10 things we learned from the 2024 MotoGP French Grand Prix

Jorge Martin’s imperious French Grand Prix weekend came as a decision on who gets the second factory Ducati team MotoGP seat looms. The Pramac rider can do no more to prove himself at this rate, having taken pole with a lap record, won the sprint and emerged victorious in a smartly ridden, nailbiting grand prix at Le Mans. Already feeling like he’s done all he can, Martin’s French GP display will only help his cause – if Ducati hasn’t already made its decision.

And it is a tough one, with Marc Marquez coming from 13th to finish second – twice – at the Le Mans weekend. The eight-time world champion’s adaptation process to the year-old Ducati is complete, he claimed at Le Mans, though a lack of familiarity between team and rider did set them back on Friday with a misstep in set-up. Lesson learned, Marquez again proved that everything is coming together for him and a return to the top step of the podium is only a matter of time.

Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia endured a mixed weekend, as bike woes in the sprint led to a third DNF of the year. In the grand prix, he could no more than third having led for much of the 27 laps. He is now 38 points down in the championship but his Spanish GP heroics last month should stop any doubters from rearing their heads.

Elsewhere, Le Mans broke the attendance record for MotoGP for a second year in a row, doing so within a 2024 season in which the series is truly back to its best after a few difficult years.

Things should only improve further as full details of the 2027 technical regulations overhaul were revealed pre-French GP.

Here are 10 things we learned from the 2024 French GP.

1. Le Mans win showed true intelligence of Martin

After crashing out of the lead of the Spanish GP, Martin threw away a chance to go 47 points clear in the standings coming to the French GP.

Late last year as he pushed for a first MotoGP championship, errors came at crucial points for the Pramac rider. Last weekend’s French GP was the time to show he had truly learned from this.

From the off Martin was fast and stunned in qualifying with the only sub-1m30s lap ever at Le Mans. His sprint win looked effortless, but it was his display in the 27-lap grand prix that deserves praise as being arguably the best ride of his career. Losing the lead off the line, Martin was content to sit behind Francesco…