Quartararo, world champion and overall leader before the French GP

Even before the start of the French GP, it is already a bit historic for the French clan. fabio quartararo is in fact the first French driver to compete in his event with the status of world champion in the premier category.

And what could be better than marking the history of your nation in front of full stands? In 2020, only 5000 spectators were allowed to attend the French GP races on Sundays. The last French GP to date was organized behind closed doors. This season, with the relaxation of health measures, the Le Mans meeting promises to be more “normal” with radiant weather (it must be emphasized!)

“I’m very impatient,” said Fabio Quartararo after the Spanish GP. During my first season in 2019 (in MotoGP, editor’s note), I was not in the same position. I was a rookie looking for good results. Arriving as championship leader… I never really saw the fans at Le Mans supporting me. To get there in that kind of position, I think it’s going to be crazy and I can’t wait to see them. »

Claude Michy, head of PHA, the company which organizes the French GP, also underlined the chance of having a French champion. “We are lucky to have a French world champion,” he admitted in the show After Sunday. So this notion “cocorico” will exist in a profound way. And then Fabio is a modern boy, well educated, who is very trendy before important partners like IKKS. I think he is very present on social networks, with this champion side, but with the humility of the champion and this simplicity. His status has changed, but he has not changed. »

Quartararo and Zarco, in the footsteps of Monneret?

Last year, two French people appeared on the podium at Le Mans with Johann Zarco second, his second Top 3 at Bugatti in the premier category (with 2017), ahead of Quartararo. Before them, we had to go back to 1987 with Christian Sarron, third, and 1985 with Raymond Roche, second. 

In the premier category, only one Frenchman managed to make La Marseillaise resonate on his land: Pierre Monneret during the 1954 French GP in Reims on the handlebars of a Gilera. His compatriot Jacques Collot (Norton) finished third. It was also the first time that two French drivers shared the same podium in the premier category. We had to wait until the Doha GP last year to witness the same feat…