French MotoGP rider Johann Zarco delivered a standout performance on home soil after finishing fastest in Friday practice at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans.
The Castrol Honda LCR rider clocked a best lap of 1:29.907 in dry conditions, continuing the strong pace he had already shown earlier in the day when he finished third in the morning session. Zarco’s impressive form also secured him direct entry into Q2.
The Frenchman said recent improvements in understanding the bike had helped unlock stronger performance levels.
“We had a decent level today, and I’m really happy,” said Zarco. “We understand the bike much better now, and by adjusting small things, we’re improving the feeling on the bike.”
Racing in front of his home fans appeared to give the veteran extra motivation as he pushed confidently throughout both sessions.
Zarco highlighted the importance of being competitive in dry conditions, especially after showing flashes of pace earlier this season without fully converting it into results.
“Being competitive today in the dry is super important because the pace on the bike has been interesting since the beginning of the year, we just weren’t able to unlock its full potential,” he said.
The 34-year-old added that he particularly enjoyed Friday’s sessions, feeling comfortable enough to consistently push the bike to its limit.
“Today, we managed to do that. Achieving it here, on home soil, is amazing.”
