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00:00:18The

00:00:19tension is reaching boiling point at the Bugatti circuit as the first of three MotoGP rounds

00:00:23named Manic May comes from the Michelin Grand Prix of France. A vocal and passionate crowd

00:00:27is always guaranteed at legendary Le Mans which hosted its first MotoGP race all the way back in 1969.

00:00:34The first of seven sprints in 10 weeks is up next live. It's time for MotoGP.

00:00:47So for the last three years here in Le Mans the all-time weekend attendance record has been broken by

00:00:55passionate French fans, 4.19 kilometers in length, 2.6 miles, 14 corners,

00:01:01five left, nine right, a short start finish rate of just 674 meters,

00:01:07scary sweeping that first corner, six gear blind entry going into turn two.

00:01:12Good overtaking opportunities particularly into the museum corner,

00:01:15turn seven downhill into GarageBare, turn eight, the lap complete in that final sector,

00:01:20Recordemont turns 13 and 14.

00:01:30Overtaking hot spots where there are lots of them around this Le Mans circuit.

00:01:33This was last year, Firmin Aldeguer standing on the inside of home hero Fabio Cuotteraro

00:01:39who started the Grand Prix from pole.

00:01:49The last time out in the blazing sunshine of Andalusia.

00:01:54It was Alex Marquez aiming to make it back-to-back wins in front of his own crowd.

00:01:59And the circuito to Jerez Angel Nieto.

00:02:01This early move proving decisive on brother Mark who was to taste more Grand Prix disaster.

00:02:06This crash on just the second lap of the Spanish Grand Prix.

00:02:09Another big dent in Mark's early championship challenge.

00:02:13That left Alex to coast to back-to-back wins in front of his home crowd.

00:02:17What an experience, what an atmosphere we witnessed in the fourth round of the world championship.

00:02:23Our first visit on European soil in 2026.

00:02:27Hotly pursued by what has already so far been a phenomenal French Grand Prix.

00:02:34Spectacular action here on practice Friday.

00:02:37Is that right on your screen?

00:02:38Joan Zarco aiming for back-to-back French Grand Prix wins.

00:02:42Well, he had the fans delirious already on Friday afternoon when he led the way in the 60-minute practice

00:02:47session.

00:02:47Fabio Cuotteraro, another home crowd superstar on pole position here last year.

00:02:52He led the way in FP2 and then followed two incredibly thrilling qualifying sessions in Monday GP

00:03:00ahead of this Michelin Grand Prix of France.

00:03:02Marc Marquez destroying the all-time lap record in a record-breaking Q1 session this morning.

00:03:09A 1.29.288.

00:03:12Seeing the reigning world champion on the factory Ducati get himself into Q2 with Fabio Cuotteraro.

00:03:18And the end of yet another dramatic session.

00:03:20How many times have we already said that?

00:03:21So far in 2026 and we're only in round five.

00:03:25Heko Banyaya took the spoils.

00:03:28A factory Ducati 1-2 on the grid for the first time since Brno last August.

00:03:33Banyaya's 1.29.634 securing his first pole position in seven Grand Prix.

00:03:40His first front now actually as well since that very same Grand Prix at the Spang International Circuit in Malaysia.

00:03:45Banyaya's third pole here in Le Mans following up poles in 2022 and 2023.

00:03:50Marc Marquez after his heroics after his brilliance in Q1 is on the front row of the grid once again.

00:03:57Marc will go from second and world championship leader Marco Betsecki who's looking for his first sprint medal so far

00:04:04of 2026.

00:04:05Having had three falls in our first four sprints so far this season.

00:04:09And Bears completes the front row of the grid.

00:04:1211 points clear he is of his factory april teammate Jorge Martin.

00:04:16So many stories, so many topics to already cover off.

00:04:20We've not even started this 13-lap sprint and we've still got the Grand Prix day to come tomorrow on

00:04:25the blazing sunshine here in Le Mans.

00:04:27In the commentary box for the sprint which will be lights out in about 25 minutes time.

00:04:31Matt Burton, Lewis Sotheby as always joining you with Jack Appleyard down in Pit Lane.

00:04:36Lewis, what a session we had this morning, what a two sessions we had this morning in qualifying.

00:04:41Marc Marquez is jaw-dropping, 129.288, a new all-time lap record.

00:04:46He was actually a lot, lot slower in the second qualifying session but still on the front row.

00:04:51Pekka Banyaya looking back to his best.

00:04:53Home home first thing on the shoulders of Fabio Quattara at six on the grid.

00:04:56Jean Zarco with work to do from 11th.

00:04:59But all the ingredients are set for another spicy old sprint.

00:05:02Cannot wait for this one, just 23,000th of a second covering the top three on the grid.

00:05:09The, I guess, the rainy world champion, the former world champion and the one who wants to be champion

00:05:14in the form of the current points leader, Marco Betzecchi making the front row of the grid.

00:05:20You've got the two factory Ducati riders who ended up in, not the Tyrek route, but they ended up one

00:05:25and two in the sprint.

00:05:26The chaotic sprint over two weeks ago and the rider who was really fluffed his lines in three of the

00:05:32four sprints so far this season.

00:05:34Is today the day that Marco Betzecchi gets over his sprint hiccups so far this season?

00:05:39Or is this another day where Marc Marquez inject some life back into his world championship defense?

00:05:44Yeah, Marc fifth in the world championship coming into this round five.

00:05:47Speaking of number fives, let's have a look at Joan Zarco, the 35-year-old Frenchman with a bit of

00:05:53work to do,

00:05:54starting from the middle of that fourth row of the grid here in Le Mans today and tomorrow.

00:05:58His hopes of a top qualifying position not helped by a late fall at turn 13 in this morning's FP2

00:06:05session.

00:06:05But the end of all the drama, keeping his cool in some high pressure situations,

00:06:11was Pecco Bagnaia, the 29-year-old Italian, ended Friday's track action here in Le Mans on his backside,

00:06:18a crash at La Chapelle at turn six.

00:06:20But he has been superb so far on spin Saturday.

00:06:22Looked really, really strong this morning in FP2 on warm Michelin rubber.

00:06:26And when it came to time attacks, the 129.634, as mentioned,

00:06:31Bagnaia on the head of the grid here in Le Mans for the third time.

00:06:34He's 28th MotoGP pod position, 35th of his Grand Prix career.

00:06:40Dare we say it? Dare we say it? Is Bagnaia back in 2026?

00:06:43Well, it was a question. We asked for a lot of 2025 too, wasn't it?

00:06:46For Pecco Bagnaia.

00:06:48Of course, the one time this year where he has started somewhere near the front,

00:06:52which was in Austin where he qualified fourth.

00:06:54He then did lead for 99% of the sprint before Jorge Martin overhauled him on that final lap.

00:07:01So, Bagnaia, generally when he qualifies well, that is a pretty good sign.

00:07:05Marc Marquez, well, good signs today.

00:07:07Certainly better signs than we saw from the world champion yesterday

00:07:09when he ended the day outside of the top ten.

00:07:12It's a statistical quirk, isn't it? It's unusual when the fastest rider in qualifying doesn't take pole position.

00:07:19But that's what we got earlier on today with Marc Marquez, who, I guess, produced a lap that, I guess,

00:07:24the brain was switched off, the eyes were closed,

00:07:26and he hoped for the best that he got at 129.2 to take his place in qualifying two.

00:07:31But he was picked at the post in the end by Pecco Bagnaia this morning. Just 12,000 separated them.

00:07:36Ducati undefeated in the three previous sprints here in Le Mans.

00:07:4122 sprints Marc Marquez has contested for the factory Ducati team.

00:07:45His win record is astonishing. He's won 16 of those 22.

00:07:49Can he make it win number 18 in sprints overall?

00:07:53Perhaps missing out a little bit later on.

00:07:55Perhaps with better pace in his grid position suggests is Jorge Martin on the factory Aprilia.

00:08:01Jorge, without any question, is certainly one of the fastest riders in race trim throughout this weekend.

00:08:06But once again, he's just lacking that killer instinct, that explosive one lap pace on the factory Aprilia.

00:08:11This is the calling card for Jorge Martin in Q2 so far this year.

00:08:155th, 5th, 7th, 7th, and slightly worse ahead of this French Grand Prix.

00:08:20A season-worst eighth place for Martin, who on his last race visit here, of course, to Le Mans, was

00:08:26a double winner.

00:08:27Winning the sprint and the Grand Prix in brilliant fashion in 2024.

00:08:31Yeah, we had such high hopes for Jorge Martin coming into this weekend after his Heref test ended pretty positively.

00:08:37He was very bullish, wasn't he, with his step forward that he felt he took at the Heref test,

00:08:41although there haven't been many signs of that reflected so far this weekend.

00:08:45Here is one of your stars of Super Saturday so far, of course, cheered on by a partisan home crowd.

00:08:51Fabio Quattararo joined Marc Marquez in the top two in qualifying one.

00:08:56And for the second time this year on the V4 Yamaha, which is clearly the least competitive of the five

00:09:02manufacturers in MotoGP at the moment.

00:09:06Second time this year, Fabio Quattararo has got himself through Q1 and on to the front two rows of the

00:09:12grid.

00:09:12Without a sprint podium since the Catalan Grand Prix last September.

00:09:16Of course, we make a fairly quick return to Catalonia next weekend for round six.

00:09:22Fabio de Gian Antonio.

00:09:24Well, he continues his excellent qualifying record so far.

00:09:26This season has not started lower than fourth so far.

00:09:29Could it have been better had it not been for a rather bizarre instant towards the end of Q2 when

00:09:33a bee got inside his helmet?

00:09:35A real pest for Fabio de Gian Antonio.

00:09:38He goes from fourth place on the grid.

00:09:40Let's go and get the thoughts, though, of a guy who knows his way around this Bugatti circuit.

00:09:44He was spectacular here in the past.

00:09:46I thought we were great.

00:09:47Sete, Jim and I were Jack.

00:09:48Yeah, absolutely.

00:09:49As the MotoGP bikes roar into life and you can just hear the atmosphere from this packed grandstand behind us.

00:09:55Sete, what an atmosphere this is.

00:09:57You were here last year to enjoy what was one of the great MotoGP moments.

00:10:02And I have to say, from what we've seen so far this weekend, pretty difficult to know who the favourite

00:10:07going into this one is.

00:10:08Yeah, it's going to be difficult, you know, tomorrow is tomorrow.

00:10:14So all the guys now are just focused on today.

00:10:17It's going to be interesting with this weather and what happens today for sure is going to be important in

00:10:23order to understand how is everyone going to play tomorrow.

00:10:28So today I think the temperature is also going to be pretty high and the tires are going to be

00:10:33okay for this amount of laps.

00:10:35So we'll just have to see, but it's going to be interesting.

00:10:38And also after what we saw in qualifying with also with DJ Antonio and Mark.

