MotoGP™: Miller conquers delicate French GP conditions

Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) collected his second win in a row as the 2021 MotoGPTM World Championship moved on to Le Mans-Bugatti for round five, the SHARK Grand Prix de France. The Australian was chased over the line by local heroes Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The weekend was marked by changeable weather but the MICHELIN Power Slick and Rain stepped up to deliver outstanding grip despite the tricky, chilly conditions.

Sunday’s race started on a dry track but rain swept over Le Mans only a few laps in, forcing the riders to pit to switch to their MICHELIN Power Rain-equipped bikes which were ready and waiting in front of their respective garages.

Miller, who is reputed for his skills in the wet, rejoined in fourth spot and soon began a sequence of quick laps, aided by the grip provided by his wet-weather Michelins. He even overcame a ‘double long lap’ penalty for speeding in the pit-lane to appear at the top of the order on the 12th of the afternoon’s 27 laps, before carefully managing his lead to take the checkered flag almost four seconds clear of Zarco.

He is the first Australian to have won two premier class races on the trot since Casey Stoner in 2012.

Zarco, too, was clearly unfazed by the mixed conditions as he fought back from 10th overall after the early bike-swaps to undercut the fastest race lap several times and eventually catch and pass pole-winner Quartararo to go second. The Yamaha star spent a good part of the afternoon in the lead but third was sufficient to promote him to the top of the provisional championship standings. 

The top five was rounded out by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Danilo Petrucci (Tech 3 KTM FACTORY TEAM).

The weekend’s fickle weather saw practically all the tires made available by Michelin for its home grand prix take to the track at one moment or another, with the exception of its hard options. The entire field started out on soft MICHELIN Power Slicks front and rear, but both the soft and medium versions of the MICHELIN Power Rain appeared for the wet part of the race.

Quartararo’s points tally after Le Mans stands at 80 points and his closest rivals in this year’s title battle are currently Bagnaia (79) and Zarco (68).

The SHARK Grand Prix de France bill also included the second round of the FIM Enel MotoETM World Cup which was won by Eric Granado who clinched the victory through the final turn. The One Energy Racing rider was joined on the podium by Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) and Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE). The wet qualifying session for the all-electric clash provided the championship’s contenders with a chance to try the latest version of the MICHELIN Power Rain.

Next round: Gran Premio d'Italia Oakley, Mugello, Italy (May 28-30).