MotoGP Recap - Aprilia's Dream Weekend at the French Grand Prix
13 May 2026Round Five of the 2026 MotoGP season treated fans to more incredible racing at the Michelin Grand Prix of France.
KTM development rider Jonas Folger returned to the MotoGP paddock this weekend for the first time since 2023, filling in for Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Viñales as his surgery recovery continues.
Bagnaia achieves first pole position in 196 days
Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia set a time in the final minute of Q2 that saw him achieve his first pole position in 196 days, at the 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix. Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo came through Q1 and participated in an incredibly close Q2 session, where the final timings saw the top 10 riders separated by less than 0.3 seconds. Bagnaia’s teammate, Marc Marquez, qualified in 2nd, just 0.012 seconds behind the pole lap time, whilst Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi took the final spot on the front row, with a time just 0.023 seconds slower than Bagnaia’s.
Martin takes second Sprint victory of 2026
Despite a wheelie at the start of Saturday’s Sprint, an aggressive but perfectly executed move through the first chicane during the first lap saw Aprilia Racing’s Jorge Martin take the lead from 8th on the grid, and ride smoothly to take his second Sprint win of the season. Bagnaia claimed his third consecutive 2nd place Sprint finish after Bezzecchi ran wide on Lap 3, creating space for Bagnaia to overtake, and maintain his position for the remaining laps, whilst Bezzecchi was able to hold onto 3rd to join his teammate on the podium.
Sprint crash causes early end to Marc Marquez's weekend
Following a huge crash during the penultimate lap of the Sprint, Marc Marquez was forced to withdraw from Sunday’s Grand Prix, and also from the Grand Prix of Catalunya, due to a right foot fracture which required surgery.
After the Sprint, Marquez revealed that he already had surgery planned for after the Grand Prix of Catalunya, as a screw inserted during a previous surgery on his right shoulder was hitting his radial nerve. The decision was made to bring this surgery forward, and Marquez has since undergone a successful double surgery on his shoulder and right foot.
Aprilia achieves first Grand Prix podium lock-out
History was made at Le Mans on Sunday as Aprilia achieved their first podium lock-out in MotoGP. It was Bezzecchi who took an early lead, and initially looked to be providing another flawless Sunday performance, creating a gap that nobody could catch up to. However, his Aprilia Racing teammate made his way through the field, and hunted down the race leader until with three laps to go, Martin successfully made the pass, and took the lead. Emotions were high as the 2024 MotoGP World Champion took the chequered flag, marking his first Grand Prix victory since the 2024 Indonesian Grand Prix, 588 days later.
Bezzecchi crossed the line to take 2nd, and Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s Ai Ogura claimed a much-deserved 3rd place, his first podium in the premier class. Ogura’s maiden MotoGP podium was a landmark achievement, as he became the first Japanese rider to stand on a MotoGP podium since 2012, and the first Asia Talent Cup rider to stand on the MotoGP podium.
Bezzecchi’s 2nd place finish sees him maintain his spot at the top of the Championship standings, but Martin’s win sees the gap reduced to just one point.
Guevara takes first Moto2 win of 2026
BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2’s Izan Guevara converted pole position into his first win of the season in a shortened, restarted Moto2 race. With damp patches on the track and unpredictable conditions seeing the race reduced to 14 laps, a crash for Jorge Navarro at the end of Lap 2 brought out the red flags, to allow for the track to safely be cleared.
As less than three laps had been completed, the race was completely restarted, with a new race distance of 9 laps. Guevara got away from the line brilliantly, and confidently led throughout the shortened race, whilst many riders fell foul to the difficult conditions. Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez took 2nd, with Ivan Ortola coming through from 15th on the grid to take an admirable 3rd place finish.
Quiles triumphs in wet Moto3 race
Rainfall on Sunday morning saw the Moto3 race reduced to 13 laps. CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider and current Moto3 Championship leader Maximo Quiles lined up 2nd on the grid but got a great start and led every lap to take his third race win of the season. Polesitter Adrian Fernandez came across the line 2nd, with Matteo Bertelle taking 3rd place, from 9th on the grid. Further down the field, British rider Eddie O’Shea took his first top ten finish of the season, crossing the line in 9th.
There isn’t long to wait for more MotoGP action, with Round Six of the 2026 season taking place this weekend, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Can Bezzecchi cling onto his Championship lead, or will his teammate move to the top of the standings?
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