00:10:42And so it's going to be interesting.

00:10:44We've had plenty of Saturdays or skirmishes so far from the outside.

00:10:48What have you made to the start of the year of Mark Marquez as the defending champion?

00:10:52It fell as though this morning he really started to look like himself again, which hasn't been the case in

00:10:57the opening four rounds.

00:10:59I mean, this of course is my personal view, you know, but I don't think Mark is having a good

00:11:06time with his physical condition.

00:11:09This is, apart from the physical condition, which is a part that I reckon is for sure, it's also in

00:11:16his mind, you know.

00:11:17It's getting him a little bit more nervous than normal, which is absolutely normal, you know.

00:11:24He's having to deal with a new circumstance in a moment that he was not expecting to be having this

00:11:30trouble again.

00:11:31And this is for sure affecting his state of mind.

00:11:34So we'll just have to see in a short race.

00:11:37Maybe it's going to affect him less than in the short and then in tomorrow, the long race.

00:11:41So we'll have to see.

00:11:41Could be fascinating to see.

00:11:43Great to see you here.

00:11:43Enjoy the way.

00:11:44I appreciate it.

00:11:46Yeah, good stuff, Jack, as always.

00:11:48Thanks to Satay Jibana.

00:11:50There's always a strong rider around this heartbreaking Bugatti circuit.

00:11:54Mark Marquez.

00:11:57Physical.

00:11:57What are the main issues for Mark?

00:11:59Is it physical?

00:12:00Is it technical?

00:12:01What is not up for debate is he's already given himself a bit of an early mountain to climb in

00:12:05this year's world championship.

00:12:0644 points adrift of Marco Betsechi.

00:12:10Those two starting alongside each other on the front row of the grid, of course,

00:12:14as Fabio Quattararo comes to the back of the second row in sixth place already,

00:12:19as they do such a fantastic job here.

00:12:21The local organisers whipping the French crowd into a bit of a frenzy pre-sprint here.

00:12:26All the hope, all the hopes, a nation's hopes resting on the shoulders.

00:12:30Quattararo's sixth, Joan Zarco at 11th place.

00:12:33Well, he knows how to get a tune on two wheels around France, doesn't he?

00:12:36Let's go and get the thoughts of Tour de France icon.

00:12:39Tour de France legend, Mark Cavendish, who joins Jack.

00:12:42Yeah, he does indeed.

00:12:42And rather unsurprisingly, he might be able to guess that's here.

00:12:45Come in the direction of Joan Zarco and Fabio Quattararo as they take their spots on the grid.

00:12:50Mark, you help these guys warm up on Thursday with one of our cycling events.

00:12:54But from what we've seen, you did a good job because everyone has been on good form so far.

00:12:58How much have you enjoyed what you've seen of the action?

00:13:01It's been great, hasn't it?

00:13:02You know, at least the weather's good here in Le Mans.

00:13:04It's okay we hear about tomorrow but it's always good when it's good weather here, you know.

00:13:10It's been an interesting season to watch and this is always an interesting circuit.

00:13:14It's one I really like to come to and it's been great.

00:13:18It's really good to see, actually, Fabio here on the second row for the sprint.

00:13:26Hopefully it's not because of Joan race because he's going good, you know.

00:13:29We've seen he was going really good this morning and I'm excited to be here and watching it.

00:13:34I love a bit of racing, it's great, isn't it?

00:13:36You'll have seen year in, year out of the Tour de France how much these fans behind us get behind

00:13:40their own.

00:13:41None more so, none more reflected than the atmosphere they build and how passionate they are for both Fabio and

00:13:47Joan.

00:13:48It really is quite something to experience.

00:13:50Particularly when they see a win like Joan got last year.

00:13:52Like that's the thing, like 71 years I think it was since the last French.

00:13:55Good knowledge.

00:13:56And what I know from cycling, you know, the French are passionate, like sport is for the every person, you

00:14:04know.

00:14:05And people live and breathe it and like a champion and when they can show that and do their country

00:14:13proud,

00:14:13the whole country feels and gets picked up by it and that's something special for you.

00:14:16Very quickly, we've got a pre-sprint prediction, who's the winner?

00:14:19No, don't do that.

00:14:20Good idea.

00:14:21Difficult to predict.

00:14:22Cheers, Mark.

00:14:23Yeah, thanks very much.

00:14:24Tour de France legend.

00:14:26A sprint king himself, of course, on two wheels minus an engine.

00:14:30Who's going to be our two-wheel sprint king here in MotoGP?

00:14:33Marco Betsechi then on the front row.

00:14:35It's a real mouth-watering front row of the grid, isn't it?

00:14:38Pecco Bagnay and Mark Marquez.

00:14:41A couple of our recent MotoGP world champions by a rider who's trying to take that accolade.

00:14:46Currently leading the world championship, Marco Betsechi.

00:14:48101 points.

00:14:50Although it's fair to say sprint Saturdays, Lewis, have been his big headache so far this season.

00:14:54He's crashed out in the sprints in Thailand, in America, and most recently in those tricky conditions in Jerez.

00:14:59Yeah, you have to go back to, I think it's Buzano, isn't it?

00:15:02Last year, the last time Marco Betsechi has won a sprint.

00:15:05In terms of sprint points, he'd be 13th if that were a world championship all on its own.

00:15:10Unfortunately, Sunday's counter and he's leading the points.

00:15:13It's Pecco Bagnay who leads the grid, though, from Mark Marquez

00:15:15and the aforementioned championship leader Marco Betsechi.

00:15:19On the second row, not that you can see it there, but I promise you, it's Fabio Di Gian Antonio

00:15:23starting fourth from Pedro Acosta and Fabio Quattararo.

00:15:27Let's have a second crack at it.

00:15:28Bagnay, Mark Marquez, and Betsechi as mentioned.

00:15:30Di Gian Antonio Acosta and Fabio Quattararo caused the riders starting second and sixth.

00:15:35Both came via Q1.

00:15:37Quattararo has the soft front tire on, certainly that's our initial information.

00:15:41Mia Martina Nagura on the third row from Alex Marquez, who crashed in qualifying.

00:15:45John Zarco, the 11th place where he qualified last year.

00:15:48We know how that went.

00:15:49Alex Rins, 12th from Ralph Fernandes, Bastionini, and Mourini on row five.

00:15:53Morbidelli, top-back Rascatioglu, and Diogo Moreira on row six.

00:15:57Jack Miller, 19th.

00:15:58It's been a miserable weekend for both Fermi Naldeguet and Brad Binder.

00:16:00They're both on row seven.

00:16:02The only rider behind them is Tech 3 standing Jonas Folger.

00:16:07So, the latest information we have received from Mitchell, as you saw on that grid graphic,

00:16:12suggests the only outlier, a bit of a left-field pick, I guess he's feeling he's got nothing to really

00:16:16lose.

00:16:17Fabio Quattararo, as it stands at the moment, is the only rider in the 22-strong field

00:16:22who's opted for that Michelin soft compound front tyre.

00:16:25Hottest conditions of the weekend so far.

00:16:28A lot of riders obviously in favouring the better stopping performance, the better braking stability,

00:16:33with that harder front tyre.

00:16:35Stop and go, this Le Mans layout.

00:16:37So much demand on the front tyre, particularly when you're looking at the downhill braking zone into Garage Vare,

00:16:43where you're scrubbing off, what, 265 km an hour.

00:16:46You're approaching Garage Vare, turn eight in fourth gear.

00:16:49And then you're back three gear, so about 80 km an hour for that turn number eight.

00:16:56So, as we've mentioned, Pedro Acosta.

00:16:58Well, the two factory KTM's are opposite ends of the grid, really.

00:17:00Middle of the second row goes Pedro Acosta.

00:17:03Worked through for poor old Brad Binder.

00:17:04A tough day so far for the South African in 21st.

00:17:07What does the boss think of it all? Let's get the thoughts of Aki Ayo with you.

00:17:10Yeah, great to be joined by Aki.

00:17:12Pedro, middle of the second row.

00:17:14Felt this morning like he extracted the maximum from his package.

00:17:19What can he do? What would be a good result here in the sprint?

00:17:23First of all, yesterday was quite a good start for us here.

00:17:28And difficult to say if this is maximum.

00:17:33I feel that it was not a perfect lap today, first of all.

00:17:37And his feeling of the bike was really good.

00:17:40I would say that when in the morning cold conditions we need to use soft front tyre.

00:17:47Maybe this is something like a little bit disadvantage for us.

00:17:50Our bike is really good in entry into the corners, the braking.

00:17:54And let's say we need to attack into the corners to get something extra with our bike.

00:18:00And I hope that now with the harder front option it's fitting even better for us.

00:18:08Fingers crossed. Good luck, Aki.

00:18:09Excellent.

00:18:10Thanks, Jack. Thanks to Aki.

00:18:11Sounds like he's been joined the French fans in the grandstands cheering his heart out, doesn't it, Aki.

00:18:17Obviously a bit of a sore throat for the Finnish boss.

00:18:21Well, then it was a positive weekend so far as far as the factory Yamaha goes with both of their

00:18:28riders.

00:18:28Fabio Quattroaro and Alex Rins going into Q2 this morning.

00:18:31Quattroaro 6th, Alex Rins 12th.

00:18:34Let's get the thoughts of their boss.

00:18:36Yeah, absolutely.

00:18:37Mayo, both bikes into Q2 this morning.

00:18:39Just how much of a boost was that for everybody in the factory garage?

00:18:42Yeah, it's a big boost.

00:18:44This morning Fabio has been able to put together very good lap times.

00:18:51It was consistent.

00:18:54He also played to check the tyre degradation for this afternoon race.

00:19:01But now it's very difficult to have an overview about the race.

00:19:08However, we will try to maximize what we have been able to put together in these two days.

00:19:15Our information is that Fabio, the only rider on the grid, to go for the soft front tyre.

00:19:20Is that the case and what's the thinking behind that?

00:19:22Actually, we are really discussing now what to do.

00:19:25And the last decision has not been taken yet.

00:19:30Okay, well, we'll keep a close eye on it.

00:19:31Good luck, Mayo. Thank you.

00:19:33Sounds like that's going to be a last minute 11th hour decision then as far as Fabio Quattararo's team goes

00:19:38into this sprint.

00:19:40I mean, Yamaha, you feel like they've got absolutely nothing to lose, in particular Quattararo.

00:19:44The Yamaha quartet have scored just 15 points between them so far in this year's MotoGP World Championship.

00:19:50He's been crashing back down to earth a little bit after his Jerez Heroics here in France.

00:19:55Has been Alex Marquez, Lewis.

00:19:58He had a bit of a tumble this morning as well, including his lowest starting position in 13,

00:20:03since he was 11th on the grid at Balaton Park in Hungary.

00:20:06Alex has got some serious growth too, coming from the head of that fourth row.

00:20:08Yeah, just to get into the points from there.

