Chaos before the start: weather changes and rule triggers
Even before the actual start of the race, it was clear that this would be no ordinary race. Light rain made for difficult conditions in the hour before the start. All the drivers started the warm-up lap on slicks, but found that the asphalt was too slippery. When more than ten drivers returned to the pit lane to change tires, the start was aborted in accordance with the regulations and the so-called “quick restart” was carried out. The race was shortened by one lap to 26 laps.
While some riders such as Marc and Alex Marquez, Pedro Acosta, Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo switched to slicks and risked a double longlap penalty, Zarco stuck with the rain tires – a move that proved to be spot on.
Shock moment after the start: Zarco almost out
The start of the race was initially disastrous for Zarco. Without a holeshot device, he lost ground and dropped back to 17th place after an evasive maneuver in turn three – triggered by a collision between Bastianini and Bagnaia. He also damaged control elements on the handlebars in the process. But the Frenchman fought his way back tirelessly.
While numerous riders changed tires again or crashed – including Fabio Quartararo, Brad Binder and later Miguel Oliveira – Zarco stayed on the rain tires and began to work his way forward. His patience and trust in his team’s weather forecast paid off.
Taking the lead and a show of strength
As the rain became heavier again, the slick riders lost grip. Zarco took the lead from lap eight – and never relinquished it until the finish. Within just a few laps, he extended his lead to almost 20 seconds and controlled the race at will. Even Marc Marquez, who had fought his way up to second place in the meantime, was unable to follow the Frenchman.
In the final phase, Zarco was warned to be careful by his team boss Lucio Cecchinello, but the experienced rider from Cannes remained calm. He only slowed down slightly on the last lap and celebrated his triumph with gestures towards the fans.
Historic success: France and Honda rejoice
With his second MotoGP victory – the first since the 2023 American GP – Zarco not only caused a national sensation, but also brought Honda a long-lost success. The last victory for a Honda rider was over two years ago. Ducati thus misses the opportunity to set a new record with 23 consecutive victories.
“I love the history of this sport. I know all the big names. To now be part of this history myself is simply magical,” said a visibly moved Zarco after the race. 120,403 spectators celebrated him frenetically – an emotional climax to a crazy Grand Prix.
The losers of the day: Quartararo, Bagnaia, Mir
While Zarco celebrated, the race was disappointing for other French riders. Fabio Quartararo crashed early on and then disregarded the instructions of the marshals. As a result, he will have to sit out ten minutes of the first free practice session at the upcoming Grand Prix in Silverstone and pay a fine of 2000 euros (approx. 2,160 USD).
Francesco Bagnaia also experienced another disaster. Although he was able to continue after the collision at the start, he finished in 16th place – with no points. As a result, he is already 51 points behind Marc Marquez in the championship standings, who extended his lead over brother Alex to 22 points with second place.
Joan Mir was worse off: The Honda rider was involved in the starting collision through no fault of his own and broke his right hand. He also complained of neck pain. It is currently unclear whether he will be able to start at Silverstone. Enea Bastianini, who caused the crash, was given a long lap penalty for the next race.
The podium and other placings
Marc Marquez (Ducati) finished second behind winner Zarco (Honda). Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini) celebrated his first MotoGP Sunday podium with third place, a position he also achieved in the sprint race on Saturday. Behind them, Pedro Acosta, Maverick Vinales, Takaaki Nakagami, Raul Fernandez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Lorenzo Savadori and Ai Ogura completed the top 10, while Pecco Bagnaia finished 16th with no points.
Conclusion: A race for the history books
The 2025 French GP will go down as one of the craziest races in MotoGP history. For Johann Zarco, Honda and the French fans, it was a day of redemption – and a rare example of how risk-taking, racing intelligence and the courage to make unusual decisions can be rewarded with the greatest possible reward.
