The Le Mans circuit in France hosted another electric weekend for motorcycle racing, as the French Grand Prix drew a record crowd and a global audience gathered to watch the action. A new attendance high of 278,805 fans set a fresh benchmark, surpassing last year’s figure of 225,000 and marking eight years since the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic created the World Cup calendar move forward before it left the series.
The event united motards and enthusiasts from across Central Europe, reinforcing the World Motorcycle Championship’s growing vitality. French spectators began arriving days in advance, as the race week kicked off at a track that has become a rite of passage for riders and fans alike. Notable visitors included Fabio Quartararo on a Yamaha and Johann Zarco on a Ducati, who turned up to show support for the thousands of riders tackling the 24-hour track over the weekend.
[Consulta la clasificación del Mundial de MotoGP]
Bezzecchi won
Bezzecchi seized Le Mans with decisive pace, while Zarco completed the podium. The moment was captured and shared widely, captioned with the event tags and a nod to the crowd.
— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) 14 May 2023
The race weekend offered multiple clashes among top contenders. Pecco Bagnaia on Ducati chased a second title in a season already packed with drama, with Maverick Viñales on Aprilia also in the mix. Luca Marini and Àlex Márquez, both on Ducati, pushed hard, while Joan Mir on Honda, Àlex Rins on Honda, and Jack Miller on KTM faced their own battles. Yet in the end it was Marco Bezzecchi, an Italian rider with a fast start and relentless focus, who emerged as the standout, narrowing the title gap and posing as a genuine championship candidate this year. The young Ducati rider, stepping into a leading role previously held by Enea Bastianini last season, dominated from the opening laps and kept himself within striking distance of the leaders despite early injuries earlier in the year.
The front of the field featured Marc Márquez from Honda blazing from the start and staying in podium contention through most of the race. He faced pressure from Ducati’s Jorge Martín and Johann Zarco, and took advantage of Márquez’s two-lap setback to stay competitive and contribute to a tight, dynamic podium battle. In the end, Márquez’s late misfortune — losing grip and tire life on the rear — helped Bezzecchi secure the victory as Márquez could not finish on the podium.
[Calendario de la temporada de MotoGP]
On the podium chase and the fight for second, Márquez pushed hard. A fall near the end not only prevented a higher finish but also underscored the unpredictable nature of racing at Le Mans, where every lap tests a rider’s balance between speed and control.
— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) 14 May 2023
Season standings at the time showed a tight battle for the championship. Pecco Bagnaia led with 94 points, followed by Marco Bezzecchi at 93. Brad Binder, Jorge Martín, and Johann Zarco filled out the top five, reflecting a season with depth and constant shifts in momentum. The points table highlighted how a single race could rearrange the order and keep the season wide open for the remainder of the campaign.
Drivers World Cup: 1. Pecco Bagnaia (Italy, Ducati), 94 points; 2. Marco Bezzecchi (Italy, Ducati), 93; 3. Brad Binder (South Africa, KTM), 81; 4. Jorge Martín (Spain, Ducati), 80; 5. Johann Zarco (France, Ducati), 66.