By Dean AdamsMarc Marquez has reached 40 races in MotoGP, in which he has taken 20 wins, a further 12 podiums, 24 pole positions and 2 titles.
Marquez won last year at Le Mans and has been on pole the past three seasons (2 in MotoGP and 1 in Moto2) also taking his first career pole there at the 2009 125cc race.
Dani Pedrosa has 4 victories at Le Mans (1 in MotoGP in 2013, 2 in 250cc in 2004 and 2005 and 1 in 125cc in 2003) plus 6 poles (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012).
The legendary Le Mans circuit hosts the fifth MotoGP round of the season this weekend. It will be a special event for the Repsol riders, as Marc Marquez will be further recovered from his finger injury for a race that he won last season. He will be accompanied by teammate Dani Pedrosa, who returns from forearm surgery. In Moto3, Fabio Quartararo will contest his first home GP.
The Bugatti circuit at Le Mans is a track at which Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa have shone in recent years. They were winners in 2014 and 2013, respectively, and both have a host of wins, podiums and poles from previous seasons. In Moto3, Quartararo, Navarro and Herrera rode there for the first time last season in the FIM CEV Repsol, with Quartararo winning that event.
Marc Marquez
“Since Jerez we’ve been able to rest and now I’m feeling much stronger for this weekend. I visited Dr. Mir for a check up and my finger is definitely improving and healing well. I haven’t trained much this past week in order to give my finger a chance to restore back to 100%, which was our main goal. I like the Le Mans track, the weather is always changeable but last year it was really good and I took my first win in the MotoGP class, so let’s hope it’s the nice for us again this year!”
Dani Pedrosa
“I’ve been doing a lot of therapy in the past few weeks since the operation and I am improving step by step. I’m beginning to feel stronger and looking forward to getting back on the bike -after all, this is the best way to check the feeling after all the rehabilitation work. It will be good to get back to my team and catch up with them all after this time and of course to see all the fans in Le Mans, so let’s hope the weather is kind to us again like in 2014!”
