Martin throws down the gauntlet early but crashes late in Le Mans

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is back on top at the Michelin® Grand Prix de France, storming to pole position and setting a new lap record. However, it was not smooth sailing for the #89 after crashing in the latter part of the session. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) will join Martin on the front row of the grid, also suffering a fall moments after Martin in a dramatic end to the session. Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Viñales will return to the front row, continuing an impressive 2024 season. Meanwhile, some big names were unable to fight in Q2 with work to do in the Tissot Sprint.

Lap records broken with crashes late on

It was one of the most competitive Q1 sessions we have ever seen with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) storming to the top spot to secure a spot in Q2. ‘The Beast’ set a brilliant 1:30.233, ending Q1 ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) who pushed Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) out of the top two spots. However, all eyes quickly turned to the start of Q2 with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) putting the hammer down instantly, setting an all-time lap record on the opening flying lap. Martin quickly improved setting the first ever 1:29.919 lap around Le Mans – 0.192s quicker than Bagnaia.

In the closing minutes, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) improved, and Martin crashed in an attempt to improve on his lap record. Seconds later, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed while under the lap record, before Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) fell in the final minute of qualifying.

Key contenders qualifying outside the top 10

Heading the second row of the grid is Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing), ending qualifying 0.517s down from Martin’s benchmark. Fellow Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing rider Marco Bezzecchi stormed to a late fifth place, after a blisteringly quick final flying lap. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) rounds off the second row, starting three places behind teammate Viñales with everything still to play for.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will start the French GP from seventh after setting a 1:30.650. Acosta had a close moment with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) at the end of the session, causing the #31 to abort a lap. Quartararo will start alongside Acosta on the middle of the third row with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) ending a strong qualifying in ninth – inside the top 10.

However, some key contenders are missing from the front three rows,  most notably Marc Marquez, who will start from 13^th on the grid on Saturday and Sunday with a huge task ahead. Marc Marquez had a huge save in Q1 after losing the front and running off the track. There were no Gresini Racing MotoGP™ riders in Q2 with Alex Marquez forced to start from 17^th, on the sixth row of the grid. Meanwhile, at the back of the grid, it will be Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder who was unable to break into the 1:31 bracket. The South African will look to find pace to be able to improve from 22^nd on the grid.

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