Grand Prix France 'could be a turning point' in MotoGP season as Marc Marquez sets Le Mans track record
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Updated 10/05/2025 at 08:03 GMT+1
Neil Hodgson has suggested we may see a "turning point" in the MotoGP season this weekend as the circuit heads to Le Mans for the Grand Prix France. Alex Marquez leads his brother Marc by a single point in the Championship after claiming a first victory at Jerez last weekend. Marc is looking strong going into this Sunday's race though, setting a Le Mans track record during Friday's practice.
Marc Marquez sets all-time Le Mans record at Grand Prix France free practice
Video credit: TNT Sports
Former World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson believes this weekend’s Grand Prix France could be a turning point in the MotoGP season.
The Marquez brothers are facing off once again in Le Mans, with younger sibling Alex leading the Championship standings by a single point.
However, with some Ducati riders receiving updated engines in the 2025 MotoGP season, Hodgson thinks we could see the likes of Marc Marquez and Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia seize momentum and potentially shift the balance of power in the Championship race.
"I’ve got a slight feeling that after the Jerez test, this is when the 2025 bikes all make a small step forward," he told TNT Sports.
"I feel like that’s happened, where if you’re on last year’s bike, which we know Alex Marquez is, it is what it is, that’s the bike you’ve got for the rest of the year, so I think this might be the turning point in the season for the rest of the manufacturers."
Marc’s 'strongest day of the year'
Marc set an all-time track record at Le Mans during Friday’s practice sessions, heightening expectations for a quick race on Sunday.
"I’ve got to say it’s another day where Marc’s really dominated," Hodgson said.
"I’d probably say it’s his strongest day of the year, right?
"The times are normally super close around here because it’s a short lap. He’s got 0.3 in his pocket, maybe even 0.4 of a second, so dominant for Marc and for the rest, it’s a different race.
"That’s Friday, though. It was pretty cool today. It’s almost sometimes risk versus reward, and we know Marc was prepared to risk."
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'It was a good day' - Marquez reflects on record lap at Le Mans
Video credit: TNT Sports
Acosta struggles
Following his impressive rookie year, expectations were high for KTM rider Pedro Acosta. But after a strong start, he has struggled during the campaign and recently had arm-pump surgery.
The 20-year-old explained how he felt like his arm "was going to explode" during the last two races.
Hodgson says he’s looked nowhere near last year’s performances: "Of course we know KTM has not made the steps we were all expecting, but you feel like with Maverick [Vinales] doing better, all of a sudden Pedro’s having to look back at himself and think where can I improve?
"[He’s] getting a bit of arm pump, so he’s done the right thing. The beauty of having the operation is, I would say 8 times out of 10, it eliminates on pump.
"He just wanted to get rid of that and he can focus on moving forward and have a strong rest of the season."
Speaking about Acosta’s future, he added: "Obviously, Pedro’s got a contract with KTM.
"Of course, there are get-out clauses, but they’re very expensive. So for anyone to want to poach Pedro Costa, it’s going to be a very expensive operation."
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Bagnaia 'quite happy' with practice but 'feeling still not what I want'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Action at Le Mans continues on Saturday, May 10, with qualifying and the sprint race, before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
How to watch Grand Prix France on TNT Sports and discovery+
TNT Sports is the home of MotoGP after agreeing a new multi-year deal to broadcast the championship in the UK and Ireland.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
MotoGP 2025 Schedule
- May 9–11: Grand Prix France
- May 23–25: Grand Prix Great Britain
- June 6–8: Grand Prix Aragon
- June 20–22: Gran Prix Italy
- June 27–29: Grand Prix Netherlands
- July 11–13: Grand Prix Germany
- July 18–20: Grand Prix Czech Republic
- August 15–17: Grand Prix Austria
- August 22–24: Hungary Grand Prix
- September 5–7: Grand Prix Catalunya
- September 12–14: Grand Prix San Marino
- September 26–28: Grand Prix Japan
- October 3–5: Grand Prix Indonesia
- October 17–19: Grand Prix Australia
- October 24–26: Grand Prix Malaysia
- November 7–9: Portugal Grand Prix
- November 14–16: Grand Prix Valencia
Watch and stream the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Thoughts?
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