Press Release | October 12, 2020
Sunday news
Petrucci’s back!
2020 has largely been a dire time for the likable Italian. Like team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, he has struggled to adapt his braking style to Michelin’s 2020 rear tire. Then there was the fact he was dumped by Ducati before racing even got underway.
“It was not so nice to lose my seat before the season started,” he said on Sunday. “This doesn’t give you the right motivation for racing in that team. I felt already that I was not on the list at the end of last year.”
It’s been a long time between drinks for Petrucci.
But at the Misano test between races in Italy helped Petrucci and crew chief Daniele Romagnoli to find a setting that helped him brake in a better way. “In Misano test we found something. Then in Barcelona I felt the bike again like I wanted. I knew that I got a big opportunity here and I did it again. It’s been a very, very long period but I’m really, really happy to have won again.”
Le Mans has always been kind to him. One of the heavier riders on the grid, Petrucci regularly struggles to manage rear tyre temperature compared to his smaller, lighter rivals. As he explained, “the track temperature is always quite low here and helps the tire to not be so hot.” Even in dry conditions, he was poised for a good result having qualified third.
In the wet, he was irresistible. Dovizioso commented, “He’s so strong in that situation, also because his negative point in the dry is an advantage in the wet because he can create a bit more grip with his weight.”
Yamaha’s misery
From looking untouchable on Saturday to limping home, out of contention, on Sunday. Yamaha’s fortunes took a nosedive when the rain closed in with Fabio Quartararo the best finisher in ninth, Maverick Viñales tenth and Valentino Rossi and Franco Morbidelli both crashing out.
At a track normally very well suited to the Yamaha’s, it wasn’t a happy weekend.
Even after choosing the soft front and rear wet options in Michelin’s allocation, Yamaha’s men had great difficulty getting heat into the tires. “Our main problem these kinds on conditions that we are struggling a lot to warm-up the tires on the rear on the edge and on the exit,” said Quartararo.
Also, the stop-and-go nature of Le Mans’ numerous hairpin bends and the wet conditions meant they were unable to utilize the machine’s strong points: wide, flowing lines, and high corner speed. “I think it’s a track much more for powerful bikes and I think in the wet even more because you can’t really make fast corner speed in the wet,” said Quartararo post-race.
Sunday also showed the M1’s strengths are blunted when fighting in a pack, wet or dry. As Franco Morbidelli said on Saturday, “our strong points are useless when we are in a group.”
Marquez to miss Aragon double-header
Marc Marquez will not make his racing return at either of the upcoming Grand Prix, to be held at Aragon. The 27-year old has continued his rehabilitation on a broken humerus bone in his right arm away from the glaring eye of the media with personal physiotherapist Carlos Garcia administering two recovery sessions a day.
There’s no need to rush back into action for Marc Marquez.
Just a fortnight ago, Marquez was quoted as saying “I don’t know if I will be on the bike in one month, in two weeks or in two months” in an official team statement. But Cycle News has learned replacement rider Stefan Bradl was briefed in France to prepare to race at both Valencia races and the season finale at Portimao in November in case the reigning world champion decides against a competitive return this year.
It appears he sees little point in returning when not fully recovered, knowing the championship is out of reach for 2020.
Sunday
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) is a wet weather master, but until now the Italian was always the bridesmaid in the rain. But no longer, as the number 9 put in a stunner in the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France to take his second premier class win and first in the wet. It’s Ducati’s first victory at the Sarthe circuit too, with Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) marking his own first in second place as the rookie took a stunning maiden premier class podium – from 18th on the grid. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing completed the rostrum in another impressive ride in the wet, pipping Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) as the Italian was forced to settle for fourth – but far outscored his key title rivals.
Petrucci pulled another rain masterclass, this time taking the win.
Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) took the holeshot, the Australian characteristically quick off the line, with Crutchlow swooping through trying to take the long way round. Polesitter Quartararo lost out as he dropped behind Miller, Petrucci and Dovizioso, but he was quick to try and fend off an attack from Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He did initially, but the drama early on Lap 1 turned more heads: Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) skittled out, sending two crucial title contenders wide and dropping them right down the field: Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
Back at the front though, it was Petrucci who’d taken over in the lead, the Italian looking comfortable ahead of compatriot and teammate Dovizioso as they got through on early leader Miller. The three had a couple of seconds in hand ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who had sliced his way through on Pol Espargaro to take over in the chase to catch the podium fight, but the Suzuki man was on a charge as Quartararo slipped backwards, Viñales continued his charge forwards and Mir remained relegated to outside the points as the latter two tried to recover from their early run off.
