---
title: "Home Hero Johann Zarco Secures Pole at the MotoGP Grand Prix of France"
description: "The flying Frenchman also set a new track record while trying to beat Marquez for the pole."
date: "2018-05-19"
modified: "2018-05-19"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20969/home-hero-johann-zarco-secures-pole-at-the-motogp-grand-prix-of-france"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Ducati"
  - "France"
  - "Johann Zarco"
  - "Le Mans"
  - "Marc Márquez"
  - "MotoGP"
  - "motorcycle racing"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Valentino Rossi"
---

# Home Hero Johann Zarco Secures Pole at the MotoGP Grand Prix of France

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/05/gettyimages-960080732.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Yamaha Tech 3's [Johann Zarco](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20729/zarco-and-crutchlow-lead-motogp-motorcycle-racing-test-in-jerez>) enjoyed a dreamy but intense qualifying session that saw him beat Honda Repsol's Marc Marquez for the pole position at tomorrow's MotoGP Grand Prix of France—Zarco's home race.

The Flying Frenchman didn't stop with the pole position, as he also annihilated the rest of the field by smashing the pole record at Le Mans, becoming the first Frenchman to start from the front of the grid on home soil since Christian Sarron in 1988, back when the French round of MotoGP was still [contested at Paul Ricard](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/19092/ducati-celebrates-25-years-of-the-monster-with-parade-in-france>).

![message-editor%2F1526761161589-c8673998-319e-4184-8952-0400caa2be73.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1526761161589-c8673998-319e-4184-8952-0400caa2be73.jpg>)
*MotoGP*

![message-editor%2F1526761283537-c58d53fe-6a93-4be2-9c8c-6bf4123c1fb9.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1526761283537-c58d53fe-6a93-4be2-9c8c-6bf4123c1fb9.jpg>)
*MotoGP*

The nail-biting session was one of the few times where Marc Marquez has been visibly worried about his lack of pace, even if [the Spaniard](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20313/hondas-marc-marquez-wins-sixth-consecutive-motogp-grand-prix-of-the-americas>) still delivered a marvelous second place and could realistically maintain a faster pace than Zarco during tomorrow's race. As it's been the case in 2018, it was an independent rider and team who rounded up the top three, with Danilo Petrucci with his Alma Pramac Racing Ducati. At the end of the session, the top three riders were separated by less than two-tenths of a second.

A bit further back on the grid were the Suzuki and Ducatis of Andrea Iannone, Andrea Dovizioso, and teammate Jorge Lorenzo in fourth, fifth, and sixth place. Dovizioso's excitement of having just [renewed his contract with Ducati](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20968/motogps-andrea-dovizioso-confirms-new-two-year-contract-with-ducati>) for another two years didn't exactly translate into performance, but tomorrow's race will surely present the Italian and his world-champion teammate with new opportunities to shine.

The Yamaha duo of Maverick Vinales and [Valentino Rossi](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20302/motogp-yamahas-maverick-vinales-on-pole-at-austin-after-marquezs-penalty>) could only manage to secure the eighth and ninth place on the grid, while Honda Repsol's Dani Pedrosa had to settle with 10th. Independent superstar rider Cal Crutchlow qualified 13th but will miss Sunday's race due to being hospitalized after crashing during Q1.

![message-editor%2F1526760313745-screenshot2018-05-19at4.04.31pm.png](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1526760313745-screenshot2018-05-19at4.04.31pm.png>)
*Starting grid., *MotoGP**

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)