RACE REPORT | MotoGP France 2025

The 2025 French Grand Prix delivered a chaotic and emotional race at Le Mans, featuring changing weather, multiple crashes, and numerous penalties. Amid all the drama, French hero Johann Zarco claimed a historic victory — the first home win for a French rider since 1954 — ahead of Marc Márquez and rookie sensation Fermín Aldeguer.

The French Grand Prix started with tricky conditions, as the track was wet and it was raining. That meant riders had to switch their bikes to wet tyres. Race direction ordered everyone into the pits, so the white flag was out. But too many riders went in at once, and the session got red-flagged, delaying the start. Because of that, the race was shortened by 1 lap, now being 26 laps.

When the session restarted, most riders went back to the pits again to change their bikes to slicks. Since more than 10 riders did this, they were allowed to start from the grid, not pit lane. After all the delays and changes, the race finally started.

Marc Márquez had a great start and took the lead, but Fabio Quartararo quickly passed him. Francesco Bagnaia and Joan Mir crashed out early, but Bagnaia continued. Fermín Aldeguer chose a different line and ended up right behind his teammate. The three KTMs were battling again like the day before. Five riders — Viñales, Jack Miller, Alex Rins, and others — got double long lap penalties for switching bikes at the wrong time. Bagnaia also went in to change his bike.

At the front, Alex Márquez attacked his brother Marc and took second place. Quartararo made a gap at the front but got a double long lap penalty, same as Ai Ogura and Raúl Fernández. Quartararo served one penalty early and dropped to 4th place. Now Alex Márquez was leading. Then Marc Márquez, Brad Binder, and Pedro Acosta also got long lap penalties. Alex Márquez also got one later.

These penalties were given because riders changed bikes when they weren’t supposed to. Marc wasn’t leading anymore, and Quartararo moved to second. But then Quartararo crashed with Binder, which was a sad moment for the French fans. Marc stayed in front, with Alex behind him. Marc still had to serve his penalty, while his brother had already done his.

Pedro Acosta and Viñales went in to change bikes again, this time to wets. Quartararo retired, and Binder continued. Then Enea Bastianini crashed. Aldeguer was now leading the race, with Di Giannantonio and Luca Savadori behind. Brad Binder also crashed. Aldeguer then went to change bikes, and so did Savadori and Di Giannantonio.

Now Johann Zarco was leading the race, making it an incredible day for French fans. It was only lap 8! Marco Bezzecchi crashed out, and Zarco had a 6-second lead. Miguel Oliveira was second, but Zarco kept pulling away. Marc Márquez moved to second, with Alex in third.

Enea Bastianini got another double long lap penalty for speeding in the pit lane. On lap 15, Viñales overtook Oliveira and moved into 5th place. Nakagami was 8th, and Savadori was 10th. Zarco's lead grew to 11 seconds.

By lap 18, it started raining again. The battle for 6th began between Oliveira and Aldeguer. The rookie Aldeguer made the move and took 6th. Zarco now had a 14-second gap. Then Oliveira crashed at Turn 14 and retired.

Aldeguer impressed in the wet, overtook Viñales, and moved into 5th. Alex Márquez crashed from 3rd but rejoined in 6th place. Aldeguer started catching up to Acosta, creating a possible battle for 3rd. Zarco still had a 17-second lead.

Alex Márquez crashed again and retired. Aldeguer caught Acosta, and with two laps to go, they battled hard. Aldeguer overtook him and took 3rd place — his second career podium.

On the last lap, all eyes were on Zarco. And he did it — Johann Zarco won the French Grand Prix at home, the first French rider to do so since 1954. Marc Márquez finished second, and Fermín Aldeguer completed the podium in third.

2025 French Grand Prix results: