Johann Zarco Makes History with First French MotoGP Win in 71 Years

Posted : 12 May 2025

Johann Zarco made history on Sunday at the French MotoGP in Le Mans by becoming the first French rider to win the race in 71 years. In a remarkable performance under challenging wet conditions, Zarco, competing in his 150th MotoGP race, took the lead after eight laps and maintained it throughout the race.

The victory marked his second MotoGP win, with his previous win coming in Australia in 2023. Zarco's triumph is especially significant as he became the first French rider to claim the top category race win since Pierre Monneret in 1954.

The victory was a deeply emotional moment for Zarco, who was visibly moved before even dismounting from his bike. He celebrated with his team and performed his signature backflip off a wall, a gesture he has used since winning his Moto2 world titles in 2015 and 2016.

The French crowd, which set a new record for the largest attendance at a MotoGP event with 311,797 spectators, cheered wildly, and the crowd even sang "La Marseillaise" in a spontaneous show of support. Zarco finished the race 19.907 seconds ahead of six-time world champion Marc Marquez, with rookie Fermin Aldeguer claiming his first podium in just his sixth MotoGP race.

The race itself was chaotic, with challenging weather conditions leading to several crashes and non-finishers. Francesco Bagnaia and Joan Mir were among the early casualties, while home favorite Fabio Quartararo, after tangling with Brad Binder on lap 5, was also sent into the gravel.

Championship leader Marc Marquez, who had won the Sprint race on Saturday, faced issues due to a penalty after changing to dry bikes too early. Marquez, along with his brother Alex, who also struggled in the difficult conditions, both had to serve double long-lap penalties, which hampered their progress.

Zarco’s performance in Le Mans also coincided with the largest attendance in the history of MotoGP, surpassing 300,000 spectators for the first time since the championship began in 1949. Despite his mistakes in the race, Marc Marquez extended his lead at the top of the championship standings to 22 points over his brother Alex. However, Zarco’s victory was undoubtedly the highlight of the day, as the Frenchman celebrated his long-awaited win on home soil.

Johann Zarco Makes History with First French MotoGP Win in 71 Years

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