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Bagnaia Steals Pole from Marquez at French MotoGP!
9 May
Summary
- Francesco Bagnaia secured pole position with a late, rapid lap.
- Marc Marquez set a new lap record but was edged out in qualifying.
- Bagnaia and Marquez will start on the front row for the French MotoGP.
Francesco Bagnaia claimed pole position for the French MotoGP at Le Mans on Saturday, delivering a dramatic late lap to edge out teammate Marc Marquez. Bagnaia's fastest time was 1 minute 29.634 seconds. Marquez had appeared set for pole after setting a blistering pace earlier in the session, even breaking the circuit's lap record with a 1 minute 29.288 seconds lap during the Q1 session, which he had to navigate after failing to qualify directly for Q2 on Friday.
The Ducati factory team is seeking to rebound after a disappointing performance at the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks prior, where both riders dominated the sprint race but struggled in the main event. Marquez expressed a need to understand his inconsistent form, noting his ability to produce speed when adrenaline is high.
Alongside the two Ducatis on the front row will be Aprilia's championship leader Marco Bezzecchi in third. Fabio Di Giannantonio secured fourth, with Pedro Acosta and Fabio Quartararo completing the second row. The race is scheduled for May 9, 2026.
