Different challenges for Marquez and Pedrosa for French GP
The new rider for the Repsol Honda Team holds the MotoGP points lead but will now have the task of learning a new circuit while his teammate aims to break his bad luck on the Le Mans Circuit Bugatti.
Photo by: Repsol Media
World Championship leader Marc Marquez heads to Le Mans with the added task of needing to learn a new circuit on MotoGP™ machinery. As for Repsol Honda Team partner Dani Pedrosa, he is striving to end a winless French run in the top class.
"We go to Le Mans and again we arrive there starting from zero, as I haven't done any tests there," he explains. "I'll do my best and I'll try to make the most of the situation. I hope it doesn't rain so we can prepare the bike on a dry track; this is very important in order to find the right setup.
"I'm very happy at the moment but we have to keep our feet on the ground, as the coming circuits are new for me in MotoGP. A huge part of our success in this first part of the season is down to the help that Honda and the team have given me and it had helped my riding a lot."
Pedrosa has reason to be confident ahead of the weekend, having won the last Grand Prix at Jerez. In terms of victories at Le Mans, the elder of the two Spaniards has celebrated success on three occasions in either the 125 or 250 classes.
"After a fantastic weekend in Jerez and a productive test on the Monday, I'm looking forward to going to Le Mans," Pedrosa comments. "I have had good results in the past and I enjoy the circuit, so I'm hoping that the bike works well there.
"Practice management in Le Mans can sometimes be difficult and complicated due to the weather, but I'm finding my comfort again on the bike and I'm working well with the team. I will go to France and aim to use all of my experience and remain focused for the whole weekend."
Marquez, who won in Moto2™ for the first time at Le Mans in 2011 but crashed out last year, currently leads MotoGP™ by three points from Pedrosa. Reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) is four points in arrears of the leader following their high profile collision at the end of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Repsol Honda Team
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Jorge Lorenzo joins Porsche Supercup grid for 2023
MotoGP star Lorenzo interested in DTM outing after car racing switch
Why Lorenzo needs to ditch social media and enjoy retirement
Crutchlow to get three MotoGP wildcards in 2024 with Yamaha
Quartararo stresses ‘quality over quantity’ with upcoming Yamaha MotoGP update
Why Yamaha has just six months to safeguard Quartararo's future
Why do so many F1 stars live in Monaco?
Bagnaia used Jerez MotoGP practice as a test for "big" change
Verstappen on DTM protege Vermeulen: He is always within two tenths of me
Binder “had my bike back” in Jerez MotoGP practice breakthrough
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments