Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Motorbikes MotoGP

Smith leads sodden Le Mans MotoGP FP1 for Aprilia ahead of Zarco

by Kyle Francis
5 years ago
A A
0
Smith leads sodden Le Mans MotoGP FP1 for Aprilia ahead of Zarco

Bradley Smith of the United Kingdom is seen during the MotoGP World Championship in Spielberg, Austria on August 22, 2020. // Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202008220151 // Usage for editorial use only //

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Bradley Smith was a shock fastest in opening practice for the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, the Brit mastering the slippy conditions to head Avintia’s Johann Zarco.  

FP1 saw the times reduce almost every lap due to a cocktail of improving conditions and ever accelerating rider confidence, though it looked like Ducati would have a stranglehold as its riders over the factory and Pramac satellite outfits consistently appeared to fire to the head of the timesheets.

A rough seven second improvement was seen from the start of the session until Smith’s ultimate benchmark of 1:43.804, the Aprilia man giving the Italian manufacturer something to smile about following a tough debut season for its new RS-GP machine with a lap posted in the dying seconds.

Behind the impressive Smith it was indeed Ducati that looked the real deal, although it was the year-old GP19 of Zarco that grabbed the second quickest effort-0.154 down on the Aprilia- ahead of the factory Desmosedici of Danilo Petrucci in third.

RelatedPosts

Maverick Vinales: ‘It was a big mistake’ to reject Ducati MotoGP deal

Maverick Vinales: ‘It was a big mistake’ to reject Ducati MotoGP deal

19 hours ago
Liberty Media set for EU backing over MotoGP purchase

Liberty Media completes €4.3 billion takeover of MotoGP and WorldSBK

6 days ago

Jack Miller bagged the fourth best time on the Pramac example, while Andrea Dovizioso completed the top five.

Fastest of the Yamaha’s was Maverick Vinales, the Emilia Romagna victor heading his M1 stable-mates Franco Morbidelli and Valentino Rossi in sixth position.

Cal Crutchlow was an encouraging ninth for LCR Honda as he continues to recover from his injured arm, while KTM’s Pol Espargaro rounded out the top ten after threatening the leading positions earlier in the test.

Suzuki had a low-key start to the French GP weekend with the 12th and 13th quickest times, Alex Rins leading title-challenging team-mate Joan Mir.

Points leader Fabio Quartararo elected to take it easy in the potentially dangerous conditions, the Petronas SRT man posting the 18th fastest time-2.6 seconds slower than Smith’s leading benchmark.

Elsewhere Alex Marquez led the factory Honda organisations charge in 14th overall ahead of the second Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro, while Takaaki Nakagami was another to work his way in gently as he slotted in just ahead of Quartararo in 17th.   

Tags: ApriliaFrenchGPLeMansMotoGPSmith
Share199Tweet124Share

Related Posts

Maverick Vinales: ‘It was a big mistake’ to reject Ducati MotoGP deal
MotoGP

Maverick Vinales: ‘It was a big mistake’ to reject Ducati MotoGP deal

19 hours ago
Yari Montella renews with Barni Spark Racing for 2026 WorldSBK season
Motorbikes

Yari Montella renews with Barni Spark Racing for 2026 WorldSBK season

3 days ago
Sam Lowes extends deal with Marc VDS in WorldSBK through 2027 season
Motorbikes

Sam Lowes extends deal with Marc VDS in WorldSBK through 2027 season

5 days ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maverick Vinales: ‘It was a big mistake’ to reject Ducati MotoGP deal
MotoGP

Maverick Vinales: ‘It was a big mistake’ to reject Ducati MotoGP deal

July 9, 2025
Liberty Media set for EU backing over MotoGP purchase
MotoGP

Liberty Media completes €4.3 billion takeover of MotoGP and WorldSBK

July 4, 2025

Riders’ Standings

#RiderPoints
1Alex Marquez140
2Marc Marquez139
3Francesco Bagnaia120
4Franco Morbidelli84
5Fabio Di Giannantonio63
6Fabio Quartararo50
7Johann Zarco43
8Ai Ogura37
9Marco Bezzecchi36
10Pedro Acosta33

Click here for full Riders’ Standings

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd