MotoGP star STUNS fans after French Grand Prix victory with iconic celebration

MotoGP

The greatest celebration ever? MotoGP star STUNS fans after historic victory

Johann Zarco made MotoGP history at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans

Dan Ripley Global Editor

Professional F1 journalist and analyst

Sunday 11 May 2025 21:55

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An emotional Johann Zarco celebrated in style after claiming a stunning victory while making history at the MotoGP French Grand Prix.

Zarco became the first French rider to win his home event for the first time in 71 years, dominating at Le Mans' Bugatti Circuit to triumph ahead of Spanish Ducati duo Marc Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer by nearly 20 seconds.

But it was the 34-year-old's celebration that was perhaps even more impressive.

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Fighting back the tears the LCR Honda rider climbed upon a crash barrier, whipping fans up into a frenzy before preforming an expert back flip in front of the grandstand chanting his name on the home straight in a race attended by nearly 120,000 spectators.

Zarco was joined by his equally emotional and tearful father in the celebrations too following his domination in a race where a start on wet tyres helped pave the way for a famous triumph.

Johann Zarco makes history at French Grand Prix

Speaking after the race, Zarco said: "It's hard to believe. I still don't understand what is happening.

"The last laps were quite long. I need a bit of time [to process victory] but it's just magic.

"With the rain tyres at the beginning, we had to control. Marc came back pretty fast but I could control the gap. Just wow!"

The previous home winner of the French Grand Prix was Pierre Monneret following his triumph 71 years ago.

It is just Zarco's second MotoGP victory having previously won at Phillip Island for the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.

A winning backflip in front of a record home crowd ?

Dream fulfilled! ?#FrenchGP ?? pic.twitter.com/gwutPxgH3I
— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) May 11, 2025

Position	Rider	Nationality	Team	Time/Diff
1	Johann Zarco	FRA	Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V)	45m 47.541s
2	Marc Marquez	SPA	Ducati Lenovo (GP25)	+19.907s
3	Fermin Aldeguer	SPA	BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24)	+26.532s
4	Pedro Acosta	SPA	Red Bull KTM (RC16)	+29.631s
5	Maverick Viñales	SPA	Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)	+38.136s
6	Takaaki Nakagami	JPN	Honda Test Rider (RC213V)	+59.527s
7	Raul Fernandez	SPA	Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP25)	+70.302s
8	Fabio Di Giannantonio	ITA	Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25)	+70.363s
9	Lorenzo Savadori	ITA	Aprilia Factory (RS-GP25)	+25.793s
10	Ai Ogura	JPN	Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP25)	+26.529s
11	Luca Marini	ITA	Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V)	+32.535s
12	Alex Rins	SPA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	+35.357s
13	Enea Bastianini	ITA	Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)	+1 lap
14	Marco Bezzecchi	ITA	Aprilia Racing (RS-GP25)	+1 lap
15	Franco Morbidelli	ITA	Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP24)	+1 lap
16	Francesco Bagnaia	ITA	Ducati Lenovo (GP25)	+1 lap
—	Alex Marquez	SPA	BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP24)	DNF
—	Miguel Oliveira	POR	Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)	DNF
—	Brad Binder	RSA	Red Bull KTM (RC16)	DNF
—	Jack Miller	AUS	Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)	DNF
—	Fabio Quartararo	FRA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	DNF
—	Joan Mir	SPA	Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V)	DNF

Written by

Dan Ripley - Global Editor

I've been a massive F1 fan since the mid 1990s and continue to study the history of the sport long before that. As an experienced motor sport reporter covering F1, MotoGP and the LeMans 24 Hour race, being part of GPFans has allowed me to work with a diverse team with all sorts of different backgrounds in watching the sport and given me a greater appreciation of F1.

View full biography

MotoGP French Grand Prix