Spanish Rider Wins French MotoGP Overtaking Championship Leader on Penultimate Lap

A Spanish rider charged from seventh on the grid to win the French Grand Prix on Sunday, claiming his first MotoGP victory in 588 days while closing to within one point of the championship leader. The rider overtook the race leader with three laps remaining after a race that saw multiple incidents among the frontrunners.

He had endured a difficult previous season marked by crashes and injuries before securing this breakthrough result for the Italian manufacturer. “It’s unbelievable. I still can’t say it enough times, because I’m so, so grateful to all the fans,” the emotional winner said.

“But for sure I have to remember my family, my team, my girlfriend, my dog – all the people that were with me all this time. Both riders compete for the same factory team, raising questions about internal dynamics as the title fight intensifies. The team boss said he was not concerned about potential tension in the garage.

“They are smart people, they are fighters. As long as they respect each other, I’m fine,” the boss added. The winner celebrated by smashing his windscreen in his trademark style before mimicking a football celebration, crossing his arms across his chest as he crossed the finish line.

A rider from the manufacturer’s satellite team finished third, giving the Italian company its first podium sweep in a single race. The result also marked the first podium finish by a Japanese rider in 14 years. “What can I say, it just feels amazing… It was not an easy race, but good race pace and I’m super happy,” the third-place finisher said.

The podium was completed as the sun emerged from clouds over the overcast Le Mans circuit. The third-place rider had overtaken another competitor with four laps to go.

The reigning champion missed the race entirely after fracturing his foot in a sprint crash the previous day. His teammate, who started from pole, crashed out of second place on lap 16 while challenging for the lead. That crash marked the teammate’s third retirement from a Sunday race in five rounds this season.

The incident allowed the eventual winner to move into second place before hunting down the leader, who had built a lead of nearly three seconds at one point. In a late-race twist, another rider was denied fourth place when a competitor made a final lunge with two corners remaining.

“So winning in Le Mans is quite special for me,” the team boss added. — Massimo Rivola (Al Jazeera, 10 May 2026) The manufacturer’s boss recalled telling the winner he believed in his potential with the team during last year’s event at the same circuit.