Pol Espargaro had Crutchlow for company, but soon there was another machine on the scene. Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda team) was showing incredible pace as the Spaniard caught and passed Crutchlow, and then he was homing in on Pol Espargaro – with fastest lap after fastest lap. And then all hell broke loose…
It was another wretched day for Vinales, who took 10th.
Rins, after catching the front group, had a nibble or two at Miller, before a few laps later the Suzuki man threw everything up the inside in a multi-buy for the lead – right after Dovizioso had taken over at the front. Dovi was shuffled back, contact ricocheted through the group and it was Petrucci who managed to emerge ahead, Rins second and Miller slotting back into third after running off and holding up his hand to give the advantage back.
And then there was more: a puff of smoke from the rear of Miller’s Ducati saw the Aussie forced to sit up and he was suddenly out with a mechanical – and then Rins suddenly slid out of contention. That shot of sudden drama left Petrucci with a couple of seconds in hand at the front, Dovizioso in second and Alex Marquez now up into third as the impressive rookie had sliced through on Pol Espargaro. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was close behind too, with the podium far from decided.
The gap to Petrucci was coming down, butMarquez was also right on Dovi. And sure enough, the number 73 picked his moment to perfection and sliced through – then immediately starting to make a gap back and catch Petrucci. The laps were running out, but the rookie was on an almighty charge.
Pol Espargaro struck to take third from Dovizioso soon after, before the Italian found himself in a battle with Miguel Oliveira as well. Onto the last lap just ahead though, it was 1.2 seconds from Petrucci back to Marquez, the rookie taking a good chunk of tenths off but the time ticking down. And the number 9 in the leading was holding firm, perfectly poised on the way to a second Grand Prix win…
Ultimately, the Italian wouldn’t be caught as he crossed the line for Ducati’s first win at Le Mans, his second premier class win and a huge boost of confidence after a difficult season. Alex Marquez kept it upright to get the incredible return for his stunning pace – having only ridden in the wet on Friday – with Pol Espargaro holding Dovizioso at bay.
Dovi tries to fend off the charging Alex Marquez.
Oliveira ended up with his hands full in the fight for fifth, and some late race pace from home hero Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) saw the Frenchman mug the Portuguese rider to end the race as top Independent Team rider in fifth. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) took seventh and was the second Honda home as Cal Crutchlow crashed out, with Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) in P8. And then came the three who begun the race on top in the title fight…
Fabio Quartararo won the tight, tight tussle for ninth as the Frenchman managed to fend off 2021 teammate Viñales late on, but it was a three-way scrap to the absolute last as Viñales then also managed to beat Mir to the line by almost nothing. The result? Quartararo extends his Championship lead to ten points ahead of Mir, and Dovizioso leapfrogs Viñales into third overall…
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the next man over the line in P12 after a tougher first race in the wet for the South African, with Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) taking P13. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was 14th, was Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) completing the points and those classified in France.
2020 French MotoGP Results
| 1 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Duc) |
|
| 2 |
Alex Marquez |
(Hon) |
+1.273 |
| 3 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+1.711 |
| 4 |
Andrea Dovizioso |
(Duc) |
+3.911 |
| 5 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+4.310 |
| 6 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+4.466 |
| 7 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+5.921 |
| 8 |
Stefan Bradl |
(Hon) |
+15.597 |
| 9 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+16.687 |
| 10 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+16.895 |
Moto2
Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) has earned his first top step on the podium in four years to reignite his title tilt after a devastating crash from compatriot Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) handed the Briton victory at the Moto2™ SHARK Helmets Grand Prix of France.
Lowes fends off the attack from Dixon, who got through but would crash out of the lead late in the race.
The British pair dominated the race from the early stages in unusual conditions in Le Mans as they separated themselves from the rest of the field, while Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) also claimed podium finishes.
2020 French Moto2 Results
| 1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
|
| 2 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 3.822 |
| 3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 4.184 |
| 4 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 5.884 |
| 5 |
Tom Lüthi |
(Kal) |
+ 21.668 |
| 6 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 29.197 |
| 7 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Spe) |
+ 32.249 |
| 8 |
Lorenzo Baldassarri |
(Kal) |
+ 34.376 |
| 9 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Kal) |
+ 35.392 |
| 10 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 35.521 |
Moto3
A second victory of the season came Celestino Vietti’s (SKY Racing Team VR46) way in the Moto3 race at the SHARK Helmets Grand Prix de France. The Italian left it late but produced the goods to take the 25-point haul by 0.142 seconds as Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) complete the podium. The latter reclaims the Championship lead as Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) salvages a P9 finish.
