MotoGP Round 5 | Comeback king Jorge Martin triumphant in France | The #89 reeled in and passed his teammate and title rival as Ai Ogura clinched a debut MotoGP podium to hand Aprilia a podium lockout at Le Mans. Report: BikeReview/MotoGP Press Photos: MotoGP Press.

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Excitement promised, and that’s certainly how things played out. P1, like he finished last year’s weekend, Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR #5) started his 2026 home Grand Prix where he left off as he topped Friday action. The Frenchman was in mighty form in the dry running on day one of the French Grand Prix to give the home crowd what they wanted to see, whilst Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR4 Racing Team #49) was just 0.010s behind in second. Double World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) clinched third despite a late crash.

Read our MotoGP Round 4 Report here…

Sparks were always going to fly in qualifying at Le Mans, and the fans weren’t disappointed. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) claimed a first pole of the season with a final flying lap to halt a Q1 to pole charge from teammate Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93), the #93 was forced to settle for second, whilst it was Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) who rounded out a powerhouse of a front row.

 

 

Moto2

A rapid and very early 1:34.348 from Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) saw the Spaniard finish top of the Moto2 timesheets on a highly competitive Friday. 0.002s away from P1 was second place Celestino Vietti (Folladore SpeedRS Team #13), as Boscoscuro kickstarted the weekend with a 1-2, and a further 0.001s adrift was Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing #7) in third.

A 1:33.910, a new Moto2 all-time lap record at Le Mans, was enough to see Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) earn a debut pole position in the class. The margin to P2 was tight, 0.086s to be exact, with Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #96) bagging P2, and having had a nightmare start to the weekend on Friday with technical issues and a big crash, Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team #12) clinched his first front row of the season in P3.

 

Moto3

It was a fine showing from David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #64) to top the first day of Moto3 action at Le Mans. The French GP never disappoints, and Muñoz, who was in contention for victory last year, will be looking to bag a first win of his 2026 campaign as he laid down the gauntlet.

Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) made a late dash to grab pole position in Le Mans, putting in a 1:40.044 to deny Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team #28) by just under a tenth and a half. Joel Kelso (GRYD – MLav Racing #66) took third place to complete the front row for the French GP.

 

 

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

As starts go, that was about as good as it gets from French GP Tissot Sprint winner Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #89), who didn’t miss a beat on a dramatic Saturday afternoon at a packed-out Le Mans. The #89 stormed to a dominant 12-point haul, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) made it three straight Saturday podiums with a P2 finish.

Meanwhile, current World Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) secured P3, and reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) suffered a huge late-race crash that ruled him out of Sunday’s Grand Prix and next week’s Catalan GP.

Starting from P8, Martin launched brilliantly and swept around the outside of Bezzecchi, Bagnaia and Marc Marquez through Turn 3 before grabbing the lead at Turn 4. Polesitter Bagnaia slotted into P3 early on, while home favourite Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) held P4 after a strong getaway. Marc Marquez, however, slipped backwards from the middle of the front row to P5 on the opening lap.

The #93 continued to lose ground as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) attacked on Lap 2, before Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) also found a way through at Turn 3 on Lap 3, dropping Marc Marquez to P7.

 

 

At the front, Bezzecchi ran wide at Turn 7 on Lap 3, allowing Bagnaia into P2. By then, Martin had already broken clear, stretching his advantage beyond a second. Acosta continued his charge by passing Quartararo for P4. Fabio Di Giannantonio’s (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) difficult Sprint ended with a Lap 5 crash from P14.

As Martin steadily increased his lead over Bagnaia, Bezzecchi settled into a comfortable P3. Behind them, the battle for P5 intensified between Quartararo, Mir and Marc Marquez until disaster struck on the penultimate lap. Marc Marquez suffered a violent crash at Turn 13 after losing the front, resulting in a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

Out front, Martin remained untouchable to seal his second Sprint victory of the season ahead of Bagnaia and Bezzecchi. Acosta then claimed P4 and Quartararo delighted the French crowd with a hard-fought P5.

