Latest news with #Zarco
Observer
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Observer
Bezzecchi ends win drought in spectacular British MotoGP
SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom: Italy's Marco Bezzecchi won an incident-packed British MotoGP on Sunday for his first win since India in 2023 in a race at Silverstone that had two starts. The 26-year-old Aprilia rider came home ahead of France's Johann Zarco (Honda LCR), backing up his surprise win in France a fortnight ago, with championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati) just snatching third. Marquez extends his lead in the standings over his younger brother Alex. The unluckiest rider was France's 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, who had taken pole for the third successive race and looked set for his first win since 2022. However, a technical problem on his Yamaha ended his race on the 12th lap. His misery contrasted to the joy on the exuberant Bezzecchi's face. "It's amazing, I started a new adventure, Aprilia trusted in me," said the mop-haired Italian. "I worked really hard, through some tough periods in past races but never gave up, thanks to the factory. "Thanks to my family and those who stayed close to me in all these tough moments." Zarco at 34 is the oldest rider on the circuit, but he is revelling in what is proving to be an Indian summer for him. "I cannot believe it, a very special race, good to have a second start," he said. "On the second start I got the first three corners perfectly, gained positions, then I was on the podium. "When I saw Fabio have a technical problem I even thought I could win another race." All the riders were able to take part in chapter two of the race — including both the Marquez brothers who had crashed out — as three laps had yet to be completed. Alex had gone on the opening corner and Marc on the second lap when he was leading. However, a red flag came out because there was oil on the track — resulting from a collision between Franco Morbidelli and Aleix Espargaro. Aprilia Racing's Marco Bezzecchi in action during the race Action. — Reuters Alex Marquez was understandably more cautious on the restart but still overtook Quartararo before the Frenchman retook command. Quartararo got a buffer too as Jack Miller on a satellite Yamaha bike surged into second on the second lap and Zarco moved into third. The pressure appeared to get to the two Ducati riders. They both went too wide on a corner on the third lap dropping Marc Marquez and two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia well down the field. Bagnaia's race finished on the fourth lap, the Italian coming to grief down on his knees in the gravel his head raised to the heavens and shaking his hands in despair. Miller's dreams of a podium finish disappeared on the seventh lap as the Australian was passed by Bezzecchi and Zarco and then dropped to fifth. Quartararo held a five second lead over his pursuers with 11 laps remaining but Marc Marquez was pushing and making ground through the field. Marc Marquez moved into fourth on the 11th lap, some eight seconds behind Quartararo but with the Frenchman's compatriot Zarco next in his sights. - DISCONSOLATE - However, the complexion of the race changed when disaster struck for Quartararo. The 26-year-old burst into tears, slapped his control panel and after climbing off his bike went down on his haunches sobbing with his head in his hands. The disconsolate Frenchman received a resounding round of applause as he trudged back to the Yamaha stable. His mishap left Bezzecchi in the lead, three seconds ahead of Zarco with Marc Marquez a further two seconds behind in third. Neverthless it was Marquez who had to watch himself as he came under pressure for third from Morbidelli and after back and forth on the final lap the Spaniard just got his nose in front. A rather sullen Marquez said the second start had "saved the day" allowing him to make up for the mistake in the 'first race.' His relief was nothing compared to the joy of Bezzecchi who celebrated understandably in raucous fashion with his team. — AFP
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bezzecchi ends win drought in spectacular British MotoGP
Italy's Marco Bezzecchi won an incident-packed British MotoGP on Sunday for his first win since India in 2023 in a race at Silverstone that had two starts. The 26-year-old Aprilia rider came home ahead of France's Johann Zarco (Honda LCR), backing up his surprise win in France a fortnight ago, with championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati) just snatching third. Marquez extends his lead in the standings over his younger brother Alex. The unluckiest rider was France's 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, who had taken pole for the third successive race and looked set for his first win since 2022. However, a technical problem on his Yamaha ended his race on the 12th lap. His misery contrasted to the joy on the exuberant Bezzecchi's face. "It's amazing, I started a new adventure, Aprilia trusted in me," said the mop-haired Italian. "I worked really hard, through some tough periods in past races but never gave up, thanks to the factory. "Thanks to my family and those who stayed close to me in all these tough moments." Zarco at 34 is the oldest rider on the circuit, but he is revelling in what is proving to be an Indian summer for him. "I cannot believe it, a very special race, good to have a second start," he said. "On the second start I got the first three corners perfectly, gained positions, then I was on the podium. "When I saw Fabio have a technical problem I even thought I could win another race." All the riders were able to take part in chapter two of the race -- including both the Marquez brothers who had crashed out -- as three laps had yet to be completed. Alex had gone on the opening corner and Marc on the second lap when he was leading. However, a red flag came out because there was oil on the track -- resulting from a collision between Franco Morbidelli and Aleix Espargaro. Alex Marquez was understandably more cautious on the restart but still overtook Quartararo before the Frenchman retook command. Quartararo got a buffer too as Jack Miller on a satellite Yamaha bike surged into second on the second lap and Zarco moved into third. The pressure appeared to get to the two Ducati riders. They both went too wide on a corner on the third lap dropping Marc Marquez and two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia well down the field. Bagnaia's race finished on the fourth