00:20:11Ayagura here on screen, the rider immediately up ahead of him.

00:20:14Alex Marquez was keen to point out yesterday when he spoke to our colleagues in the broadcaster set

00:20:19that this circuit perhaps doesn't suit him quite as much as her rest did,

00:20:22and that's been reflected in the results so far.

00:20:25So Fabio Di Gian Antonio then, he perhaps was disappointed to miss out on the front row of the grid

00:20:29earlier on today.

00:20:30The start is clearly going to be key for Digia.

00:20:32Can he get himself in and amongst the front row action?

00:20:35Pablo Nieto speaking to Jack.

00:20:36Yeah, you feel that's a huge question, Lewis.

00:20:38As you told me in a lunchtime break, Pablo, a little bit of frustration to be on the second row

00:20:42of the grid,

00:20:43but that's behind you now.

00:20:44We spoke on Friday about the importance of Fabio getting the bike off the line, nailing the start.

00:20:50Is the plan for him to do anything different to try and improve that area ahead of this?

00:20:55Yeah, always is difficult, no?

00:20:58But anyway, we're talking that it's really, really important, the first he can try to survive that place,

00:21:05because we know it's very easy to go longer, and then over there you are not travelling.

00:21:10But anyway, I think yesterday we were very, very fast.

00:21:15I think now Fabio is on fire, we know.

00:21:18So we have to try to keep pushing, keep working, because it's going to be very hard, but like every

00:21:23Saturday and every Sunday.

00:21:24So let's see.

00:21:25Good luck.

00:21:26Good luck.

00:21:27Yeah, De Gian Antonio, thanks Jack, thanks to Pablo Nieto.

00:21:31Fabio De Gian Antonio has just continued this golden run.

00:21:35He's found himself on the best of the Ducati riders so far this season in the Championship.

00:21:40He's 30 points going into the sprint behind his compatriot Marco Betsechi,

00:21:46who will be taking our latest maximum 12 points on offer on sprint Saturdays so far this season.

00:21:52Despite all of his great qualifying performances, Digio has only been able to convert one of those so far this

00:21:57season into a Saturday afternoon podium.

00:22:00That was a second from pole position at Goianna in Brazil.

00:22:04We've seen a change here for Fabio Quattararo.

00:22:07It looks like we have.

00:22:08He has joined the rest of the field on the hard front tyre.

00:22:12We did hear from Aymer Galli a moment ago, said it would be a late decision.

00:22:14Looks like the decision now has been taken.

00:22:16I did wonder, because Quattararo did more than sprint distance on the soft front tyre in FP2 earlier on this

00:22:22morning.

00:22:22A session that he did end up fastest in, but track conditions and the temperatures were much, much cooler than

00:22:28they are now.

00:22:29So clearly the hard front tyre should get up and running and get up to temperature on this opening lap,

00:22:34which I guess would have been the concern.

00:22:35One of the first riders this weekend to actually experiment with the hard front tyre was Pedro Acosta, who we

00:22:40just saw there on screens.

00:22:41Middle of the second row for the 21 year old.

00:22:45Jack just confirming that Fabio Quattararo has indeed switched to the hard front tyre.

00:22:49It's a level playing field in terms of Michelin rubber.

00:22:51Every rider on the hard front, soft rear tyre.

00:22:53Pedro Acosta, 12 Grand Prix podiums.

00:22:5812 sprint podiums so far in his MotoGP career.

00:23:02Well, the factory are pretty as we know that they are always super strong in race trim.

00:23:07Marco Betsecki on the front row of the grid looking to extend his world champion lead.

00:23:10And don't discount Huay Martin from row three.

00:23:13He's got a great race pace as well.

00:23:14Let's get the thoughts of the boss, Paolo Minora with Jack.

00:23:16Yeah, four sprints so far.

00:23:18Marco Betsecki has only seen the chequered flag once out of those four.

00:23:22How big is this, Paolo, mentally for Marco to stop this run?

00:23:27There's been a lot of bad luck involved in that as well, but to make sure it isn't something that

00:23:31starts to play on his mind.

00:23:33Yeah, for sure.

00:23:35Every race is important for the championship.

00:23:38We don't want to think about it.

00:23:41He doesn't want to think about it.

00:23:43But to be very honest, it's necessary to get the most we can.

00:23:49For sure, he did a very good time attack.

00:23:53Despite of the 23 milliseconds and the first split that he lost 0.2 seconds.

00:24:01So we think that he did a great job.

00:24:06And Org as well because the gap between the first and the last tenth is very, very short.

00:24:15It will be very tricky today because the first corner is necessary to take care about it, about the line,

00:24:23to think about the other competitors.

00:24:25But we have a plan and we totally trust, as usual, on both of them.

00:24:31Are Ducati a step ahead so far from what we've seen or do you feel it's pretty equal?

00:24:36We think that we have to take care about us.

00:24:41It is two small places where we have to improve, as I said to you this morning.

00:24:47And we did something.

00:24:49So looking forward for this race and it will be very useful this spring for the tomorrow race, the long

00:24:59one.

00:24:59Good luck.

00:25:00Thanks so much.

00:25:01Thanks, Jack.

00:25:02Thanks to Aprilia boss Palabinoa.

00:25:03It feels like the last sort of 10, 11 months or so, Mata GP has been an Italian duel between

00:25:09Aprilia and Ducati.

00:25:11Aprilia in terms of this year's championship clearly have the upper hand.

00:25:14And the onus in this sprint is going to be on Bagnaro and Mark Marquez getting a good start because

00:25:18what we have seen repeatedly so far in 2026 is that factory of Aprilia, that RSGP is an absolute rocket

00:25:24ship.

00:25:25Off the start, Marco Betsechi was a key reason why he was able to lead 121 successive Grand Prix.

00:25:31That's because one, he qualified well, but two, the Aprilia launches off the line so, so well.

00:25:37So going to be interesting to see how Bagnaro and Mark Marquez cope with a potentially fast starting Betsechi alongside

00:25:42them.

00:25:42Let's head back down to the grid then and hear from Davide Tardotzi with his rider starting first and second.

00:25:47Davide is with Jack.

00:25:48Davide, I have to say I'm pretty excited for this one. You guys first and second on the grid for

00:25:53the first time this year. Are you ready to make a statement?

00:25:57We'll see because I'm sure that Betsechi will try very, very hard first lap, then we'll see.

00:26:04But there are at least four or five riders that can fight for the podium, hope that our two will

00:26:10be there.

00:26:11But anyway, the most important thing is to collect points for the championship.

00:26:14Are you slightly nervous, hoping that these Heref test improvements are going to be shown on track?

00:26:20Always here in Le Mans for the first corner.

00:26:22Good luck.

00:26:24Important to collect points is the message from Ducati boss Davide Tardotzi.

00:26:28Thanks, Jack.

00:26:29That message, I mean, who would have thought coming into round five of the championship, the Factory Ducati's fifth and

00:26:36ninth in the overall standings coming into our second European clash of the campaign.

00:26:42Yeah, although the success that has been hard to come by for the Factory Ducati team has come in sprints

00:26:48so far this year.

00:26:48Mark Marquez has won two and lost another on the very last lap, of course, in Borougham.

00:26:54Peko Banjaia has been second silver medal in the last two sprints.

00:26:57Of course, lost one of his potential sprint wins on the last lap when Martin passed him in Austin.

00:27:02So Saturday success has been easier to come by for the Factory Ducati team so far.

00:27:08But yeah, Davide Tardotzi is right to point to the first corner.

00:27:11It's officially turned three, of course, on the track map.

00:27:14The Dunlop chicane.

00:27:15Banjaia's sprints and Grand Prix ended there last year.

00:27:19Luca Marini, we just saw a quick glimpse of the Italian.

00:27:21His weekend started in brilliant fashion.

00:27:24Fastest in FP1 yesterday, which has been downhill ever since.

00:27:26Marini 15th on the grid.

00:27:28The two factory Hondas, Marini 15th.

00:27:30Juan Mir heading row three in seventh place.

00:27:33So some embraces, some good luck messages from his Aprilia crew to Marco Betsecki.

00:27:38Can he stop this sprint slump so far in 2026?

00:27:42He's on the front row in third place.

00:27:43Marc Marquez after that blistering all-time lap record this morning goes from the middle of the front row in

00:27:48second place.

00:27:48But for the first time in 2026, the first time since Sepang last year when he did win the sprint

00:27:53from pole position here on Pole in France, Tako Banjaia.

00:28:23Join me all right.

00:29:24Are we going to get some more sprint fireworks in France following a truly incredible qualifying session this morning?

00:29:32The top 10 at the end of Q2 earlier on today.

00:29:36Covered by just 0.297 to the second.

00:29:39It's the second closest Q2 top 10 since that qualifying format was introduced 13 years ago back in 2013.

00:29:47The only closer top 10 in the MotoGP Q2 came at the Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring

00:29:53six years ago in 2020.

00:29:55All the home hopes a nation expects Fabio Quattararo and Johan Zarco to deliver another spectacular result tomorrow in the

00:30:05main Grand Prix of course.

00:30:06Over 27 laps here in northwest France.

00:30:10Can Johan Zarco make it back-to-back wins in front of what potentially could be yet another record crowd?

00:30:17It's a beautiful day.

00:30:19It's great weather.

00:30:20Let's say we're going to get some great racing in this upcoming 13-lap sprint.

00:30:24A sprint which we'll see Marco Betsechi take an 11-point lead in the World Championship into our fifth sprint

00:30:32of the campaign.

00:30:34If Marco Betsechi is to surrender the lead in the standings at the end of the sprint,

00:30:38he's going to have to have another DNF which has happened already so far three times in 2026.

00:30:43And his teammate Jorge Martin is going to have to fight his way through in the middle of the third

00:30:47row in eighth to win this sprint.

00:30:50What's the most remote of possibilities given the fact that as you can see on screens Jorge Martin is a

00:30:55bit of a prolific winner in the sprint format.

00:30:58The last time Peko Banyaya started a Monday GP race from pole position in the sweltering heat of Malaysia at

00:31:04the Sepang International Circuit last year.

00:31:06He did go on to take the victory and claim the gold medal on the Tissot Sprint on that occasion.

00:31:14First time though in 2026 he will fire away from pole position.

00:31:19Not a new territory here in Le Mans for Peko on pole here in 2022 and in 2023.

00:31:24Alongside him on that front row, Marc Marquez.

00:31:26Third time in the last four French Grands Prix that Marc is starting from second place on the grid.

00:31:31And all eyes on what is traditionally a very fast starting factory Aprilia.

00:31:36Marco Betsecki, can his sprint slump end here this afternoon?

00:31:4222 riders then come to the grid.

00:31:44Jonas Folger in at Tech 3 KTM for the injured Maverick Vinales.

00:31:48All riders on the Michelin hard front tyre, soft rear tyre.

