Johann Zarco quickest at Grand Prix France Practice, world champion Marc Marquez down in 13th

Castrol Honda rider Zarco has given himself an excellent chance of repeating his 2025 success, when he triumphed in difficult conditions to be a surprise winner at Le Mans.

The 35-year-old Frenchman was quickest again on his home circuit and goes straight into Q2 for qualifying on Saturday, which will be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. 

His Honda team-mate Joan Mir was fifth fastest.

TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson predicted in his preview column for the weekend that Zarco could be the favourite to win, particularly with inclement conditions predicted for Sunday’s full-length race, and the possibility of rain not ruled out for Saturday’s Sprint.

Should that occur, then the experienced rider could come out on top once more, though there are other riders in contention to compete.

Topping that list, based on past success, would normally be Ducati Lenovo rider Marc Marquez, though the 33-year-old world champion has not been at his best this season. While he won two weeks ago at the Sprint race in Jerez in wild conditions, he crashed out early in the full race.

The Spaniard appears to be dealing with the after effects of last year’s season-ending shoulder injury, and he was only 13th in Practice, meaning he will have to negotiate Q1 on Saturday as he looks for a decent spot on the grid for the weekend’s racing.

Francesco Bagnaia, who also continues to underwhelm after a difficult 2025, was third fastest in the afternoon’s session, and he will hope to build on his second place in the Sprint in the previous round. Bagnaia crashed on his last lap, bringing a yellow flag, which prevented Marquez improving his time in the dying moments of the session.

In second spot on Friday was another Ducati rider, with satellite team VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio second fastest as his impressive season start continues.

Third went to Alex Marquez, the BK8 Gresini rider recording another good time for the Ducati satellite outfit. Marc Marquez’s younger brother was the winner in Jerez for Grand Prix Spain after an impressive and consistent showing over the whole weekend.

After recording second in last season’s championship behind his older sibling, he had failed to match that form but now looks to be in a better position.

While the Ducatis showed some early promise, there was an underwhelming start to the action for Aprilia, who have the season’s current championship leader, Marco Bezzecchi.

Bezzecchi was seventh quickest, while his team-mate Jorge Martin was one quicker in sixth.

The top 10 was completed by Alex Rins (Monster Yamaha), Ai Ogura (Trackhouse), and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) in eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.

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