Vietti held on for the French win.
2020 French Moto3 Results
| 1 |
Celestino Vietti |
(KTM) |
|
| 2 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Hon) |
+0.142 |
| 3 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+0.198 |
| 4 |
Jaume Masia |
(Hon) |
+0.336 |
| 5 |
Andrea Migno |
(KTM) |
+0.569 |
| 6 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+0.834 |
| 7 |
Raul Fernandez |
(KTM) |
+1.361 |
| 8 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+1.625 |
| 9 |
Ai Ogura |
(Hon) |
+15.003 |
| 10 |
Carlos Tatay |
(KTM) |
+15.139 |
Saturday News
Marini’s dalliance with MotoGP
The future of Moto2 championship leader Luca Marini has been in question for some weeks now with reports at Le Mans suggesting he is closer to securing a move to MotoGP with Ducati in 2021. “We will try to finalize Luca with Ducati, especially if Ducati has an interest in him, not just to do a year,” said older brother Valentino Rossi.
It looks like Marini will be in MotoGP next year.
It appears Marini’s move will be at the expense of Tito Rabat, despite the Spaniard having a contract with Esponsorama Avinita Ducati for 2021. The team is struggling for funding and knows it will not form a part of the MotoGP grid when teams and manufacturers renew their five-year agreement with Dorna at the close of next year. “When we saw that it would be difficult to renew those places, we don’t have a real big budget,” confirmed team boss Ruben Xaus. “It was time to move apart and give the keys to somebody else.”
But a story in the Catalan press stating Sky Racing VR46 is poised to buy Esponsorama Avintia’s grid slots were denied by Rossi. “That information is not true,” said Rossi. “In 2021 VR46 will not have a team in MotoGP.”
Bagnaia feels Oliveira’s ire
Miguel Oliveira doesn’t suffer fools. That much was clear in August when he said “not everyone is born with the same level of intelligence” after coming together with Pol Espargaro in the Austrian Grand Prix. This weekend Francesco Bagnaia felt the brunt of his ire.
Oliveria has taken aim at Bagnaia, calling him “a child”.
The ex-Moto2 rivals found one another on track during Q1 when Bagnaia was frustrated by Oliveira touring on the racing line on the exit of turn six. The Italian made his feelings known, moving in his direction while waving angrily.
But Oliveira wasn’t impressed by this showing of emotion. “Pecco was acting very childish,” Oliveira said. “After my third lap in Q2, I was off the racing line, or let’s say the ideal line, but not completely off the track.
“I could not see that he was coming, he started to wave his hands and for me the worst is that he crossed his bike to mine, like wanting to hit me and make me crash, also coming into the pits. For me it’s just a reflection of what he is, he’s a child. When you endanger another rider because of one fast lap, it isn’t normal to have this kind of attitude.”
For his part, Bagnaia apologized. “I was too nervous, too angry, because he was riding slowly. if I meet him I will say sorry to him for my reaction, but I will ask him to please next time to look behind him to see if someone is arriving.”
Cal’s recovery
The complications with Cal Crutchlow’s right arm remain as pronounced as ever with the Briton voicing his concern over his physical condition coming into the weekend. Complications to the arm since undergoing surgery to alleviate arm pump have dogged Crutchlow since the beginning of September with the limb swollen, and still losing feeling when on the bike.
Ironman Crutchlow powered on in France.
“I spent 10 days at home and there were 10 visits to hospital,” he said of his preparation for the French GP. “MRI scans, seeing surgeons. Another week in the life of. My arm’s not in a great situation. It’s one of reasons I didn’t ride in the Portimao test. I didn’t want to use the arm. I’ll go and see Dr Mir again and consult with him as to what’s the best option to do after this weekend. The arm still has fluid, the arm is very swollen, the flexor muscle is very, very hard for some reason. The skin is completely stuck to muscle and tendons. We can’t get it off. Whatever you do… Physiotherapy, massage… It’s like super glue.”
His situation makes his fourth place in qualifying all the more remarkable.
Saturday
Another home pole for Quartararo, but can he convert it into a win?
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) took a stunning home turf pole position on Saturday at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France, the Frenchman denying Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) by two tenths after a late lunge for the top. Miller impressed in second to make it an Independent Team rider 1-2, with fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) completing the front row as Borgo Panigale machinery shone in qualifying.
