MotoGP Round 6 French GP: Honda’s Zarco takes dramatic victory. Prediction that it will rain and rain tires secure victory

A calm decision made during a rough race

In 2025, the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit, home of the French Grand Prix, attracted a record crowd of 310,000 spectators over the course of a weekend, with 120,000 turning out on Sunday alone. The man who really thrilled those 120,000 was French rider Johann Zarco (Honda), who won the final race.

It was hard to say that Honda was in good form over the weekend of the French Grand Prix. In fact, it would be fair to say they were struggling. So what was the reason behind Zarco’s victory?

The difference between success and failure was the tire choice for the final race.

Rain began to fall about 20 minutes before the start of the final race at 2 p.m., and the conditions changed rapidly due to the rain.

Before the start, all riders were on the grid with slick tires for dry conditions, but after a warm-up lap around the track just before the start, most riders (probably all of them) pitted to switch to machines with rain tires.

However, with so many riders lining up at the pit lane exit, race direction brought out the red flag and all the riders then exited the pits to rejoin the grid, but by this time they were wearing “rain tires.”

This is where the difference between victory and defeat lies.

During this sighting lap, 13 riders, including Marc Marquez (Ducati) and Ai Ogura (Aprilia), pitted and switched to machines equipped with slick tires.

Furthermore, under the regulations announced and implemented on May 6th, these 13 riders have been given a double long lap penalty (a penalty that requires riders to drive through a route set up in the run-off area during the race, which costs them several seconds. At Le Mans, this is set up on the outside of Turn 8. In the case of a double long lap penalty, riders must pass through this area twice during the race).

As a result, all 13 riders had to pit again early in the race and switch to machines equipped with rain tires. This meant that M. Marquez and all 13 other riders had to pit and change machines during the race, and suffered a huge loss of time as a result of the double long lap penalty.

As mentioned above, Zarco was on rain tires when he took to the grid for the second time.

Of course, there were seven riders who followed the same strategy as Zarco, including wildcard rider Takaaki Nakagami (Honda) and Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati factory team, who started the race on rain tires.

However, most of them crashed, and although they started on rain tires, they pitted early in the race to switch to slick tires, then pitted again to switch to rain tires.

In the end, Zarco and Nakagami were the only riders who managed to ride on rain tires from start to finish, which was the reason for Zarco’s victory.

Honda has been struggling for a long time in recent years. Zarco’s victory was Honda’s first since the 2023 Americas Grand Prix (Alex Rins). Not only that, but it also ended Ducati’s winning streak.

Ducati had won 22 consecutive races from the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix to the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, and this race was their chance to make it 23 consecutive victories (note that sprint race wins are not included in the official record).

At present, the longest winning streak by a manufacturer in the premier class is held by Honda, with 22 consecutive wins (1997-1998). Honda was the one to stop Ducati from breaking this record.

It was also the first time in 71 years, since 1954, that a French rider had won the French Grand Prix.

Speaking to MotoGP.com after the race, Castrol Honda LCR team manager Lucio Cecchinello said:

“I told the team that my weather app predicted more rain within the next 20 minutes. I showed this data to Johann, so I think that convinced him to stay on the grid on rain tyres. But after a few minutes I was praying, ‘Please, please, rain!’ In the end I think we made the right decision.”

Zarco also said in the press conference that tire choice was crucial.

“Making the right choice by using rain tires was a big factor today. I knew the other riders had chosen slick tires, but I was convinced that it was going to rain. At first, the track was a little dry, but I kept riding while wearing my rain tires. When I saw the other riders on slick tires, I thought, ‘Maybe I can do this.'”

The biggest threat to Zarco was Jack Miller (Yamaha), who excelled in rainy conditions, but Miller crashed on the sixth lap and retired.

“When Jack crashed, I started to believe I could win. When Marc switched to rain tyres I was a bit scared because he was faster at first, but he quickly reached his limit and couldn’t push any further. I had a good lead so I was able to keep it under control.”

“It’s an amazing feeling. In some races you just go for the win, but today it was just a matter of waiting for the race to progress and the win came to me, which was really special.”

Incidentally, Zarco’s parents also rushed to the circuit that day. Zarco’s mother, in particular, had never been to the circuit in 17 years. She prefers to stay at home. However, this time Zarco asked her, “Why don’t you come and watch the French Grand Prix?” From the end of his winning streak to his victory in his home country, it was a victory worthy of being described as dramatic.

“When I was taking my victory lap, I saw the huge crowd… Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, they were calling my name. They sang the French national anthem over and over again – a little too much (laughs).”

“But when I was able to sing the national anthem at the top of the podium, I truly felt that this weekend had been perfect. And what makes me happiest is that we were able to write a historic page in motorcycling history by having a French rider win the French GP. I’m really proud.”

Zarco has maintained a positive attitude since his first season with Honda in 2024. At least, he has tried to maintain one. Honda was in rock bottom in 2024, but Zarco was still able to rank highly among Honda riders in his first season, and this attitude was one of the reasons, although it was probably due in part to his riding style.

It was certainly a complicated race given the weather and conditions, but there’s no doubt this was a well-deserved victory for Zarco.