00:31:52Just waiting here in the hottest conditions of the weekend so far.

00:31:56Finally then after a little bit of a delay we have the green flag waving and clearing shortly at the

00:32:02back.

00:32:02Riders in position primed and ready.

00:32:05Lights out and we're racing here in the sprint.

00:32:07In Le Mans big wheelie off the line for the number 49 bike of Fabio de Gian Antonio who's going

00:32:11backwards.

00:32:12Was the whole shot device engaged here at all for Digia?

00:32:15As Marco Betsecki once again lightning off the line.

00:32:17A lucky second.

00:32:18Victory Aprilia and Hoi Martin has come from 8 to lead.

00:32:22Hoi Martin with an absolute show-stopping start to this sprint.

00:32:26When we said the Aprilia start fast, Martin from 8th to 1st.

00:32:29Is Hoi Martin serious?

00:32:31He went right up the inside of the factory Ducatis through Turn 2.

00:32:34And then steam around the outside of his team mate Marco Betsecki.

00:32:38It wasn't a remote possibility for Hoi Martin to win this sprint.

00:32:41Unbelievable.

00:32:41What a start.

00:32:43What a first couple of corners.

00:32:45Skill and bravery in equal measure there from Hoi Martin.

00:32:49Somehow from the middle of the third right of the grid he leads this sprint.

00:32:53And the damage for Fabio de Gian Antonio.

00:32:55His front wheel went skywards off the line.

00:32:57He is down in 14th place.

00:32:59His sprint or his start demons persist.

00:33:01Yeah, it was the whole shot device fully engaged there.

00:33:04Because straight away as he dropped the clutch and grabbed a handful of throttle.

00:33:08Jack Seghe looked like it was engaged.

00:33:09So the start gremlins roll on for Fabio de Gian Antonio.

00:33:14But what a start of Hoi Martin's career made here in this Le Mans sprint.

00:33:18Absolutely sensational.

00:33:20Another rider who had a poor start was Alex Rins from 12th back to 20th now.

00:33:24He's just past Jack Miller.

00:33:25This then is the battle for second place.

00:33:27And this is Bagnaglia looking to get on with it and get past his fellow Italian Betsecki.

00:33:30Yeah, and here comes Acosta on the inside.

00:33:32And Mir picks up the Honda rider going into Turn 13.

00:33:35Mir himself was thinking about eyeing up a move.

00:33:38And Marc Marquez ahead of him when he got picked off by Acosta.

00:33:41So at the end of that incredible first lap, Jorge Martin leads at the end of that opening lap in

00:33:46this 13-lap sprint.

00:33:48And a factory Aprilia 1-2.

00:33:50Bagnaglia once again showing Bez his front wheel as we go into 3 and 4.

00:33:53Yeah, the rider who's not having some early confidence or really joy here is Marc Marquez.

00:33:57He's back to 5th.

00:33:58Down 3 places.

00:33:59And he's not exactly swallowing all over the back of Fabio Quattararo right now.

00:34:03If anything, he's nearer to Acosta.

00:34:04They're running 5th and 6th.

00:34:05So Fabio de Gian Antonio started this sprint 1 row in 4 places ahead of Jorge Martin.

00:34:11He ended lap 1, 3 seconds behind the Spaniard.

00:34:14Talk about a big twist early on here.

00:34:16I think he lost Marini.

00:34:17Marini's gone down.

00:34:18Yellow flags are out in the 2nd sector.

00:34:19I think he's down at La Chapelle.

00:34:21So one of the factory Hondas is up in 7th place.

00:34:23The other one looks like he's out.

00:34:24As we now look back from Marco Benceki.

00:34:27Confirmation.

00:34:27It is Marini.

00:34:28The number 10 is down.

00:34:29And we're looking at the pole sitter of Peko Bagnaglia.

00:34:32But look at the lead.

00:34:33Jorge Martin's already pulling out.

00:34:34It's been a sorry tell for Marini having led.

00:34:36Jonas Folger's also gone down.

00:34:38Marek Vinales' injury replacement.

00:34:40Marini's French Grand Prix started in stunning fashion when he topped FB1 yesterday morning.

00:34:44That already feels like an awful long time ago, doesn't it, for the Italian who's struggled for pace ever since.

00:34:49At the front then, Martin's just streaking away at the front of this sprint.

00:34:53He's now over 8 tenths clear of Benceki.

00:34:55Acosta's past Marquez.

00:34:56Acosta's got through on Mark Marquez.

00:34:58Mark Marquez is going the wrong, wrong way here, isn't he?

00:35:01He's said all the season long, struggling for front-end feeling,

00:35:03struggling for confidence in the early laps, and this is biting him again.

00:35:07Yeah, and he's been dropped at the moment as Mare's now swarming all over the back of him.

00:35:10Fastest lap at the sprint then at 30.6 for Jorge Martin.

00:35:13His lead is 8 tenths of a second.

00:35:16But Mark Marquez down now four places from where he started.

00:35:20And then he hopes of getting involved in the sprint.

00:35:21Look at all, Mare now takes him.

00:35:23The 2020 World Champion relegates Mark Marquez to seventh place.

00:35:27This is unbelievable.

00:35:28Let's not forget this morning in Q1, Mark Marquez delivered the fastest ever

00:35:32and one of the best ever laps of this Piccati circuit here in Le Mans.

00:35:36But the Piccati rider, well, he's just engaged reverse gear.

00:35:39When have we seen this on so many occasions in recent years

00:35:43where Mark Marquez is just going completely the wrong way

00:35:45as Benceki goes wide.

00:35:47Benceki makes a right hash of the museum corner.

00:35:49That's a free move there then for Peko Bagnaia.

00:35:52He snaps on the inside.

00:35:53So Bagnaia with a bit of a gift up into second.

00:35:55It could be a key moment for Bagnaia

00:35:57because he looks like he was getting a bit impatient behind his fellow Italian.

00:36:00It's not as severe as some of the others we've seen

00:36:02but you have to chop that down as another sprint error for Marko Benceki.

00:36:06In FP2 this morning on worn tyres,

00:36:08Peko Bagnaia looks absolutely awesome.

00:36:11Now there's a bit of clear track ahead of him.

00:36:13Nobody disrupting his lines or his breaking markers in front.

00:36:16What can he do now to hunt down Jorge Martín, of course?

00:36:19Those two career-long rivals,

00:36:21former teammates all the way back in their motor three days.

00:36:24This is Bagnaia, certainly the best we've seen him so far, isn't it?

00:36:27In 2026.

00:36:29Pole position now up into second place.

00:36:31In terms of the championship,

00:36:32Jorge Martín at the moment pulling five back on Benceki.

00:36:36So Mark Marquez now coming under a bit of pressure

00:36:37from his younger brother Alex who's in eighth place.

00:36:40Got to give another shout-out to Fabio Quattararo

00:36:43who's running in fourth place at the moment

00:36:45of doing a low 31 to 30.5 though for Martín.

00:36:48Only Bagnaia looks like he's even got close to an answer right now.

00:36:51Fair play to Moreau as well.

00:36:53On that last lap he passed to Gian Antonio and Bastionini.

00:36:55Awesome performance by the Brazilian rookie there.

00:36:58Top job by him.

00:36:59Successive, fastest lap sent for Martín.

00:37:01He's trying to get on with business here early on, isn't he?

00:37:03A 130.561.

00:37:06Yellow flags are out in the first...

00:37:08Well, he's had a shocker.

00:37:09He has had an absolute shocker, hasn't he?

00:37:11Fabio de Gian Antonio.

00:37:12Any hopes he had of a medal going around his neck?

00:37:15End of the sprint were ended with a disastrous start.

00:37:18And that's gnarly.

00:37:18That's a real gnarly crash there for Digia

00:37:20as he tucks the front going through turn three.

00:37:23The momentum takes him through turn four as well.

00:37:26Fair play.

00:37:26The riders behind him that were avoiding any kind of contact there.

00:37:28This is his teammate Frankie Morbidelli there

00:37:29who had to go left right around the very outside of the racetrack to avoid him.

00:37:33So it's cost Morbidelli places too.

00:37:35Morbidelli is now running towards the back of the field himself.

00:37:38In fact, he is the last runner on track now down in 19th place.

00:37:43This is unbelievable.

00:37:44Quattarara they're now into fourth place.

00:37:46But has anybody got the pace to go with Roy Martin on that last lap?

00:37:49Martin and Bagnaia into the 130.

00:37:52So too were Acosta and Mir.

00:37:55John Mir at the moment inside the top six.

00:37:57Of course, on that last lap with that 130.8 that he delivered.

00:38:01That was also coming through on Marc Marquez.

00:38:03Acosta's going to attack into the recorder more.

00:38:04He's not had the best luck with his corner so far this weekend.

00:38:07A little better luck this time as he moves through into fourth place.

00:38:10Not a good lap for the French pair

00:38:11because Joan Zarco had a problem in the third sector.

00:38:14Dropped a third at three places.

00:38:15He's now out of the points.

00:38:16Panyaya has got his head down.

00:38:18As you knew, he would do a 130.739.

00:38:21It's Peko's fastest lap of this sprint so far.

00:38:23That's just eaten into Martin's lead and got it down to just over a second.

00:38:28At the moment, struggling to go with that Ducati face as we look at Jorge Martin.

00:38:32I remember in Qatar, in the very early part of his Monday GP career in 2021,

00:38:36on the prime of Ducati, he got a sensational start.

00:38:38He's already up to fourth now.

00:38:39Negotiates his way through the plummeting Fabio de Gian Antonio.

00:38:42He's already through on Quattararo and Juan Mir.

00:38:45And then look at this.

00:38:46This is so bold.

00:38:48This is talent and skill absolutely off the scale.

00:38:52Around the outside, a Panyaya, Betsechi, and Marc Marquez into three and four.

00:38:57Absolutely unbelievable move this by Martin.

00:39:00We usually shortlist the overtakes of the GP on a Sunday.

00:39:03There's no need to be bothering.

00:39:05Jorge Martin has already won it.

00:39:06That was an extraordinary first three corners.

00:39:09His lead continues to hover around about a second mark.

00:39:12It's 1.1 through the second sector as we now follow the battle between the two world champions

00:39:18in fifth and sixth.

00:39:19The 2021 champion Quattararo now leads the 2020 champion Mir.

00:39:22And Marc Marquez stabilizing the situation a little bit in seventh place.

00:39:26Once again, as we saw in the early stage of the season, those early laps, Marc Marquez,

00:39:30a bit of a sitting duck.

00:39:31And then he gets up to speed.

00:39:33But the damage is already done today.

00:39:35Jorge Martin's a serial sprint winner.

00:39:3817 times previously in his Grand Prix career.

00:39:41He's won sprints, but this will be one of the best.

00:39:43Just for the start, though.