2020 French MotoGP Results—Q2
| 1 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
1:31.315 |
| 2 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.222 |
| 3 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Duc) |
+ 0.359 |
| 4 |
Cal Crutchlow |
(Hon) |
+ 0.371 |
| 5 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.404 |
| 6 |
Andrea Dovizioso |
(Duc) |
+ 0.407 |
| 7 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.437 |
| 8 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+ 0.480 |
| 9 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.517 |
| 10 |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 0.574 |
Moto2
Joe Roberts’ (Tennor American Racing) brilliant Saturday continued as he claimed pole position after some late heroics in Moto2™ Q2 at the SHARK Helmets French Grand Prix with a 1:36.256.
Happy days for Joe Roberts as he takes another pole.
Smokin’ Joe’s last lap was just shy of an outright lap record but it was enough to knock Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) off of P1 with the Briton less than a tenth off the pace, and Remy Gardner’s (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) final lap sees him complete the front row, as the Australian was just six hundredths behind Lowes.
2020 French Moto2 Results—Q2
| 1 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
1:36.256 |
| 2 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.087 |
| 3 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.193 |
| 4 |
Jorge Martin |
(Kal) |
+ 0.266 |
| 5 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.321 |
| 6 |
Luca Marini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.412 |
| 7 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.481 |
| 8 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 0.570 |
| 9 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.584 |
| 10 |
Stefano Manzi |
(MVA) |
+ 0.621 |
Moto3
Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) put in a stunner to snatch pole from Championship challenger Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France, the number 5 judging it to perfection to edge just 0.20 clear at the top.
Masia made it a French pole for Leopard Honda.
The two riders were ultimately in a class of their own in the final few seconds of Q2, with John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) taking an important P3 and front row but the Scot left a few tenths in arrears on the timesheets. For Championship leader Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) it was a different story, the number 79 crashing without a lap on the board and left facing a big fight back on Sunday.
2020 French Moto3 Results—Q2
| 1 |
Jaume Masia |
(Hon) |
1:41.399 |
| 2 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+ 0.020 |
| 3 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.447 |
| 4 |
Raul Fernandez |
(KTM) |
+ 0.457 |
| 5 |
Sergio Garcia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.521 |
| 6 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+ 0.548 |
| 7 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Hon) |
+ 0.563 |
| 8 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 0.583 |
| 9 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.791 |
| 10 |
Celestino Vietti |
(KTM) |
+ 0.964 |
Friday News
Bagnaia factory bound, Zarco and Martin to Pramac
After weeks of speculation, three more pieces were confirmed in the 2021 MotoGP jigsaw. Francesco Bagnaia will join Jack Miller in making the step up from Pramac Ducati to the factory team next year after impressing since his return from a broken right tibia in August.
Bagnaia’s now a factory man.
“I think I deserve this position because the races I have finished I have been strong and in front,” said the former Moto2 World Champion. “We have done a great job this season. We have had a bit of bad luck with the broken leg and the engine failure so we are not in the position we deserve but I think our potential is very high.”
In Bagnaia’s place, Johann Zarco was confirmed to move across from the Esponsorama Avintia team. “I still have many things to learn on the Ducati and from the last races,” said the Frenchman. “I still need to put things together but I believe I’m on the good way.” Meanwhile Moto2 contender Jorge Martin will slot in alongside the Frenchman at Pramac Ducati. Both riders will have identical bikes to the factory team.
Bagnaia and Martin’s contracts with Ducati Corse are for two years while Zarco (and Miller’s) are one year plus one deals.
Covid claims Yamaha top brass
LCR Honda was left to sweat at the Catalan GP after two team members tested positive for COVID-19. Now it is the turn of Yamaha. A positive test of one of its factory engineers before the trip to Le Mans meant five other team members, who had been in close contact with that figure, went into quarantine in Andorra, including MotoGP project leader Takahiro Sumi.
Covid claims one of the Yamaha top brass.
Due to travel restrictions and visa requirements, a number of Yamaha’s Japanese staff that travel to races stay in Andorra between races. As well as arranging for alternative staff to travel to Le Mans, the team is using a new communication system which allows them to stay in contact with the team during and after each session.
“We can talk to them all the time,” said Maverick Viñales. “They are not physically here, but they are all the time trying things, and for sure they are listening to all the comments, and this is important.”
Di Giannantonio on the move
There were more movements in Moto2 this week, with Gresini Racing announcing the signing of Fabio Di Giannantonio for 2021 on a Kalex chassis. The 22-year old Italian initially endured a tough season for the Speed Up team before mounting a mid-season recovery that resulted in a podium in Barcelona.
Di Giannantonio is off to Gresini for 2021.
