Jorge Martin’s imperious French Grand Prix weekend got here as a call on who will get the second manufacturing facility Ducati team MotoGP seat looms. The Pramac rider can do no extra to show himself at this fee, having taken pole with a lap document, gained the dash and emerged victorious in a well ridden, nailbiting grand prix at Le Mans. Already feeling like he’s done all he can, Martin’s French GP show will solely assist his trigger – if Ducati hasn’t already made its resolution.
And it’s a robust one, with Marc Marquez coming from thirteenth to complete second – twice – on the Le Mans weekend. The eight-time world champion’s adaptation course of to the year-old Ducati is full, he claimed at Le Mans, although an absence of familiarity between crew and rider did set them again on Friday with a misstep in set-up. Lesson discovered, Marquez once more proved that all the pieces is coming collectively for him and a return to the highest step of the rostrum is barely a matter of time.
Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia endured a blended weekend, as bike woes within the dash led to a 3rd DNF of the 12 months. Within the grand prix, he may not more than third having led for a lot of the 27 laps. He’s now 38 factors down within the championship however his Spanish GP heroics final month ought to cease any doubters from rearing their heads.
Elsewhere, Le Mans broke the attendance document for MotoGP for a second 12 months in a row, doing so inside a 2024 season through which the collection is really again to its greatest after a number of tough years.
Issues ought to solely enhance additional as full particulars of the 2027 technical rules overhaul had been revealed pre-French GP.
Listed below are 10 issues we discovered from the 2024 French GP.
1. Le Mans win confirmed true intelligence of Martin
Martin celebrates his French GP win
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
After crashing out of the lead of the Spanish GP, Martin threw away an opportunity to go 47 factors clear within the standings coming to the French GP.
Late final 12 months as he pushed for a primary MotoGP championship, errors got here at essential factors for the Pramac rider. Final weekend’s French GP was the time to indicate he had really discovered from this.
From the off Martin was quick and shocked in qualifying with the one sub-1m30s lap ever at Le Mans. His dash win regarded easy, however it was his show within the 27-lap grand prix that deserves reward as being arguably the perfect journey of his profession. Dropping the lead off the road, Martin was content material to take a seat behind Francesco Bagnaia for 19 laps. He had the tempo to cross him each time he needed, however he felt staying put was a greater guess to see how the race developed.
The time got here on lap 20 for his break, which he failed at on the primary try. He succeeded subsequent time round on the Dunlop chicane, and although an error on the identical place on lap 25 nearly uncovered him to being repassed, he shortly re-established himself.
Bagnaia was fast via the primary two sectors of the observe however Martin was higher within the essential third and fourth splits, guaranteeing his manufacturing facility Ducati counterpart couldn’t take into consideration a late retaliation. A second grand prix win of the season so as to add to his three dash victories has put him 38 factors clear within the championship.
For a rider glad to level out how fast he’s in the meanwhile, Martin was surprisingly candid as to why he celebrated the best way he did afterwards (which included smashing his fist via his Ducati’s display).
“I do know I am sturdy however generally I’ve too many doubts. Possibly I do not understand how good I’m,” he stated. “Once I crossed the end line I used to be like, ‘who’s the primary? who’s the primary?’”
Unquestionably, proper now, Jorge Martin is primary.
2. Key errors stay for Bagnaia
Bagnaia’s crash on the finish of Q2 had penalties for the dash race
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Francesco Bagnaia proved numerous doubters unsuitable after the Spanish GP, however there’s some justification to be vital of the reigning double world champion’s season up to now. A pointless error within the Portugal dash denied him a assured win, whereas a lacklustre American outing did nothing to assist.
Whereas his dash retirement at Le Mans was all the way down to a “harmful” challenge on his second bike, the rationale he was driving it within the first place was as a consequence of a expensive crash on the finish of Q2 whereas he was threatening to beat Martin’s lap document time.
Whereas crashes can occur when on the sting, as Martin proved in Q2 additionally, the ramifications of it had been appreciable for Bagnaia. Pointless within the dash, he crucially misplaced observe time that might finally have proved helpful to him within the grand prix. Wonderful for the primary 19 laps, as soon as Martin was via struggles for tempo within the third sector meant mounting one other overtake try was unattainable. To rub salt within the wounds, this additionally allowed Marc Marquez to carve via into second on the final lap.
Bagnaia is aware of higher than anybody how lengthy a season might be and he was nonetheless capable of win the final two titles after quite a few early-campaign errors. However with Martin at a 26-point-per-round tempo (considering dash and GP outcomes beneath the brand new format) and Bagnaia solely on an 18-point common, he could nicely discover turning the tide a lot more durable than earlier than.
3. Marquez is getting stronger as extra Gresini classes discovered
Marquez twice got here from thirteenth on the grid to take podiums at Le Mans
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Marc Marquez declared on the Spanish GP that his adaptation to the Ducati GP23 had completed and he was now trying to convey the bike as near his driving fashion as potential. This does imply that there are gaps in data nonetheless, because the Le Mans spherical confirmed. Gresini tried a set-up course for each of its riders on Friday that finally didn’t work and left Marquez out of the direct Q2 locations.
A scary near-miss late in Q1 coupled with some yellow flag disruption meant he didn’t exit the session and was left thirteenth on the grid. Studying from their Friday error, the bike Marquez had beneath him for the dash was rather more aggressive and he rose to second.
Doing the identical in a grand prix he “cooked slowly”, Marquez got here simply 0.446s away from a primary win on the bike. His tempo at factors was higher than that of Martin and Bagnaia as he carved via the sector, resulting in a reasonably large ‘what if?’ with regard to qualifying going in another way.
What’s extra is that he felt “not satisfied” he may combat for the win when he did get onto the rear of Martin and Bagnaia on lap 21, however nonetheless dug deep to be ready to grab second with a reasonably late transfer on the brakes into Flip 9.
Now with back-to-back GP podiums and three dash rostrums in 5 rounds, he’s third within the standings and solely 40 factors behind Martin as he clearly will get stronger.
4. Ducati’s 2025 resolution is getting more durable
The race for a Ducati manufacturing facility seat seems to be to be a duel between Marquez and Martin
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Coming into the French GP weekend, Ducati had already outlined a deadline of the Italian GP on the finish of this month for when it’s going to make its resolution on Bagnaia’s team-mate for 2025.
Greater than possible, there’s nothing else Enea Bastianini – who was fourth at Le Mans – can do to carry onto his seat at this stage, with it nearly sure that both Jorge Martin or Marc Marquez will substitute him.
Earlier within the Le Mans weekend, Ducati basic supervisor Gigi Dall’Igna stated the riders into account would have their histories taken under consideration – not simply what has occurred in 2024.
That might put the ball firmly in Marquez’s courtroom, given his six world titles and kind that’s shortly returning on that GP23. However Martin is one among MotoGP’s greatest proper now and his French GP solely served to strengthen his claims.
Marquez merely desires a manufacturing facility bike, Martin desires to be in a manufacturing facility crew on a manufacturing facility bike. Can Ducati actually threat letting Martin stroll away, even when the trade-off is the perfect rider of the final decade in Marquez? That’s to not then keep in mind what crew companions may need. Martin stated over the weekend that he would perceive if Ducati chose Marquez over him because he is a ‘marketing beast’.
As Dall’Igna famous on the finish of the Le Mans weekend to motogp.com: “For positive [my decision is] tougher, however that is my job and I’ve to pick out the very best rider for our manufacturing facility crew and in addition the very best riders for the opposite Ducati groups. So, I’ve one thing to consider this subsequent week.”
5. Acosta suffers first bitter tablet of MotoGP rookie season
Acosta has been a sensation this 12 months however suffered a testing weekend in France
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Pedro Acosta’s debut season in MotoGP with the Tech3 GasGas crew has been nothing wanting unimaginable and there’s little doubting that he’s the way forward for the premier class. Studying each time he hits the observe, Acosta has for probably the most half been spared the more durable classes. Save for a expensive Q2 crash and greater off in warm-up at Jerez, Acosta has prevented main errors.
Operating strongly within the early levels of the French GP, Acosta regarded like he can be an element within the podium battle. However he crashed out at Flip 8 making an attempt to keep away from an enormous collision with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Aleix Espargaro forward of him.
After plummeting down the order in his first race in Qatar, Acosta stated he “have to be glad to make errors”. Private expectations have clearly shifted, although, as he minimize a dejected determine in his media debrief as he felt the French GP posed the primary day in his MotoGP profession “for one thing huge”.
6. Hope for Yamaha regardless of Quartararo’s residence heartbreak
Quartararo could have ended within the gravel, however there have been indicators for optimism for Yamaha
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
A document French GP crowd most likely wasn’t anticipating a lot from 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo as Yamaha’s rebuilding 12 months continues. However that didn’t cease them throwing their help behind him and he did them proud.
Getting straight into Q2 after Friday apply, Quartararo was working inside the highest six within the early levels of the grand prix and was on for at the very least a prime eight when he crashed out at Flip 9 with 10 laps to go. It was a crash he stated that was all the way down to being “utterly on the restrict from lap one” of the M1, however he was however “glad” with the psychological enhance preventing on the sharp finish gave him.
That efficiency was encouraging for the longer term, too, as Yamaha turned the M1 the other way up on Sunday morning with a set-up that improved entry grip barely. Although he nonetheless wants to check it at Mugello later this week for affirmation, he believes this may kind his base set-up to any extent further.
“This morning we made an enormous change on the bike that the crew anticipated for me to say ‘it’s utterly totally different’ or ‘unhealthy’ or one thing – they anticipated me to really feel an enormous distinction, however I felt a small distinction in a greater means,” he stated on Sunday. “So we raced with this bike. For me it seems to be prefer it’s going to be our new base. And after tomorrow we could have two days of take a look at in Mugello, so we could have additionally the prospect to check in completely totally different tracks. However as we speak I feel I used to be driving actually, rather well and hopefully we are able to keep on.”
