MotoGP-Paddock Inside: Honda surprisingly strong in Le Mans

Dear MotoGP fans,

For the French fans, the big party in Le Mans couldn’t have started any better. Johann Zarco set the fastest time in Friday’s practice! In the rain or in changing conditions, you always have to count on him – just like last year in Le Mans or two weeks ago on the changeable Saturday in Jerez.

But that Zarco sets the fastest time in dry conditions is quite a surprise. Of course, in front of the home crowd, the veteran is especially motivated and he certainly made that minimal riding difference because of it.

Nevertheless, Honda presented itself very well on training Friday. Luca Marini was already fastest in the morning. And Joan Mir was less than two tenths of a second slower than Zarco in the afternoon as fifth.

Why is the RC213V suddenly mixing it up at the front on the Bugatti Circuit? Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected that two weeks ago. Honda did not bring any developments to the Monday test in Jerez.

But that seems to have been exactly the right recipe! “We didn’t try anything new in Jerez. But we understood a bit the direction we need to take,” says Mir. “And that’s exactly what we’re implementing here.”

Two things come together for Honda: First, the Jerez test was important to understand and optimize the current package, and second, the layout of the Bugatti Circuit suits the RC213V. (Thirdly, of course, the Zarco factor.)

The Frenchman especially raves about the feeling in the right-hand bend leading to the first chicane: “There I feel very safe. It’s great to have this feeling. In general, we have improved in braking and acceleration.”

Mir confirms this as well: “Here in Le Mans, the feeling for the front tire is very important. We have a good feeling for that. That’s the reason why we are fast.” Since the test, Honda also understands the cornering behavior better.

This understanding is confirmed by Zarco: “Now, with more and more laps and the test where we tried different set-ups, we are starting to understand how we have to get this bike into the corner to use the potential.”

Marini could not use this potential in the crucial phase of the afternoon. In the first qualifying attempt, the Italian made a mistake, in the second he was unlucky with yellow flags. Marini, like rookie Diogo Moreira, has to go through Q1.

Alex Rins the next big surprise

Alex Rins is not in Q1 on Saturday. The Yamaha rider was also a big surprise of the day as eighth. Only 0.288 seconds behind is very remarkable on this track with the new V4 project.

The joy about the first direct Q2 entry since Sepang 2025 was of course huge for Rins, as it increasingly suggests that he will no longer race in MotoGP next year.

“Yes, I am so proud of what I have achieved. It is the result of hard work on myself,” says Rins about his great lap. “When I feel good with the bike, the tires, and the track, I am able to be fast.”

“I haven’t forgotten how to win races. It’s true, since 2023 I haven’t won a race, not even got a podium, but I am the same Alex. I am fully recovered, fully motivated.”

“We know the problem, right?”, he addresses Yamaha’s technical deficit. “So yes, as soon as I feel good, I can give my best.” Rins’ lap was strong in that the second-best Yamaha rider was only 15th.

Quartararo sticks with old front wing

That was Jack Miller. Fabio Quartararo, unlike his compatriot Zarco, could not perform a miracle on home soil – at least not on training Friday – and ended up in 17th place.

At this point, however, the close times must also be noted, as Quartararo’s deficit was only 0.562 seconds. The close times also illustrate the special track characteristics.

Why couldn’t Quartararo show any of his famous magic laps? “We have problems that are usually not so severe, but we have a floating feeling, especially when entering fast corners.”

And exactly in these corners, especially in corner 1, Zarco has a very good feeling with the Honda and was able to make the decisive difference with this confidence, while Quartararo was not able to do so.

Quartararo and Toprak Razgatlioglu switched back to the front wing of the old inline four-cylinder for Le Mans, while Rins and Miller stayed with the winglets developed for the V4 Yamaha.

Will Quartararo switch back given Rins’ performance? “No, I want to keep this fairing now. For me, it was better in Jerez. It doesn’t make sense for me to switch back.”

“Just because Alex was faster today, I don’t suddenly have to switch back to the other aero.” After we have focused so extensively on the Japanese brands today, let’s take a look at Aprilia and KTM.

Aprilia solid in the top 10

In the final phase, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi improved into the top 10 and mastered the routine task. Martin had trouble getting the soft front tire up to temperature. He needed several laps for that.

Bezzecchi had minor problems in the morning, but in the afternoon it went better for the championship leader. As always, he wants to work on his riding style and details. Apart from the fire at Raul Fernandez, Aprilia was rather inconspicuous.

From the first races, we have learned that you always have to count on Aprilia, at the latest on Sunday. I also assume that in Le Mans, although rainy weather could of course change everything.

KTM: Remarkable return of Folger

KTM took places ten (Pedro Acosta), eleven (Enea Bastianini), and twelve (Brad Binder). That’s bitter when you have three riders at the same level and only one makes it into Q2, while the other two have to try their luck in Q1.

Acosta noted that he had no good feeling and confidence with the soft front tire. Compared to the Jerez test, he says: “Maybe a bit worse because we don’t have so many fast corners here.”

“But anyway, I think we have to be satisfied because the feelings feel the same. I think that will help us a lot on tracks where we – or I – usually suffer, like in Barcelona and also in Mugello.”

Finally, I want to praise Jonas Folger. Since he practically no longer conducts performance tests for KTM’s MotoGP project, a deficit of two and a half seconds is more than remarkable.

I haven’t written anything about Ducati here today. Those who want to read what Marc Marquez says about 13th place and why only he doesn’t ride with the new side fairing can find this article here.

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