Martin wins to close gap on MotoGP leader Bezzecchi

Jorge Martin's previous MotoGP race win was in Indonesia in September 2024 [Getty Images] Jorge Martin overtook championship leader Marco Bezzecchi on the penultimate lap to clinch victory in MotoGP's French Grand Prix on Sunday. Bezzecchi looked set for his fourth win from five races this season before Spain's Martin nipped in front of the Italian to claim his first win since becoming world champion in 2024. Ai Ogura finished third to secure Japan's first podium finish since Katsuyuki Nakasuga came second at the Valencia Grand Prix in 2012.

Martin is now within a point of his Aprilia team-mate Bezzecchi in the championship standings having also won the sprint race in Le Mans on Saturday in which Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia was second, with Bezzecchi third. Ogura and his Trackhouse team-mate Raul Fernandez have climbed above defending champion Marc Marquez in the championship standings, to fifth and sixth respectively. Marquez is now seventh after missing Sunday's race having fractured his foot when he was thrown off his bike on the final lap of Saturday's sprint.

The 33-year-old Spaniard had planned to have a shoulder operation after next weekend's Catalan Grand Prix but brought that forward so he could undergo a double surgery in Madrid on Sunday. Ducati said the seven-time champion will remain in hospital overnight. His return date is yet to be determined.

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