7. Honda outlook stays bleak
Marini’s pointless streak continued, as did Honda’s struggles
Photograph by: Marc Fleury
Honda additionally has a personal take a look at at Mugello this week the place it’s going to put the brand new idea examined at Jerez a number of weeks in the past via its paces once more. And it actually wants to begin making huge headway with that.
The French GP was one other bleak affair for the HRC contingent. Johann Zarco emerged as the perfect of the bunch in twelfth on his LCR-run Honda, the Frenchman usually extracting probably the most from that bike this season. However he was nonetheless 26.8s off the win.
Takaaki Nakagami was 14th, 30s off the win, whereas Luca Marini’s pointless run continued in sixteenth – 40s again from Jorge Martin. Joan Mir crashed whereas working within the factors and felt a step ahead had been made with the set-up of the bike.
Each Zarco and Marini praised Mir for his potential to seek out extra tempo with the Honda because the weekend goes on and get to an inexpensive degree (by that underwhelming package deal’s requirements). For Marini, he was at a loss to elucidate why he can have a sure degree of tempo in apply and never construct on that because the race weekend progresses.
8. 2024 title battle already seems to be set
The highest three in Le Mans look set to combat it out for the title
Photograph by: Marc Fleury
The begin to the 2024 season has been field workplace, with the collection simply having fun with a few of its greatest races and most intriguing storylines for a superb few years.
And the final fortnight seems to be to have carved out simply how the championship battle will play out throughout the remainder of the 12 months. Although Martin crashed out of the Spanish GP, Bagnaia is satisfied the results of the French GP would have been the identical in some order at Jerez. Certainly, Martin, Bagnaia and Marquez had been a minimize above at Le Mans and consistency-wise seem like leaving the remainder behind at this early level of the marketing campaign.
“For me, in the meanwhile, we three are probably the most full riders within the championship,” Bagnaia stated. “Different riders are quick sufficient to have an important efficiency and are capable of win races. However I feel by way of pace and consistency – Jorge extra – we’re probably the most full riders and with out the crash of Jorge at Jerez, [the Spanish GP top three] was the identical outcome I feel, the identical guys preventing [as today]. So, I feel for the championship will probably be roughly like this.”
That could be a very salivating prospect certainly.
9. 2027 rules get riders’ nod of approval
The MotoGP rules are set for an overhaul, as revealed earlier than the French GP
Photograph by: Marc Fleury
Forward of the French GP, MotoGP unveiled the total framework for its 2027 technical regulation overhaul. The largest change coming is the transfer to 850cc engines, with aerodynamics being stripped again and journey peak gadgets being utterly banned.
The purpose is for the bikes to be made just a little bit safer, which in flip retains the present roster of tracks much less harmful, whereas street relevance, environmental effectivity, value management and improved spectacle are all anticipated outcomes of the principles.
A press convention was held at Le Mans that includes representatives from Dorna, the FIM and the groups’ affiliation. Among the many dialogue factors there have been the peace of mind that World Superbike rule tweaks had been incoming to take care of bike racing’s present hierarchy, whereas new producers are anticipated to have an interest within the new regs.
The riders had been typically very optimistic in regards to the adjustments as they agree it have to be executed for the betterment of the present. Some, like Marc Marquez and Joan Mir, highlighted that the 2027 bikes will convey extra management again to the riders and can permit them to make extra of a distinction.
There have been some grumbles. Just a few really feel the aero cutbacks don’t go far sufficient, whereas KTM’s Jack Miller isn’t eager on the brand new guidelines round GPS knowledge sharing between groups (which can be meant to learn TV viewers) as squads ought to be capable to work out their issues for themselves.
10. Liberty should utilise Claude Michy to spice up different races
The group was out in pressure at Le Mans
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Simply as Le Mans breaking MotoGP attendance data is changing into a yearly prevalence now, so is Autosport’s praising of French GP promoter Claude Michy. And it’s for good purpose.
After the embarrassing false start at the Spanish GP, through which Dorna miscounted the group determine there by 100,000, the 2024 French GP did set a brand new all-time attendance document. A complete of 297,471 tickets had been bought for the 10-12 Might weekend, exceeding final 12 months’s document set at Le Mans of 278,805. Already from Wednesday, the campsites had been buzzing with life (and engines being revved to loss of life).
All the time one of many best-attended occasions, Michy’s method of cost-effective tickets that embody tenting entry and a family-focused method, is a profitable blueprint. As Liberty Media will get set to take over the reins on the finish of the 12 months and work out find out how to expose MotoGP to extra individuals, it may do rather a lot worse than rent Michy as a advisor to assist promoters enhance attendance in any respect occasions on the calendar.
MotoGP leaves Le Mans with a tantalising title battle in prospect
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images