PETRUCCI’S MOTOGP MASTERCLASS IN THE RAIN

Danilo Petrucci’s MotoGP Masterclass in the rain – Photo: LAT

Danilo Petrucci has ended his long drought by taking his second MotoGP victory in a wet and wild French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

By DAN McCARTHY

The wet weather specialist riding for the factory Ducati team controlled the race after taking the lead from Australian Jack Miller on the opening lap.

Charging through from 18th on the grid Repsol Honda’s Alex Marquez earnt a hard-fought first premier class podium since making his MotoGP debut this season.

Pol Espargaro, on the factory KTM also worked his way forwards to end the race in the final podium position, his third of the season.

The race-winning Italian, Petrucci, briefly lost the lead to his more experienced teammate Andrea Dovizioso on a couple of occasions, but kept his head to retake the lead while many of his rivals faltered.

It was the first top five race finish for Petrucci since the German Grand Prix in July last year, bringing to an end a barren run of results. Petrucci took the race win by 1.2s from Marquez and 1.7s ahead of Espargaro.

Miller was sitting comfortably in second position when a mechanical failure forced him into retirement. The furious Aussie showed his frustration when returning to the Pramac Racing garage throwing his gloves at a wall.

Despite looking the stronger of the factory Ducati bikes for much of the race Dovizioso struggled for tyre life late on but rode maturely to consolidate a fourth-place finish.

Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Ducati) pinched fifth place from Miguel Olivera (Tech3 KTM) at the final turn with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) and experienced Honda test rider Stefan Bradl rounding out the top eight.

Three of the title contenders had races to forget, pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha) struggled for pace in his first wet race in the premier class.

While Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) and factory Suzuki rider Joan Mir lost multiple spots on the opening lap when they were forced to avoid the crashing Valentino Rossi at Turn 3 when the veteran lost the rear of his Yamaha.

Quartararo, Vinales and Mir were all locked in the fierce battle for ninth, separated by just 0.3s at the line.

Importantly Quartararo took ninth to extend his championship lead, Vinales rounded out the top 10 with Mir who briefly sat at the head of the pack on the final lap in 11th.

A disastrous day for the factory Suzuki team was made worse when Rins crashed out of second at Turn 3 after inheriting the place from the retired Miller.

Brad Binder, Francesco Bagnaia, Aleix Espargaro and Iker Lecuona rounded out the 15 finishers in an attritional French Grand Prix.

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