00:39:44You kind of feel that he deserves to win the sprint just for the first half a mile of it

00:39:48because he was absolutely out of this world.

00:39:51Banyaya is trying to his level best to put some pressure on

00:39:54as we've lost to Nea Bastiani.

00:39:55It's been a pretty miserable Saturday for the beast.

00:39:58That's his second crash of the day here.

00:40:00Banyaya once again has just put in another PV lap at 1.30.723,

00:40:05but that was slightly slower than Martin ahead of him.

00:40:07That was Bastiani crashing out of 12th place.

00:40:10So that does promote Joe Ansarco back up the order.

00:40:12That is the aerial shot.

00:40:13I'm looking at the top three.

00:40:15It's Martin, a second ahead of Banyaya,

00:40:17who's nearly now a second ahead of Marco Betzecchi.

00:40:20No danger at the moment of Betzecchi coming under pressure

00:40:22for third place from Pedro Acosta.

00:40:25It's now Marc Marquez that we need to keep an eye on

00:40:27as he now finally gets himself up to speed.

00:40:28He's now trying to find a way back past his former teammate, Joan Mir.

00:40:31On that last lap, there was only five riders in the 1.30s.

00:40:34The top two, Martin and Banyaya,

00:40:36throwing Marc Marquez in that equation as well.

00:40:38And the track out of Prillias of Ayagura and Ralph Fernandes,

00:40:42who are also getting into some pretty decent rhythm.

00:40:44Looking back into Chimaneva, if we go.

00:40:47Fabio Quattararo there ahead of Joan Mir.

00:40:50There is Marc Marquez looking to make in rows the right way now in this sprint.

00:40:55Well, Fabio Quattararo hasn't scored many Sunday points.

00:40:57He's just scored four of them so far this season.

00:40:59His best results have come in sprints.

00:41:01Remember, he was up in the top six in Brazil earlier in the season.

00:41:04He then took seventh in that madcap sprint in Jerez

00:41:07when he was able to navigate his way through all the chaos.

00:41:09This is another super Saturday showing from the Frenchman.

00:41:13Yeah, it's been another awesome performance, this by Fabio Quattararo.

00:41:17Marc Marquez, well, didn't see this coming from the front row of the grid.

00:41:22Somebody further down the field has taken a tumble in the final sector.

00:41:25Yellow flags are out in sector four.

00:41:28A miserable afternoon for VR46.

00:41:30It's Frankie Morvidelli who very nearly crashed with his teammate

00:41:33as she came when he went down ahead of him.

00:41:35Morvidelli only made it a further couple of laps.

00:41:37Yeah, the pace behind the top two, Martin and Bagnari

00:41:40is just slackening off ever so slightly here.

00:41:42Yeah, in the middle of 13 and 14 goes Frankie Morvidelli.

00:41:46Martin and Bagnari, both 130.7s.

00:41:49And then you've got Ralph Fernandes, the only other rider

00:41:52on that lap 6 of 13.

00:41:54It was keeping himself in those 130s just with a 130.9.

00:41:58Ralph Fernandes at the moment outside of the point scoring places in 10th.

00:42:02Alex Marquez doesn't have great pace at the moment.

00:42:04He's doing a low 30.1s.

00:42:06He's not closing in at any stage really on this group that we're watching.

00:42:10Just see him in the back of the picture on the Grosini bike.

00:42:12He's going to come into pressure soon from those track house of brilliance

00:42:14who are in the high 130s.

00:42:16Agoura in a lap or two is going to be right up behind Alex Marquez

00:42:19in that battle for eighth place.

00:42:21Bagnari at the moment has just got nothing for Martin.

00:42:23In fact, the gap's just through the second split on this lap 7 of 13.

00:42:27It was as high as 1.3 seconds.

00:42:30Bagnari slightly quicker through the third split.

00:42:33Deep into this last sector.

00:42:35Now we go.

00:42:35Turns 13 and 14.

00:42:37This, you're never going to get tired of watching this, are you?

00:42:40It's like a video game.

00:42:41Jorge Martin.

00:42:42Yeah.

00:42:42Get the place that they've just launched by the GP26, haven't we?

00:42:45Well, I think this is PlayStation mode, Xbox mode, engaged by Jorge Martin.

00:42:49Look at this, around the outside he's going to go of Batsaki, Marc Marquez and Peko Bagnari.

00:42:56Somehow from the middle of the third row of the grid through turn four,

00:43:01he leads this Tissot sprint here in Le Mans.

00:43:03Look at that, there was contact there, big contact, wasn't that,

00:43:05between Quattararo and Bagnari on the exit of turn four.

00:43:09As our eyes were drawn, quite rightly so,

00:43:11to the sheer mesmerizing brilliance of Martin off the line.

00:43:15Put yourself in the crash out of Marco Batsaki there into the Dunlop chicane.

00:43:18He thinks he's covered off the two factory Ducatis

00:43:21and he thinks he's in pretty good shape to beat this sprint.

00:43:23And he'll then look over to his right and say,

00:43:25how has my teammate got there?

00:43:27Jorge Martin was starting eighth on the grid.

00:43:29How has he just swept around the outside of me

00:43:31after the first three corners, a rocket start moment.

00:43:34I remember he was brilliant off the line in Jerez on the Sunday.

00:43:37That was even better.

00:43:38Well, just before it was lights out,

00:43:39I've said the onus was on Marc Marquez and Peko Bagnari

00:43:42to try and defend against the lightning launch of Marco Batsaki.

00:43:46And in comes Jorge Martin.

00:43:49Jorge Martin enters the chat.

00:43:51And in some spectacular fashion as well.

00:43:54What a start.

00:43:55What a start.

00:43:56One of the best starts you will ever see to any sprint or Grand Prix in your life.

00:44:01Is that start going to be rewarded?

00:44:03It should be, shouldn't it?

00:44:04With 12 maximum points here

00:44:05and a record 18th sprint win for Jorge Martin.

00:44:09And crucially, in the World Championship,

00:44:11he's cutting Bez's lead in half.

00:44:12Yeah, and let's be fair.

00:44:13Once he's got there,

00:44:14he's got the pace to quite easily lead this sprint at the moment.

00:44:17Bagnari and Batsaki, crucially,

00:44:19teammate to Martin has had no answer at this stage.

00:44:22Since Martin took the lead,

00:44:23he's just gradually been extending that advantage.

00:44:26Said pre-sprint all weekend.

00:44:28He's had race pace, he's had the speed still at the moment.

00:44:31There's one small weakness,

00:44:33one area which Jorge's got to try and improve on.

00:44:35He knows it himself.

00:44:36Just not quite getting the explosive pace

00:44:39that he's traditionally famous for in MotoGP.

00:44:41Out of a soft airtight on the Aprilia.

00:44:43I'll tell you what, Lewis,

00:44:43if he works that out,

00:44:45this field have got some serious trouble.

00:44:47In particular, his teammate Marco Batsaki,

00:44:49who, as you say,

00:44:49is losing a big chunk of his World Championship lead at the moment.

00:44:53Bez can't afford another sprint slip-up here

00:44:55to throw it at the scenery

00:44:56because he would lose that World Championship lead back again

00:44:58to Jorge Martin,

00:44:59which we thought was a remote possibility

00:45:01when this sprint began.

00:45:02Here is our battle of the champions then.

00:45:05Fifth, sixth and seventh,

00:45:06Fabio Quattuaro, Juan Mir and Marc Marquez.

00:45:10So nine MotoGP World Championships between them.

00:45:13And at the moment,

00:45:14it's Yamaha's Quattuaro

00:45:15who's holding off the Honda of Mir

00:45:16and the Ducati of Marc Marquez.

00:45:18Yeah, potentially Quattuaro's best sprint

00:45:19since Portimao

00:45:21at the back end of 2025.

00:45:23Doing an absolutely sensational job

00:45:24at the moment.

00:45:26Nothing really going as far as

00:45:28follow-fenceman Johan Zarco is concerned.

00:45:30He's actually at the moment

00:45:31behind his LCL Honda teammate,

00:45:33Diogo Moreira,

00:45:34who's doing a brilliant job in 11th place.

00:45:35That might be as good as it gets

00:45:37as far as Moreira is concerned.

00:45:38He's over two seconds

00:45:39adrift of Raul Fernandes in 10th.

00:45:41Fernandes just had nothing,

00:45:42has he,

00:45:42for his teammate Ayagura,

00:45:43directly ahead of him.

00:45:44And the track house

00:45:45of please have been in tandem

00:45:46pretty much for the whole sprint

00:45:48for his advantage, Agura.

00:45:50Agura is now right behind Alex Marquez,

00:45:52just three tenths between them.

00:45:54You can just see them behind

00:45:55Marc Marquez on the 93.

00:45:57So, well, Dwan Mir,

00:45:58who he doesn't like

00:45:59just riding around following people.

00:46:01He'd rather take risks

00:46:02trying to overtake,

00:46:02which is why we often see him

00:46:03crashing out of sprints

00:46:05and Grand Prix's.

00:46:05But these are really some useful points

00:46:07for Dwan Mir.

00:46:08But he's been staring at the back

00:46:10of that V4 Yamaha

00:46:11of Fabio Quattuaro at the moment.

00:46:13At the moment,

00:46:13he cannot figure a way

00:46:14through.

00:46:15Potentially a third

00:46:16straight second place

00:46:17in sprints

00:46:18for Peko Bagnaia.

00:46:20He might have feared

00:46:21the big challenge

00:46:22coming from Wanaprullia,

00:46:23most likely

00:46:24in the hands of the 72

00:46:26of Marco Batsecki.

00:46:27But Peko Bagnaia

00:46:29knows more than anybody

00:46:29just how good

00:46:30Jorge Martín is

00:46:31in the Saturday sprint format.

00:46:33It was key.

00:46:34It was so crucial,

00:46:35wasn't it,

00:46:35in their battle for glory

00:46:36a couple of years ago

00:46:37in the 2024

00:46:38Moda GP World Championship.

00:46:40And here he is

00:46:40once again

00:46:41from the middle

00:46:42of the road three.

00:46:43Absolutely incredible.

00:46:44I know Brad Binder

00:46:45came from 15th

00:46:45to win that wet

00:46:47sprint in Termas

00:46:49in 2023.

00:46:50But I just wonder

00:46:51if anybody's come

00:46:51from this far back

00:46:52in a dry sprint

00:46:53to actually win it.

00:46:54No, very, very rare.

00:46:55It's so, so difficult

00:46:56to achieve.

00:46:57But Jorge Martín,

00:46:58as I've mentioned,

00:46:59the start is, of course,

00:47:00what we'll all focus in on.

00:47:01That will make

00:47:02all the headlines.

00:47:03That's what we'll be replaying

00:47:04over and over again

00:47:05on YouTube later.

00:47:05But his pace

00:47:06once he's got there

00:47:07is absolutely outstanding.

00:47:10No one can match it

00:47:11at the moment.