The deal could take the 22-year old Italian to MotoGP in 2022 should his results next year merit it. It is believed the contract includes a clause that guarantees a promotion to the premier class if he is in the top three by the half-way point of next season.
Intriguingly, the two-time GP race winner believes Gresini could be running with Suzuki in 2022, with the Italian outfit mooted to run a satellite team with factory spec GSX-RRs. It’s widely known there is a current disconnect between the Aprilia factory and Fausto Gresini, whose grid slots the Noale factory uses for its MotoGP entry. Aprilia will likely run its own entry from 2022 without ties to the Gresini team.
The move for Di Giannantonio represents a homecoming of sorts. He finished second in the 2018 Moto3 World Championship with the Italian team after going through an acrimonious split to leave the lightweight class for Moto2.
Portimao met with approval
The MotoGP riders had a day of testing at Portimao on Wednesday to test a new track surface and familiarize themselves with the demanding layout. The test riders of all six factories were present on MotoGP machines. But the full-time riders used standard road machines to cut their laps, with the exception of Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and Bradley Smith, who rode their RS-GPs.
The MotoGP riders loved riding at Portimao.
The demanding, undulating track was met with widespread approval. “Sincerely it is a fantastic track and I like it a lot,” said Rossi. “A lot better than what I expected. Looking from the television I expected a more tricky, difficult track with a lot of jumps. But the track is beautiful, one of the best tracks for riding a motorcycle.”
That’s not to say it wasn’t without safety concerns. Espargaro the elder noted the proximity of the trackside barrier on the exit of the final turn was a concern. “It’s high speed. The and wall on left side is very, very close. That place is borderline, on the limit. But the rest is very fun.”
Championship leader Fabio Quartararo opted against testing “To avoid any kind of injury, a bit risky two days before three races in a row.”
Friday
Jack Miller stayed on board to take the fastest Friday spot.
It was a mixed bag greeting the grid on Day 1 at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France, with a wet FP1 giving way to a dry-ish FP2 and that presenting an interesting set of challenges for the grid. The man on top by the end of play was Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), with the Australian demonstrating his by-now characteristic mastery of tricky conditions to grapple to the top of FP2. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) wasn’t far off in second, a tenth and a half down, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completing the top three on combined times but a good three tenths off the top.
2020 French MotoGP Results—Friday Combined
| 1 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
1:34.356 |
| 2 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.144 |
| 3 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.501 |
| 4 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Duc) |
+ 0.698 |
| 5 |
Cal Crutchlow |
(Hon) |
+ 0.785 |
| 6 |
Alex Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.981 |
| 7 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 1.013 |
| 8 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+ 1.018 |
| 9 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 1.029 |
| 10 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 1.052 |
Moto2
Dixon topped combined times for Moto2 on Friday.
Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) put in a superlative performance on Day 1 at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France to top the combined times, pipping Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to the honor as Yellow Flags caught the Spaniard out on a late charge. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) completed the top three, although it was his teammate and Championship leader Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) who stole the headlines for different reasons. The number 10 suffered a huge highside early on in FP2, heading to hospital for a check up but ultimately declared fit.
2020 French Moto2 Results—Friday Combined
| 1 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
1:37.713 |
| 2 |
Jorge Martin |
(Kal) |
+ 0.049 |
| 3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.304 |
| 4 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.442 |
| 5 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.472 |
| 6 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Spe) |
+ 0.508 |
| 7 |
Aron Canet |
(Spe) |
+ 0.546 |
| 8 |
Tom Lüthi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.561 |
| 9 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 0.628 |
| 10 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.746 |
Moto3
Salac head Fenati in Moto3.
Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) got the best measure of the drying but still cool and difficult conditions in FP2 and overall combined times at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France, the Czech rider’s final lap in the afternoon proving enough to see him end the day on top and overhaul an ominous half-second gap previously enjoyed by Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team). The Italian was left 0.039 in arrears in FP2 and overall, with John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completing the top three.
2020 French Moto3 Results—Friday Combined
| 1 |
Filip Salac |
(Hon) |
1:44.820 |
| 2 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+0.039 |
| 3 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+0.525 |
| 4 |
Jaume Masia |
(Hon) |
+0.616 |
| 5 |
Andrea Migno |
(KTM) |
+0.991 |
| 6 |
Khairul Idham Pawi |
(Hon) |
+1.059 |
| 7 |
Ai Ogura |
(Hon) |
+1.256 |
| 8 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Hon) |
+1.262 |
| 9 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(Hon) |
+1.286 |
| 10 |
Yuki Kunii |
(Hon) |
+1.331 |
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