararo said after his record-breaking lap, expressing his excitement and determination for the upcoming race.
As the riders prepared for the sprint race, the atmosphere was electric. Fans waved flags and cheered for Quartararo, who is seen as a serious contender for victory. The race was set to start at 3 PM local time, with live timing available for those following the action online.
In the sprint race, Marc Marquez showcased his dominance by clinching his sixth consecutive sprint victory, finishing ahead of his brother Alex and rookie Fermin Aldeguer. Quartararo, despite his pole position, battled fiercely but ultimately finished fourth, just shy of the podium. His performance, however, solidified his position as the leading non-Ducati rider.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), who started the race in sixth, faced an unfortunate early exit after crashing out on the second lap. This incident has left him trailing in the championship standings, now 31 points behind the new leader, Marc Marquez.
“I fought hard, but it was tough out there,” Quartararo reflected on his sprint race performance. “I’m happy to be competitive again, but I want to convert this into a win.”
The championship standings after the sprint race show Marc Marquez leading with 151 points, closely followed by Alex Marquez with 149 points. Bagnaia sits in third with 120 points, while Quartararo is currently in sixth place with 50 points.
As the MotoGP season progresses, the competition remains fierce, with the next round promising to bring even more excitement. Fans eagerly await the full race results as Quartararo aims to harness the support of his home crowd and break his winless streak.
With the next race on the horizon, all eyes will be on Quartararo as he seeks to turn his pole position into a triumphant return to the top of the podium. The energy at Le Mans is palpable, and the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown.