“I put all my determination into the start, I didn’t expect to be in first position in the second corner, but from that point I just pushed like in the past, like what I am used to,” Martin reflected.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing
  2. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+1.107s)
  3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+2.786s)
  4. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+3.808s)
  5. Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (+4.402s)

Sunday
MotoGP

All the blood, sweat and tears. The injury struggles of 2025. The uncertainty over whether he’d ever stand on the top step again. But at Le Mans, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) did exactly that. For the first time since the 2024 Indonesian Grand Prix, the #89 returned to victory lane with a sensational ride that saw him hunt down and pass teammate Marco Bezzecchi in the closing stages.

It was a historic day for Aprilia, who locked out the top two podium positions thanks to the championship-leading duo. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79) duly completed a dream result by claiming his first MotoGP podium. It marked Aprilia’s first-ever MotoGP podium lockout and the first podium for a Japanese rider since 2012.

Bezzecchi launched best from the front row to grab the holeshot into Turn 3, with home hero Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) delighting the French crowd by climbing to P2 after battling Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Pole-sitter Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) slipped to P4, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) making a much stronger start than in the Sprint.

Early drama arrived on Lap 2 when Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashed out, while Acosta pushed past Quartararo at Turn 11. Soon after, Bagnaia surged through into P2 and began hunting down Bezzecchi, setting the fastest lap of the race. Behind them, Martin steadily worked his way forward, eventually passing Di Giannantonio on Lap 9 to move into contention.

As the race settled, the leading group remained tightly packed. Bezzecchi held a narrow advantage over Bagnaia, with Acosta close behind. Martin’s pace looked threatening despite sitting over a second back. Then came the turning point on Lap 16, when Bagnaia crashed out of P2 at Turn 3, promoting Martin into podium contention.

The reigning World Champion quickly dispatched Acosta on Lap 18 and set his sights on teammate Bezzecchi. Lap by lap, Martin reeled him in as Ogura charged into podium contention behind them. On Lap 23, Ogura passed Acosta to make it an Aprilia 1-2-3.

With three laps remaining, Martin made his decisive move at Turn 3, diving past Bezzecchi under brakes to take the lead for the first time. From there, the #89 controlled the closing laps perfectly to seal an emotional and long-awaited victory.

Bezzecchi held off late pressure from Ogura to secure P2, while the Japanese rookie celebrated a breakthrough MotoGP podium in P3. Di Giannantonio snatched P4 from Acosta on the final lap, with Quartararo rounding out a strong home weekend in P6.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m so grateful to all the fans, all the people who were with me in this tough time. I don’t have words. I really enjoyed that,” Martin explained.

MotoGP Race Results

  1. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing
  2. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+0.477s)
  3. Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia (+0.874s)
  4. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+2.851s)
  5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+2.991s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 128
  2. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing – 127
  3. Fabio di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 84
  4. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 83
  5. Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia – 67

Moto2

Pole position to victory. Not a bad weekend at the Le Mans office for Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), as the Spaniard converted his maiden Moto2 pole into a superb win to climb into P2 in the championship standings behind Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18). In a dramatic, red-flagged and shortened Moto2 contest, Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – El Motorista – MSI #4) completed an impressive comeback from P14 on the grid to secure the final podium place.

With the rain easing and the track beginning to dry, the entire field opted for slick tyres. Guevara made a perfect launch from pole to grab the holeshot, while championship leader Gonzalez quickly moved into P2 from the middle of the second row. Early drama struck for Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), who crashed out with a highside at Turn 7 on the opening lap after starting from P2.

At the end of Lap 1, Guevara led Gonzalez and Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) before further chaos unfolded when Jorge Navarro (KLINT Racing Team #9) crashed at the final corner. Although Navarro walked away unharmed, safety concerns forced the race to be red-flagged.

The restart was shortened to a nine-lap sprint using the original grid order, and Aspar managed to repair Holgado’s bike in time for him to rejoin from pit lane. However, the second start brought more drama as Salač and Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team #11) tangled into the opening chicane, while Barry Baltus’ (REDS Fantic Racing) race ended prematurely at Turn 6.

Up front, Guevara remained calm and immediately built a strong advantage, stretching his lead to almost a second as Holgado and teammate David Alonso battled through the field. More incidents followed on Lap 2 when Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95) and Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team #17) crashed together, while Celestino Vietti (Folladore SpeedRS Team) received a Long Lap penalty for causing Baltus’ earlier crash.