00:47:12And as you say,

00:47:13once he figures out qualifying,

00:47:14what a World Championship

00:47:15contender

00:47:15he's already proving to be.

00:47:17What a World Championship

00:47:18because he'll be very,

00:47:18very difficult to beat

00:47:19once he's got

00:47:20the full package.

00:47:21We've talked about it

00:47:22since the first

00:47:23practice start session

00:47:24of the season

00:47:25in Bururam.

00:47:26Straight away,

00:47:27you could just notice

00:47:28the Aprilia

00:47:29is just planted.

00:47:30It's glued

00:47:31to the road

00:47:32when their riders

00:47:33dump the clutch.

00:47:35Jorge Martín,

00:47:36there's a lot of talent,

00:47:37a lot of skill involved,

00:47:37but also some engineering

00:47:39brilliance coming

00:47:39from Aprilia as well

00:47:40because the way

00:47:41that RSGP fires

00:47:43off the line,

00:47:44unrivaled.

00:47:45Used to be KTM

00:47:45that was the most

00:47:47rapid starter

00:47:47in MotoGP

00:47:48and they've certainly

00:47:49lost that distinction.

00:47:50They don't lack

00:47:51straight line speed

00:47:52either, crucially,

00:47:53do they,

00:47:53on those factory Aprilias

00:47:54as well.

00:47:55This is Fermi Albegaer

00:47:56running in 13th place.

00:47:58of course came

00:47:58from 20th on the grid

00:47:59so he has made

00:48:00some decent progress

00:48:01in the sprint

00:48:02but of course

00:48:02his sprint hopes

00:48:03were already damaged

00:48:04by his poor qualified.

00:48:06Behind him is Brad Binder

00:48:07who joined

00:48:07Albegaer

00:48:08on the 7th row

00:48:09of the grid.

00:48:10At the moment

00:48:11the sole KTM points

00:48:12have been scored

00:48:13by 4th place

00:48:13Pedro Acosta.

00:48:16You can see

00:48:17the top left

00:48:17on Corrini screens

00:48:18the gap between

00:48:19Martin and Bangliar.

00:48:20It's not closing,

00:48:21it's getting bigger.

00:48:22Martin in complete

00:48:23control

00:48:24of this Grand Prix

00:48:25of France sprint

00:48:26here

00:48:27looking like

00:48:28he's on course

00:48:28for that record

00:48:2918th sprint success.

00:48:31Further down

00:48:32here's a trio

00:48:32of Yamahas.

00:48:34This is

00:48:34Jack Miller

00:48:36still searching

00:48:37for his first

00:48:37points finish

00:48:38of 2026.

00:48:39Rins 15th,

00:48:41Toprak Raskatlioglu

00:48:4216th,

00:48:43Miller 17th

00:48:44on the road

00:48:44with Fabio

00:48:44de Gennantonio

00:48:45still circulating

00:48:46after Riemann

00:48:47from his early crash

00:48:48he's 18th.

00:48:49Of course

00:48:49what it would mean

00:48:50as well

00:48:50two laps away

00:48:51from being completed

00:48:52Jorge Martin

00:48:53would remain

00:48:54undefeated

00:48:54in Tissot sprints

00:48:56here at Le Mans.

00:48:57Here is the big battle

00:48:58I think

00:48:58that we're going to be

00:48:58following in the final

00:48:59couple of laps

00:49:00and it's the battle

00:49:00for the final

00:49:01two points positions

00:49:02as Alex Marquez

00:49:03comes under pressure

00:49:04and now gets overtaken

00:49:05by the fast finishing

00:49:07Ayagura.

00:49:07Big head shake

00:49:08there as Agura

00:49:09has a pull

00:49:10he picked up

00:49:10a bit of turbulent air

00:49:11dirty air

00:49:12in the draft

00:49:13behind Alex Marquez

00:49:14as they power

00:49:14through the 6th gear

00:49:15first corner

00:49:16that's scary

00:49:17for Agura

00:49:17big head shake

00:49:18at over 300km an hour

00:49:21he kept it all

00:49:21gathered up

00:49:22they need to make

00:49:23that beautiful move

00:49:24on the inside of Alex

00:49:25going into turn 3

00:49:26brother Mark

00:49:27well

00:49:28he's stopped there

00:49:29hasn't he?

00:49:30second place

00:49:30let's not forget

00:49:31Mark Marquez

00:49:32started this

00:49:32oh

00:49:32was that Alex?

00:49:34I think that might

00:49:35have been Alex

00:49:35was it Alex Marquez

00:49:36who's gone down?