lap, the Italian coming to grief down on his knees in the gravel his head raised to the heavens and shaking his hands in despair. Miller's dreams of a podium finish disappeared on the seventh lap as the Australian was passed by Bezzecchi and Zarco and then dropped to fifth. Quartararo held a five second lead over his pursuers with 11 laps remaining but Marc Marquez was pushing and making ground through the field. Marc Marquez moved into fourth on the 11th lap, some eight seconds behind Quartararo but with the Frenchman's compatriot Zarco next in his sights. - Disconsolate - However, the complexion of the race changed when disaster struck for Quartararo. The 26-year-old burst into tears, slapped his control panel and after climbing off his bike went down on his haunches sobbing with his head in his hands. The disconsolate Frenchman received a resounding round of applause as he trudged back to the Yamaha stable. His mishap left Bezzecchi in the lead, three seconds ahead of Zarco with Marc Marquez a further two seconds behind in third. Neverthless it was Marquez who had to watch himself as he came under pressure for third from Morbidelli and after back and forth on the final lap the Spaniard just got his nose in front. A rather sullen Marquez said the second start had "saved the day" allowing him to make up for the mistake in the 'first race.' His relief was nothing compared to the joy of Bezzecchi who celebrated understandably in raucous fashion with his team. pi/nr
Daily Tribune
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Zarco first home winner of French MotoGP since 1954
Johann Zarco produced an outstanding ride in difficult wet conditions at Le Mans yesterday to become the first home winner of the French MotoGP in 71 years. Riding in his 150th MotoGP, the 34-yearold Honda LCR rider hit the front after eight laps and held his position through to the end of the race to become the first Frenchman to take the chequered flag in the top category race since Pierre Monneret in 1954. In front of the biggest-ever attendance at a MotoGP event and with his mother watching him for the first time ever, Zarco finished 19.907 seconds ahead of six-time world champion Marc Marquez (Ducati) with 20-yearold rookie Fermin Aldeguer (Ducati-Gresini) claiming a first podium in just his sixth race. Zarco was in tears before he was even off his bike and immediately celebrated with his team and, after the crowd had offered an impromptu rendition of La Marseillaise, he performed a back flip off a wall, his favourite celebration since his two Moto2 world titles in 2015 and 2016. 'It's incredible, I can hardly believe it,' said an emotional Zarco whose only previous MotoGP win came in Australia in 2023. 'I always give my best but I never thought I'd win. The way I won was very special. I had to be in control and almost wait for victory to come.' There were no points for Alex Marquez, Marc's younger brother, who went sliding off four laps from the finish, the last of the day's six non-finishers, all victims to the filthy weather which made the track so treacherous.
Gulf Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Zarco first home winner of French MotoGP since 1954
Johann Zarco produced an outstanding ride in difficult wet conditions at Le Mans on Sunday to become the first home winner of the French MotoGP in 71 years. Riding in his 150th MotoGP, the 34-year-old Honda LCR rider hit the front after eight laps and held his position through to the end of the race to become the first Frenchman to take the chequered flag in the top category race since Pierre Monneret in 1954. In front of the biggest-ever attendance at a MotoGP event and with his mother watching him for the first time ever, Zarco finished 19.907 seconds ahead of six-time world champion Marc Marquez (Ducati) with 20-year-old rookie Fermin Aldeguer (Ducati-Gresini) claiming a first podium in just his sixth race. Zarco was in tears before he was even off his bike and immediately celebrated with his team and, after the crowd had offered an impromptu rendition of La Marseillaise, he performed a back flip off a wall, his favourite celebration since his two Moto2 world titles in 2015 and 2016. Johann Zarco sits on his bike as he celebrates winning the the MotoGP France. 'It's incredible, I can hardly believe it,' said an emotional Zarco whose only previous MotoGP win came in Australia in 2023. 'I always give my best but I never thought I'd win. The way I won was very special. I had to be in control and almost wait for victory to come.' There were no points for Alex Marquez, Marc's younger brother, who went sliding off four laps from the finish, the last of the day's six non-finishers, all victims to the filthy weather which made the track so treacherous. Marc Marquez, who won Saturday's Sprint, now has 171 points in the championship, increasing his lead at the top of the championship to 22 points ahead of his brother. With the rain coming down, there was mayhem from the opening lap as the riders struggled with their slick tyres, Francesco Bagnaia and Joan Mir sliding off on turn 4. Mir was out but Bagnaia, the 2022 and 2023 world champion, rejoined the race. Ahead of him, however, there was plenty more trouble as pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo, another home favourite, tangled on lap 5 with Brad Binder sending both of them into the gravel. Johann Zarco celebrates on the podium. Photos: AFP A couple of laps later, Binder went off a second time to end his race with Jack Miller, one of just four riders to start on wet tyres, also crashing out. The early stages saw championship leader Marc Marquez overtake Quartararo and then battle for the lead with his brother. Along with a number of others, the Marquez siblings had come in to swap to dry bikes at the end of the warm-up lap after the original start was aborted which meant, under new rules, they had to serve a double long-lap penalty. That slowed them up and when they both came into the pits to change bikes and take on the wet tyres, Zarco took over the lead. 'That double long lap was the only small mistake I made,' said Marc Marquez. Zarco's emergence at the front, however, was greeted with a roar from the French crowd which has packed the Le Mans circuit over the race weekend, with organisers putting the overall attendance as 311,797. Agence France-Presse
News.com.au
11-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Crashes galore at chaotic French GP!
MotoGP: Johann Zarco has become the first French rider to win his home Grand Prix since 1954, in a dramatic and chaotic race.
