05-18 – French GP – Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix! –

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Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix !

05-18 - French GP - Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix! -

The 2017 French Motorcycle Grand Prix will be an exceptional vintage since no less than three French riders will be at the start in the premier class: Johann Zarco on his Yamaha Tech3, Loris Baz on his Ducati Avintia and Sylvain Guintoli on Alex Rins’ Suzuki. However, MNC scrupulously examined its archives: such a hat-trick had not occurred since the introduction of MotoGP 4-stroke in 2002 !

In May 2002, the year of transition between the 500 cc 2-stroke and the MotoGP 4-stroke, three French riders qualified for the French GP on the Bugati-Le Mans circuit: Olivier Jacque (13th on the Yamaha Tech3), Regis Laconi (14th on the Aprilia RS Cube) and Jean-Michel Bayle, 18th on Gary McCoy’s Yamaha he replaced. Following the fall of "OJ", only Laconi and Bayle crossed the finish line, respectively in 9th and 14th positions. Never has the French event then aligned three French representatives in the premier category! Till today…

Because fifteen years later, the Le Mans track is about to once again receive a "French treble": Johann Zarco, Loris Baz and Sylvain Guintoli are entered for the 2017 edition of the French Grand Prix this weekend at Le Mans (72 ), riding the Yamaha Tech3, the Ducati Avintia and the official Suzuki of Alex Rins respectively ("Guinto" replaces the young injured Spanish rider). Exceptional circumstances to be savored without moderation, in case they do not reappear in 15 years !

  • MNC Live :

Especially since the feat is within glove reach for at least one of them: the reigning double Moto2 world champion, Johann Zarco, author of a meteoric first MotoGP season! After his incredible demonstration in, when he took the lead in his first race before crashing, the Tech3 rider finished 5th in and then 4th in. Marc Marquez himself sees the mark of a promising pilot and says he recognizes himself in the daring beginnings of his rival: kind of compliment !

05-18 - French GP - Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix! -

Zarco‘s continued progress could materialize with a first podium at Le Mans, starting in his premier class: Johann would then sign the first French podium in MotoGP since Randy de Puniet in! The protege of Alain Felon would have nothing against, obviously, and thinks that the configuration of the Sarthois route can smile on him…

Zarco to the first French podium since 2009 ?

"The first three tracks on which we went are much bigger than that of Le Mans: the Bugatti circuit is small, like that of Jerez (where he finished 4th, first Yamaha rider, Editor’s note). In addition, knowing that I ‘had a good feeling in Spain, I can have an excellent one in France, "projects Johann Zarco. "I will fight for the best places and, if possible, the Top 3, because I keep getting closer to the podium which is our main goal. I aspire to have a solid race and fight for the podium in order to make the Tech3 team, all the French and me happy ". Well said !

05-18 - French GP - Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix! -

The odds and the pressure are clearly high for the Cannes driver, currently sixth in the provisional standings with 35 points. Only 27 units behind the leader, Valentino Rossi, despite his fall in Qatar: words fail to describe the fabulous start of the French champion, congratulated by his peers … with the exception of the same Rossi, precisely, who Judges him a bit aggressive following the episode of Austin, when Johann had not hesitated to pack the Doctor down to pass him in a row !

“I’m excited to be racing at home as it’s been a great start to the season so far with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team,” continued the No.5. "So I think the French fans expect a lot from me and from this meeting. There is pressure, but I tried to manage it at home the week before the Grand Prix during which I rested . "

Guintoli back at Le Mans

Zarco’s compatriots, like Sylvain Guintoli, admire his speed of adaptation and his lack of complex: "Johann has indeed shown that he is able to adapt very quickly, such performances are even surprising", rejoices the former who rode in the same team during his first complete season in MotoGP in 2007. "I am happy for Herve and for the Tech3 team that I know well", explains Guintoli who will start his third Grand Prix next Sunday in France MotoGP to replace Alex Rins.

05-18 - French GP - Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix! -

At 34, "Guinto" measures his chance to be able to ride a MotoGP again, he who is competing this season in British Superbike on a Suzuki GSX-R1000: "for a motorcycle rider, to be on the starting grid of his Grand National prize, which is moreover riding an official machine, is inevitably an immense pleasure ", he enthuses..

  • Interview MNC Sylvain Guintoli :

The Frenchman will also rediscover at Le Mans the grounds of some of his past exploits, such as this memorable 2007 edition when he and Randy de Puniet had pulled the plug in the lead for a few laps… before crashing. Sylvain Guintoli had however managed to get back on his M1 to take him to 10th position, his best home result in the premier class. The following year, in 2008, n ° 50 finished in 13th place on Ducati: it was – so far – the last appearance of Sylvain Guintoli at the GP of France.

  • MNC of May 21, 2007 :
  • MNC of May 19, 2008 :

05-18 - French GP - Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix! -

The French, installed in Great Britain with his companion Caroline and their children, hopes to honor this wild card with the Suzuki, on which he was comfortable during his first laps of the wheel made in the wake of the GP d ‘Spain. Sylvain said he appreciated the – relative – ease of operation of the GSX-RR 4-cylinder, as well as the precision of its cycle part and its electronics: "it is clearly one of the best current motorcycles, but it is still better than I expected ", he says.

"Overall it went well, so I’m pretty happy with these tests," said Sylvain Guintoli, who does not set specific goals for his national race: "I want to do well, it is obvious. But I am also aware of the difficulty of this challenge, "he admits. “More than just aiming for a place, I’ll be happy if I can adapt to the tires as well as to the bike, to extract everything I can in a limited period of time. After if all goes well, the result will follow ". 

Will "Baz-ooka" explode the Top 10 at home ?

The French driver will find a third Frenchman on his way: Loris Baz on his Ducati Avintia! The Haut-Savoyard, which will be the third Grand Prix de France in MotoGP, hopes to bounce back at home after a difficult start to the season on his new Ducati (12th in Qatar, 11th in Argentina, breakdown then crash in Austin and 13th in Jerez). With a good result in front of his fans, "Baz-ooka" could move up to the provisional standings where he is currently in 15th place, tied on points with his teammate Hector Barbera (12 points).

05-18 - French GP - Three French riders at the start of the 2017 MotoGP French Grand Prix! -

A Top 10 for Loris, the point of 15th place for Sylvain and third place – or even better ?! – for Johann: this would certainly be a sacred outcome for the French treble of this 2017 French GP !

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