Consistent Andrea Dovizioso can crash Zarco's party

French Grand Prix
BT Sport 2, 1pm Sunday

Johann Zarco will start his home grand prix from pole position after edging out Marc Marquez with a lap-record time at Le Mans.

It is Zarco's second pole of the season and the Yamaha rider will be hoping for a better result than when he started from the front in the season-opener in Qatar.

There, Zarco led much of the race but always looked vulnerable and faded to finish eighth.

Interestingly, that was his worst finish of the season and Zarco, who has earned two second places in the three races since, will be optimistic he can send the fans home happy.

Marquez is the only rider to have won from pole position this season and he opened up a 12-point cushion at the top of the standings with his win in Jerez last time.

The reigning champion is understandably favourite but his only win in five premier-class races at the track was in 2014.

Jorge Lorenzo owns the most impressive course form, with five MotoGP wins at Le Mans, however he is still unconvincing on the Ducati.

Lorenzo is a habitual fast starter and from the second row of the grid he'll have his eye on taking the lead at the first corner.

However, Lorenzo has yet to finish in the top ten this season. The three-time world champion was in with a shout at a podium in Spain last time but got involved in an accident which took himself, teammate Andrea Dovizioso and Honda's Dani Pedrosa out of the race.

While Lorenzo's future at Ducati is in doubt Dovizioso has signed a new contract with the Italian team.

Dovi has been a little disappointing since winning in Qatar but he has at least been consistent and the Ducati has been going well enough this weekend. Last year's championship runner-up has been near the top in the practice sessions and is generally stronger in races than in qualifying.

Despite Zarco's speed, factory Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and last year's Le Mans winner Maverick Vinales appear to be on the back foot.

Cal Crutchlow, who won in Argentina, is undergoing medical checks after a huge crash in qualifying. If passed fit to race he will start 13th on the grid.

Recommendation
A Dovizioso
1pt 6-1 bet365

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