00:49:36yeah just behind him

00:49:37I think

00:49:37who went down

00:49:38yellow flags

00:49:39naturally have come

00:49:39out in the

00:49:40second sector

00:49:41it was

00:49:42yeah it was

00:49:43Ralph Fernandez

00:49:44who drops out

00:49:45so we've lost

00:49:45to the track

00:49:46as brilliant

00:49:46he was just

00:49:46outside

00:49:47the points

00:49:48and yeah

00:49:48it's not been

00:49:49Ralph Fernandez

00:49:49fine this Saturday

00:49:50he saw the blue blur

00:49:51apologies to Alex

00:49:52Marquez

00:49:53and to all his fans

00:49:54for letting their

00:49:54hearts skip

00:49:55a little bit of a beat

00:49:56Alex is still

00:49:56in this sprint

00:49:58albeit at the back

00:49:59end of the points

00:49:59going places

00:50:00in 9th

00:50:01he just lost 8th

00:50:02of course

00:50:02to Ayagura

00:50:03brilliant job

00:50:04this by Quattoraro

00:50:06just

00:50:07extracting everything

00:50:08out of that

00:50:09factory Yamaha

00:50:10but there's going to be

00:50:10just one lap

00:50:11remaining

00:50:12just 4.19 kilometres

00:50:14standing between

00:50:14Jorge Martin

00:50:15and a record

00:50:1618 spin success

00:50:18focus is the key

00:50:19Mark Marquez

00:50:20has dumped it again

00:50:21well this has been

00:50:23that's a mess

00:50:23that's a real mess

00:50:24Mark Marquez

00:50:25well he's had

00:50:26some massive

00:50:27crashes of late

00:50:27the big crash

00:50:28in practice

00:50:29in Austin

00:50:29the high speed crash

00:50:31out of second place

00:50:32behind brother Alex

00:50:33in the Grand Prix

00:50:34of Spain

00:50:35a couple of weeks ago

00:50:36is he going to

00:50:36high side it

00:50:37oh

00:50:37and more misery

00:50:39it was all

00:50:40out of shape

00:50:41wasn't it

00:50:41going in

00:50:42lost the front

00:50:43in this

00:50:44and then the rear grips

00:50:45and this

00:50:45he's just along

00:50:46for the ride

00:50:46passenger here

00:50:47goes Mark Marquez

00:50:48and this is another

00:50:49monumental get off

00:50:50for the reigning

00:50:51world champion

00:50:52you can see

00:50:53the airbag

00:50:54has deployed

00:50:54it's another

00:50:55absolutely wrecked

00:50:56and trashed

00:50:57factory to Cathy

00:50:59GP26

00:50:59Mark Marquez's

00:51:01day here in Le Mans

00:51:02started in blistering

00:51:03form

00:51:04with an all-time

00:51:05lap record

00:51:05it ends though

00:51:06in more disaster

00:51:07the world championship

00:51:08sacrificing more

00:51:09crucial points

00:51:11what is going on

00:51:12with Mark Marquez

00:51:13right now

00:51:13a Saturday afternoon

00:51:14nightmare

00:51:15for the reigning

00:51:16world champion

00:51:17glad he's up on his feet

00:51:18there was a little bit

00:51:19of a hovel there

00:51:19for Mark Marquez

00:51:20hopefully that's as bad

00:51:21as it's got

00:51:22so as the reigning

00:51:23world champion

00:51:23has a Saturday

00:51:24afternoon shocker

00:51:26here at Le Mans

00:51:27the rider he replaced

00:51:28as world champion

00:51:29Jorge Martin

00:51:30is about to stick

00:51:31his hand up

00:51:31and tell everybody

00:51:32I want a second title

00:51:33this year

00:51:34it looked like Mark

00:51:34lost the rear

00:51:35lost the front

00:51:36lost the rear

00:51:36lost the front

00:51:36and again

00:51:37he was all over the place

00:51:38wasn't he

00:51:38going into turn 13

00:51:39well this sprint here

00:51:41in Le Mans

00:51:42started in phenomenal

00:51:44fashion for Jorge Martin

00:51:45as he charged through

00:51:46from eighth

00:51:46on the grid

00:51:47the sprint here

00:51:48is going to finish

00:51:49in phenomenal fashion

00:51:50for Jorge Martin

00:51:51as he takes the

00:51:52chequered flag first

00:51:53it is a record

00:51:5518th sprint success

00:51:56for the Martinator

00:51:58what a ride

00:52:00what a performance

00:52:01what a start

00:52:02one of the best starts

00:52:03you will ever see

00:52:04take a bow

00:52:06Jorge Martin

00:52:07he does take the

00:52:08chequered flag

00:52:081.1 seconds clear

00:52:10of Peko Bagnaia

00:52:11second front pole position

00:52:12for the factory

00:52:13Ducati rider

00:52:14that's now three

00:52:15successes

00:52:16second places

00:52:16in sprints

00:52:17for Bagnaia

00:52:18Marco Betsechi

00:52:19comes home

00:52:20in third place

00:52:21a podium for

00:52:22Bez

00:52:23his first

00:52:23sprint medal

00:52:24of the season

00:52:25but not what we expected

00:52:26I think he was expecting

00:52:27much much more

00:52:28Acosta Quattarao

00:52:29Mia Agoura

00:52:31Alex Marquez

00:52:31and Diogo Moreira

00:52:32brilliant job by Moreira

00:52:34they are your

00:52:35point scoring finishers

00:52:36Daniele Ramagnoli

00:52:38Jorge Martin's crew chief

00:52:39no wonder

00:52:40he's smiling

00:52:41he has seen

00:52:43he has seen

00:52:44some special

00:52:45special performances

00:52:46by the number 89

00:52:47down the years

00:52:48this has to rank

00:52:49right up there

00:52:50with the very

00:52:51very best of them

00:52:52the Aprilia

00:52:53Team Radio

00:52:54they are

00:52:55absolutely ecstatic

00:52:56they are buzzing

00:52:58that sprint

00:52:59coming from

00:53:008th place

00:53:01on the grid

00:53:02just shows

00:53:03the pure class

00:53:05the pure talent

00:53:06the pure skill

00:53:07of Jorge Martin

00:53:08that's why

00:53:08he was the 2024

00:53:09mother GP

00:53:10world champion

00:53:11another special sprint

00:53:13from Jorge Martin

00:53:14he's competed

00:53:15in 3 sprints

00:53:16at Le Mans

00:53:17he has won

00:53:18all 3

00:53:19not quite in the circumstances

00:53:20as the previous 2

00:53:21when he led from the front

00:53:23he certainly didn't

00:53:24on this occasion

00:53:24an extraordinary

00:53:25afternoon

00:53:26an extraordinary start

00:53:27and then he had the pace

00:53:28to break away

00:53:29Jorge Martin's crew chief

00:53:31Daniele Romagnoli

00:53:32here's with Jack

00:53:32well Daniele

00:53:34I mean

00:53:34what a start that was

00:53:35the launch itself

00:53:37the move around

00:53:373 riders

00:53:38into the first corner

00:53:39and how much

00:53:40does this victory mean

00:53:41it feels as though

00:53:41as the guys have just said

00:53:42on commentary

00:53:43that's Jorge telling everyone

00:53:44I'm a world championship

00:53:45contender

00:53:46well I mean

00:53:47obviously I said to him

00:53:48you are like a cat

00:53:49in the start

00:53:50and he can jump

00:53:51incredible

00:53:52he's one of the best

00:53:53thing he can do

00:53:53but we were not

00:53:55the best play

00:53:56we were missing

00:53:57one tenth at least

00:53:58with a little change

00:53:59after the morning session

00:54:00and qualifying

00:54:01actually was quite good

00:54:04well championship

00:54:05is too early

00:54:05but we are very happy

00:54:06I mean

00:54:07we know he's very fast

00:54:08on the sprint races

00:54:09but like this

00:54:10wow

00:54:11it's a great great race

00:54:12from 8 positions

00:54:13you know

00:54:13it's good

00:54:14incredible

00:54:15the cat was purring today

00:54:16Daniele

00:54:16congrats

00:54:17thank you

00:54:17thank you so much

00:54:18the cat really was purring today

00:54:21an absolutely phenomenal performance

00:54:23that by Jorge Martin

00:54:25both Factory Aprilia's

00:54:27on the podium

00:54:29that's more like it

00:54:30for Marco Veczeki

00:54:31in terms of Saturday afternoon performances

00:54:33yeah he gives our camera

00:54:34a thumbs up

00:54:35the two Factory Aprilia's

00:54:37split by

00:54:37Peko Bagnaia

00:54:39and what about

00:54:40the curious case

00:54:41of Marc Marquez

00:54:42in 2026

00:54:44after all the spectacular

00:54:46fireworks of this morning

00:54:47when that absolutely awesome

00:54:49129.288

00:54:50made him the fastest

00:54:51ever rider

00:54:52around this Le Mans circuit

00:54:54more drama

00:54:56more pain

00:54:57coming the way

00:54:57of the reigning world champion

00:54:58for that massive get-off

00:55:00when he was at the back end

00:55:01of the points

00:55:01going places

00:55:01at turn 7

00:55:03all the applaud is though

00:55:04and quite rightly so

00:55:06all the headlines

00:55:06will be hogged

00:55:07by Jorge Martin

00:55:09what is it about

00:55:10Sprintz and Le Mans

00:55:11with this young man

00:55:13a special stoppie

00:55:15in front of the

00:55:16packed grandstand

00:55:17here

00:55:17of course

00:55:18predominantly

00:55:19they were here to see

00:55:20Fabio Quattararo

00:55:21and Joan Zarco

00:55:22fight for the win

00:55:23the next best thing though

00:55:24was witnessing

00:55:24something really

00:55:26extraordinary

00:55:27and that start

00:55:28from Jorge Martin

00:55:28was just

00:55:31breathtaking

00:55:32one of the best starts

00:55:34that you'll have ever seen

00:55:35anyone will have ever seen

00:55:36in MotoGP history

00:55:37and it's kind of fitting

00:55:38isn't it

00:55:38that the Sprint podium

00:55:39and ceremony

00:55:40will take place

00:55:41on the grid

00:55:42where Jorge Martin

00:55:43began his

00:55:44incredible rise of the order

00:55:46from 8th to 1st

00:55:47in the blink of an eye

00:55:48Marc Marquez

00:55:49very sore

00:55:50as he climbs

00:55:51off the scooter

00:55:52there

00:55:52he can barely walk

00:55:53look

00:55:53barely put any pressure

00:55:55on his foot

00:55:56there Marc Marquez

00:55:56Dr. Ankel Chacha

00:55:57waiting for him

00:55:59it's a sorry

00:55:59sorry sight

00:56:00for Marc Marquez

00:56:01who has

00:56:02picked up his bruises

00:56:03over the course

00:56:04of 2026 already

00:56:05this

00:56:06the most bruising yet

00:56:10it's tough

00:56:11sometimes it's tough

00:56:13at the top

00:56:14and having got himself

00:56:14back

00:56:15to the very very top

00:56:16last year

00:56:17in Japan

00:56:18Marc Marquez

00:56:20beats himself up

00:56:21once again

00:56:22this was a nasty one

00:56:23real nasty spill

00:56:25that thought

00:56:26Marc

00:56:27and as you can see

00:56:28he's really beat himself up

00:56:29once again

00:56:30let's hope he is

00:56:31going to be A-OK

00:56:32manager

00:56:33MotoGP medic

00:56:34Dr. Ankel Chacha

00:56:35immediately on the seat

00:56:36to attend to Marc

00:56:37but

00:56:37that just

00:56:39adds to a sequence

00:56:40of real heavy get-offs

00:56:42in 2026

00:56:42for Marc

00:56:43you think of Austin

00:56:44you think of Jerez

00:56:45and now today

00:56:46in Le Mans

00:56:46but when you think of sprints

00:56:48in the modern MotoGP era

00:56:50you think of one rider

00:56:51you think of one superb talent

00:56:53because Jorge Martin

00:56:54takes his winning count

00:56:55now

00:56:56in sprints

00:56:57to 18

00:56:57it's sprint podium

00:56:59number 33

00:57:11and then Bryce

00:57:12with a brilliant tech guru

00:57:14there in the spectacles

00:57:15Fabiano

00:57:16Sterling

00:57:16what a job he's done

00:57:17to turn this

00:57:18a brilliant

00:57:18into

00:57:19the dominant force

00:57:21right now

00:57:21the GP world championship

00:57:22and that gap

00:57:23it is just six points

00:57:25now between

00:57:25Bez and Jorge Martin

00:57:27at the top

00:57:28of the championship

00:57:28as we were touching upon

00:57:30off air

00:57:30Marc Marquez

00:57:31is now 51 points

00:57:33off the world championship

00:57:34leader

00:57:34Marc Kovatekian

00:57:36and you've got to say

00:57:36another show of strength

00:57:37for Aprilia today

00:57:38they've been sort of

00:57:39in and amongst the pack

00:57:40through much of the weekend

00:57:41of course

00:57:42for much of yesterday

00:57:43we weren't certain

00:57:44that Martino

00:57:45Betekian

00:57:45were even going to be in

00:57:46qualifying too

00:57:47but they've ended up

00:57:49with a gold

00:57:49and a bronze

00:57:50from the Saturday sprint

00:57:51I think Peko

00:57:52just said to him

00:57:53what the hell

00:57:53happened at the start

00:57:54I mean it's like

00:57:55there's a nitrous

00:57:56button on that

00:57:57factory Aprilia

00:57:58I mean without

00:57:59any question

00:58:00the best starting

00:58:01motorcycle in

00:58:02Grand Prix

00:58:03motorcycle racing

00:58:03right now

00:58:04is that factory

00:58:05Aprilia

00:58:06enjoy it Jorge

00:58:08so many dark

00:58:09moments that he

00:58:09had to go through

00:58:10in 2025

00:58:11he wasn't even

00:58:12at this French

00:58:12Grand Prix

00:58:13here last year

00:58:14as he was

00:58:14beginning yet

00:58:15another long

00:58:16recovery

00:58:16and rehabilitation

00:58:17but he's the

00:58:18sprint winner

00:58:18here

00:58:19Marco Betsegi

00:58:19takes his first

00:58:20sprint podium

00:58:21of 2026

00:58:22still the world

00:58:23champion leader

