Photo: Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
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In a dramatic MotoGP qualifying session, both Q1 and Q2 delivered intense action, crashes, and stunning lap times. Johann Zarco and Raul Fernandez made it through a chaotic Q1, while Fabio Quartararo thrilled his home fans by claiming pole position in Q2 with a record-breaking lap.
Q1
The Qualifying 1 session kicked off in sunny weather as 12 riders went out immediately to make the most of the 15-minute window, all aiming for a top-2 spot to advance into Q2. The first time was clocked by Alex Rins, who was behind Ai Ogura. However, Ogura had his lap deleted and shortly after crashed out at Turn 9, bringing out a yellow flag and then a red flag that stopped the session.
Unfortunately for Johann Zarco, who was on a very strong lap, the red flag meant he couldn't finish it. After a quick intervention, the session resumed with 10 minutes left. Only Miguel Oliveira, running in fourth, and Raul Fernandez, in third, returned to the track immediately. With six minutes remaining, the rest of the riders joined them.
The top four remained the same initially, but lap times were getting quicker. Raul Fernandez jumped to the lead with a time of 1:30.584, and Enea Bastianini reclaimed second. Johann Zarco then went fastest, with Rins moving up to second. Both Bastianini and Fernandez launched strong new attempts.
Luca Savadori stayed at the bottom of the time sheets, while Fabio Di Giannantonio improved to fifth. Fernandez regained second again. As the final two minutes began, Joan Mir posted a decent lap that wasn't enough to break into the top two, settling into fourth. Luca Marini had a solid lap for fifth place. Brad Binder also posted a good lap, but while it wasn't enough for the top two, he climbed into third and began his final push.
In the final moments, Marini held sixth, and no one was able to challenge the front. It was clear that Johann Zarco and Raul Fernandez were heading into Q2. The rest followed behind: Binder, Rins, Mir, Marini, Di Giannantonio, Bastianini, and others.
Making the home crowd proud, @johannzarco1 advances with @25RaulFernandez to Q2 📈#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/vcm5N81qe6
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 10, 2025
Q2
Qualifying 2 began with all riders going out on track right away. The times started coming in, and Marc Márquez set the early pace, followed by his brother Álex Márquez. Jack Miller was third, with Johann Zarco just behind. Francesco Bagnaia sat in seventh, but only briefly, as flying laps quickly changed the order.
Marc Márquez then broke the lap record with a blistering 1:29.442, even faster than the previous day. Fermin Aldeguer improved to third, but soon Fabio Quartararo joined Márquez in the 1:29s and jumped into second, pushing Álex Márquez to third. Bagnaia, meanwhile, dropped to eleventh.
BOOOOOM 💣 @marcmarquez93 DESTROYS the lap record #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/rlQY5JCso8
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 10, 2025
Johann Zarco had a promising start, and for a moment, most riders returned to the pits. With five minutes remaining, they headed back out. Franco Morbidelli was in tenth, and Raul Fernandez sat twelfth, unable to improve. Bagnaia moved up to seventh, while Morbidelli and Zarco jumped ahead of him.
Aldeguer then joined the 1:29s club but crashed in Sector 1 shortly after. Still, his time was good enough to keep him in second. Johann Zarco also went down at Turn 8. Álex Márquez then put in a fast lap to take second, pushing his teammate to third. Meanwhile, Bagnaia improved to fifth.
Fabio Quartararo delivered again, taking back-to-back pole positions with an incredible 1:29.324 in front of his home crowd. Marc Márquez was unable to improve and ended in second. Maverick Viñales climbed to fifth, pushing Bagnaia down a spot. Pedro Acosta finished in twelfth.
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