As the laps counted down, Gonzalez and Ortola increased their pace in pursuit of Guevara, but the Spaniard remained in control. Gonzalez eventually broke clear of Ortola and reduced the gap slightly, but Guevara responded perfectly to keep his title rival at bay.

Crossing the line 0.5s clear, Guevara secured his first victory of the season and delivered Boscoscuro its first win over Kalex in 2026. Gonzalez finished P2 to retain the championship lead, and Ortola’s remarkable charge from P14 earned him a first podium of the campaign. Senna Agius’ winning streak came to an end with an admirable P7 finish.

Moto2 Race Results

  1. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2
  2. Manuel Gonzalez LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (+0.566s)
  3. Ivan Ortola QJMOTOR – El Motorista – MSI (+2.969s)
  4. Alonso Lopez ITALJET Gresini Moto2 (+3.949s)
  5. David Alonso CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team (+5.165s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 79.5
  2. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 – 70
  3. Senna Agius LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP – 59
  4. Celestino Vietti HDR SpeedRS Team – 53
  5. David Alonso CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team – 48

Moto3

A lights-to-flag victory saw Maximo Quiles (CIP GreenPower) dominate the Moto3 Grand Prix at Le Mans to extend his Championship lead to 46 points. P2 for polesitter Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) saw the Spaniard move into second overall in the Championship.

A flying start from the middle of the front row, Championship leader Quiles got the holeshot on what would be an opening lap of attrition. The first faller came at Turn 2, with Brian Uriarte’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo #51) wide, sweeping line not working out as he fell. David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) then tipped off at Turn 3 and Cormac Buchanan (CODE Motorsports #14) highsided on the exit of Turn 7. The crashing didn’t stop there, as on Lap 2, a brilliant start from Casey O’Gorman ended in the gravel at Turn 10, whilst Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3 #73) and Joel Kelso (GRYD MLav Racing) followed on Lap 2 and Lap 3, respectively.

With the #28 out front and in command, the stars continued falling behind. Second in the Championship, Alvaro Carpe’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83) charge ended with a fall at Turn 10. Just a few corners later, having just got into P2, Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #97) crashed at Turn 13, giving second back to polesitter Fernandez and promoting Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA #18) into third – although he’d soon have a Long Lap Penalty for shortcutting at Turn 10. Further fallers behind were Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower #19) at Turn 3 and Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech 3 #27) at Turn 10.

Into the closing stages, and it was all looking settled with Quiles sporting a 2.1s advantage over Fernandez, as Bertelle had third all wrapped up. A huge result for the #28, who took an enormous step forward in the title fight to extend his lead with victory at Le Mans and his first back-to-back wins in Moto3. It was back-to-back rostrums for the first time in over a year for Fernandez. Bertelle was on the podium for the first time since COTA 2025. Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia #9) clinched fourth place, and from 20th on the grid, Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA #78) rode a fantastic Grand Prix to fifth.

Moto3 Race Results

  1. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team
  2. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+1.888s)
  3. Matteo Bertelle LEVEL UP – MTA (+4.227s)
  4. Veda Pratama Honda Team Asia (+7.659s)
  5. Joel Esteban LEVEL UP – MTA (+10.916s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 115
  2. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing – 69
  3. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 53
  4. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 – 52
  5. Veda Pratama Honda Team Asia – 50

How Did the Aussies Do?

Despite Jack Miller’s (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43) Sprint being a slog, his race performance was much stronger, with the Aussie claiming a point thanks to his P15 finish. Aware there’s still plenty of room for improvement with the bike, his focus remains on pushing hard and continuing to make strides toward becoming more competitive.

Senna Agius delivered a solid ride at Le Mans, charging through the field to finish P7 following an aggressive opening lap that saw him make up several positions. Heavy contact not long after cost him touch with the lead group and any chance of fighting for the podium, though. To his credit, the Aussie ace recovered strongly to secure valuable championship points.

Although Joel Kelso secured his first front-row start aboard the Honda and looked set for a quality race, it sadly wasn’t to be for the #66, as he lost the front and crashed out in the challenging conditions.

 

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