00:58:24let's get

00:58:24Bez's thoughts

00:58:25for Jack

00:58:26yeah we'll just

00:58:27let Marco

00:58:27put the cap on

00:58:29well you've

00:58:30stood on a

00:58:31podium so far

00:58:32this year

00:58:32on a number

00:58:33of occasions

00:58:33but does this

00:58:34feel like a

00:58:35weight off the

00:58:35shoulders to

00:58:36have a success

00:58:37on Saturday

00:58:39yeah I'm very

00:58:40happy of course

00:58:41it was a tough

00:58:43race I wasn't

00:58:44feeling very good

00:58:45so happy to

00:58:47grab this result

00:58:48and struggling

00:58:49but always

00:58:50fighting so

00:58:51very very happy

00:58:52big thanks to

00:58:53my team

00:58:54to my guys

00:58:55to all the

00:58:56factory

00:58:56to the

00:58:57academy

00:58:57Vale

00:58:58and all the

00:59:00stuff

00:59:00and now we

00:59:01think about

00:59:02tomorrow

00:59:02great job

00:59:03well done

00:59:03thanks to

00:59:03the fans

00:59:04as well

00:59:06yeah thanks to

00:59:07our awesome

00:59:07French fans

00:59:08Marco

00:59:08Betsecki

00:59:09we're looking

00:59:09to strike

00:59:10back tomorrow

00:59:10of course he

00:59:11was the

00:59:11Grand Prix

00:59:12winner here in

00:59:12France

00:59:13on a then

00:59:13Ducati

00:59:14back in 2023

00:59:15a memorable day

00:59:16when he won

00:59:16the 1000th

00:59:17Mona GP race

00:59:18that is sprint

00:59:19podium number

00:59:2012 for the

00:59:2127 year old

00:59:22Italian

00:59:22Pecco

00:59:23had a strong

00:59:24Saturday

00:59:24pole position

00:59:25didn't quite have

00:59:26the pace for the

00:59:26sprint win but it's

00:59:27three successive

00:59:27second places in

00:59:29sprints let's get the

00:59:30thoughts of the

00:59:30Italian with Jack

00:59:32well Pecco it's

00:59:33back-to-back sprint

00:59:34podiums but I

00:59:35imagine this one

00:59:35means a little bit

00:59:37more to have

00:59:37finally showcased the

00:59:39speed and potential

00:59:39we all saw before

00:59:41the season got

00:59:41underway how much

00:59:42does this one

00:59:43mean

00:59:45surely much

00:59:46heavier than

00:59:46the one in

00:59:47Jerez because this

00:59:48one was forwarded

00:59:50and the pace was

00:59:51good so really

00:59:52happy we're still

00:59:53missing something

00:59:54compared to Aprilia

00:59:55but we're improving

00:59:56so let's keep

00:59:58working and

00:59:58hoping that tomorrow

01:00:00will be a good

01:00:02weather we will have

01:00:02a good weather

01:00:03because I think we

01:00:04can have a good

01:00:05good results

01:00:06top job well

01:00:07done

01:00:07thank you so much

01:00:08it was a top job

01:00:10and let's not forget

01:00:11despite what's

01:00:12happened to him over

01:00:12the last 18 months

01:00:13or so you look at

01:00:14a top rider a top

01:00:15Mona GP world

01:00:16champion himself

01:00:17back in the day

01:00:18but I think he's

01:00:20probably walked

01:00:20over to his

01:00:20crew there

01:00:21and just gone

01:00:21we need to find

01:00:22something at the

01:00:22start guys

01:00:23to try and get

01:00:24on par with

01:00:25because Jorge

01:00:26Martin

01:00:26with a sensational

01:00:28start then

01:00:29eventually wins

01:00:29a sensational

01:00:30sprint

01:00:31Jorge Martin

01:00:3218th sprint

01:00:32wins and he's

01:00:33with Jack

01:00:35Jorge Martin

01:00:36what a start

01:00:37that was

01:00:37from 8th

01:00:38on the grid

01:00:39the launch

01:00:39was unbelievable

01:00:40to then roll

01:00:41around the outside

01:00:42of 3 riders

01:00:43into the opening

01:00:44corner

01:00:44how did you

01:00:45pull that off

01:00:45yeah thank you

01:00:47I can say

01:00:48big love

01:00:48fans

01:00:53I love this

01:00:54track

01:00:55today

01:00:55I struggle

01:00:56a bit in

01:00:57qualifying

01:00:57but I knew

01:00:58my potential

01:00:58was much higher

01:01:00I just put

01:01:01all my determination

01:01:02into the start

01:01:03I didn't expect

01:01:03to be first

01:01:04position in the

01:01:05second corner

01:01:05but from that

01:01:06point I just

01:01:07pushed like

01:01:08in the past

01:01:09like what I am

01:01:11used to

01:01:11alone

01:01:12boom boom boom

01:01:12and yeah

01:01:13merci beaucoup

01:01:14I'm really happy

01:01:15let's go for

01:01:15tomorrow

01:01:16great job

01:01:16well done

01:01:19fantastic job

01:01:20no wonder

01:01:20he's enjoying

01:01:21these podium

01:01:22celebrations

01:01:23the last time

01:01:24Jorge Martin

01:01:25competed here

01:01:26in Le Mane

01:01:27he went on

01:01:27to complete

01:01:28the win

01:01:28double

01:01:29in 2024

01:01:30does another

01:01:31double beckon

01:01:32then for

01:01:32Jorge Martin

01:01:33who without

01:01:34any question

01:01:35is a serious

01:01:36genuine

01:01:37bona fide

01:01:38world championship

01:01:39contender

01:01:39in 2026

01:01:41yeah now we

01:01:42already starting

01:01:43to see

01:01:43a championship

01:01:45that will be

01:01:46between the two

01:01:47Jorge Aprilia

01:01:47still very early

01:01:48in the world

01:01:49championship

01:01:49but Fabio Di Gian Antonio

01:01:51who started the day

01:01:52third in the world

01:01:52championship

01:01:53he had an unmitigated

01:01:54disaster

01:01:54which began

01:01:55at the start

01:01:57he later crashed

01:01:58out when running

01:01:58in 14th place

01:01:59and Mark Marquez

01:02:00scoring nothing

01:02:01today too

01:02:01Pedro Acosta

01:02:03takes third place

01:02:04back in the world

01:02:05championship today

01:02:05after he finished

01:02:06in fourth place

01:02:08the first sprint

01:02:10medal then

01:02:10of the season

01:02:11for Marco Betzec

01:02:12he's a 13th

01:02:13in all

01:02:14in his career

01:02:16and he more than

01:02:17doubles his

01:02:18sprint points

01:02:18tally for the season

01:02:19with that

01:02:20it's three silvers

01:02:21on the bounce

01:02:22now for

01:02:22Peko Bagnaya

01:02:23two of them

01:02:25second to

01:02:25Jorge Martin

01:02:26although not quite

01:02:27the heartbreaking

01:02:27fashion of

01:02:28Austin

01:02:30well

01:02:31he deserved

01:02:32a gold medal

01:02:32for the first

01:02:33three corners

01:02:34alone

01:02:34and once he

01:02:36got to the front

01:02:36there was no

01:02:37stopping him

01:02:39three sprints

01:02:40three gold medals

01:02:41on Saturday

01:02:42afternoons

01:02:43at Le Mans

01:02:43for Jorge

01:02:44Martin

01:03:13Tate

01:03:40Well, the start of Jorge Martin's spin here in the Grand Prix of France.

01:03:44France was top draw, the middle part was pretty good as well, and then it finishes with a gold medal,

01:03:50number 18, around the neck of a rider who was announcing himself as a big title contender in 2026.

01:03:59Fabio de Gellantonio and Marc Marquez, two top Ducati stars in that sprint, who had real off days after promising

01:04:07qualifying sessions this morning.

01:04:08Both of those two crashing out of contention after a nightmare start for Fabio de Gellantonio from fourth on the

01:04:14grid.

01:04:15There's no nightmare stars, it's just dream getaways right now, isn't it? If you're on a factory Aprilia.

01:04:22My mind goes back to Jorge Martin's MotoGP debut in Qatar in 2021.

01:04:26I think he was 14th or 15th on the grid and he was almost leading, in fact he might have

01:04:31been leading in the first corner.

01:04:32He has always been a dynamic starter. Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP, whichever class he has been in.

01:04:39But Jorge Martin, well he absolutely nailed the start here today. That was the platform for his record breaking 18th

01:04:47sprint.

01:04:48Game on in the championship, game on for glory as well tomorrow in the French Grand Prix.

01:04:53As Jorge Martin powers the Aprilia out of the final corner. Here he is, steady on Jorge.

01:04:59He's already crashed after a sprint success in Austin this year. He almost went down again there.

01:05:05Absolutely brilliant performance though by the Martinator.

01:05:10After all of his injury woes, all the physical and mental pain that he had to endure throughout 2025.

01:05:18Well, he's back. He is back and some.

01:05:22Massimo Rivola, a pretty racing CEO there on the left-hand side of your picture, congratulates the 28-year-old

01:05:29Spaniard.

01:05:31After an early crash yesterday at turn nine.

01:05:35Has bounced back in superb fashion.

01:05:37Hoy Martin wins sprint number 18.

01:05:40And remains unbeaten in sprints at Le Mans.

01:05:42Martin from Bagnaya and Betsecki.

01:05:45That was your one, two, three, which was set from a pretty early stage.

01:05:48Pedro Acosta coming through to fourth.

01:05:51Fine ride from Fabio Quattararo to hold off Juan Mir for fifth and sixth.

01:05:54Marc Marquez then crashing out of seventh, which promoted Ayagura.

01:05:57Alex Marquez and Diogo Moreira.

01:05:59Of course, Ralph Fernandes also crashing out later on.

01:06:02Diogo Moreira scores his first sprint point.

01:06:06Miserable day for Fabio de Gian Antonio.

01:06:08His problems began as soon as he left the line.

01:06:11And Marc Marquez, who was set to finish seventh, crashing out in dramatic fashion with a couple of laps remaining.

01:06:22Which all means this.

01:06:23Marc Abadzecki's lead is cut from 11 down to six points over Jorge Martin.

01:06:28They are now way clear of the rest.

01:06:30Pedro Acosta takes back third place, but he's 36 points off the world championship lead.

01:06:35One ahead of Fabio de Gian Antonio.

01:06:36Marc Marquez is now 51 points in arrears in fifth place and just two points ahead of his brother.

01:06:52Aprilia, of course, extend their Constructors' Championship advantage with their victory today.

01:06:56They're now 22 clear of Ducati.

01:07:02Aprilia Racing, they have double the points now of their nearest challengers, which are their colleagues at Trackhouse.

01:07:08Rebel KTM and Ducati Lenovo both lead from VR46 today.

01:07:12This is the latest then.

01:07:14Marc Marquez unable to put any pressure at all on his right foot, hopping out of the Ducati truck.

01:07:21Perhaps heading for some medical attention and treatment.

01:07:24Which has to put his participation in tomorrow's French Grand Prix in a little bit of doubt.

01:07:31But we wish the reigning champion all the very best.

01:07:36Well, here are the highlights and the defining moment in the sprint.

01:07:41That all came in the first four corners.

01:07:48Pekka Banyaya from pole position.

01:07:50But the fast starting Aprilias immediately making their presence felt miserable start once again.

01:07:55As Fabio de Gian Antonio continues to have problems getting his Ducati off the line.

01:07:58Marco Bezzecki already in the lead himself by this point.

01:08:01As he then defends from Banyaya and Marc Marquez.

01:08:04Jorge Martin makes a mockery of them.

01:08:07Ran the outside fourth to first on the brakes and around turn three.

01:08:13Was eight off the grid.

01:08:15Extraordinary start from the 89.

01:08:18Marc Marquez was having all sorts of problems.

01:08:19Also passed by Pedro Acosta before Joan Mir piled on the agony.

01:08:24Taking away sixth place.

01:08:30Into the museum corner.

01:08:33Marco Bezzecki skated wide.

01:08:35That released Banyaya up into P2.

01:08:40Fabio de Gian Antonio's misery was compounded by a crash out of 14th at Dunlop.

01:08:48Pedro Acosta looked like he had the pace to get clear of Fabio Quattarao's Yamaha

01:08:52and he made the move into Recordemore and that was a few of him fourth.

01:08:59A few riders ultimately would come unstuck at the double right-hander to close the lap.

01:09:03And Aya Bastini was one of them.

01:09:05Frankie Morvedelli was the next.

01:09:07But in hugely dramatic fashion.

01:09:09Marc Marquez would be the last.

01:09:11Initially the front went.

01:09:12Then the rear spat him over the top.

01:09:14And it's his right foot that Marc Marquez would appear to have injured.

01:09:16You can see it there.

01:09:17Slapping down on the tarmac.

01:09:19We hope that Marc Marquez hasn't done any significant damage to his right foot.

01:09:25But doing the damage today in a championship point of view was Jorge Martin.

01:09:32Supplemente is the message from Aprilia.

01:09:34The message from Jorge Martin is clear.

01:09:36He is a big world championship contender this season.

01:09:40As he cuts Marco Betsecki's lead down to just six points.

01:09:44Join us tomorrow.

01:09:45Rain or shine?

01:09:46Well, you'll have to find out.

01:09:48Don't miss the French Grand Prix tomorrow.

01:09:50We will see you then.

01:09:51I love you.

01:09:52I love you!That

01:09:58was a great show. I

01:09:59love you! Then

01:09:59love you! You'll

01:10:01be positive too! I love

01:10:09you!

S

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