Marquez captures French MotoGP as home hero Zarco crashes out

MARC Marquez has reeled off his third win on the bounce, winning the French MotoGP on Sunday as home favourite and pole sitter Johann Zarco crashed out.

Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez waves as he clocked the best time of the warm-up ahead of the French motorcycling Grand Prix on May 20, 2018 in Le Mans, northwestern France. / AFP PHOTO / JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER

MARC Marquez reeled off his third win on the bounce in the French MotoGP on Sunday as home favourite and pole sitter Johann Zarco crashed out.

Marquez took his 38th win in the top category unchallenged from Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Pramac) with Italian veteran Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) in third at Le Mans.

Zarco had the home fans at Le Mans’ Bugatti circuit dreaming of a rare French win after his record setting pole but the Yamaha Tech star slid out of contention on lap seven.

The win allowed Marquez (95 points) to extend his lead in the championship to 36 points over Maverick Vinales, who sits in second place on 59.

Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez has taken out the French MotoGP to extend his lead to 36 points in the championship. Picture: AFP

Originally published as Marquez captures French MotoGP as home hero Zarco crashes out