PARIS: Jorge Martín produced a sensational opening lap to win the French Grand Prix Sprint race at Le Mans on Saturday, while reigning world champion Marc Márquez suffered a late crash in a dramatic twist to the weekend.
Starting from eighth on the grid, Martin made an explosive launch and surged from P8 to the race lead within the opening four corners. The French Grand Prix crowd watched in disbelief as the Aprilia rider carved through the field with breathtaking aggression before quickly establishing control at the front.
Once in clean air, Martin never looked troubled and comfortably secured maximum Sprint points for Aprilia Racing in front of a packed Le Mans circuit.
Francesco Bagnaia continued his strong recent Sprint form by finishing second for Ducati Lenovo Team, marking his third consecutive Saturday podium. The Italian kept Martin honest throughout the race but was ultimately unable to close the gap, finishing just over a second behind the winner.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium in third place, adding valuable points to his 2026 title campaign and strengthening Aprilia’s impressive day at Le Mans.
The biggest talking point, however, came in the closing stages when Márquez crashed heavily while battling near the front. The incident ended a difficult Saturday for the reigning champion and raised immediate concerns ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Early reports indicate the Spaniard will miss Sunday’s race, dealing a significant blow to both his championship hopes and Ducati’s plans for the remainder of the weekend.
With Martin carrying strong momentum, Bagnaia rediscovering consistency, and Bezzecchi extending his title lead, the French Grand Prix weekend has already delivered high drama before Sunday’s main event even begins.
