Martin surges to MotoGP sprint victory at Le Mans

“I love this track,” said Martin, who won both the sprint and the main race at Le Mans on his way to the 2024 world title.

Behind them, reigning world champion Marc Marquez endured a nightmare day that ended in a violent crash on his factory Ducati.

Martin started from eighth on the grid but jumped to first at the start on his Aprilia.

“I struggled a bit in qualifying but I knew my potential,” he said.

“I put all my determination into the start. I found myself ahead at the second corner and I pushed like I’m used to alone, and boom! boom! boom!” he added, punching the air three times.

In balmy, sunny conditions, Martin finished a comfortable 1.107 seconds ahead of Francesco Bagnaia on the second factory Ducati.

“I’m happy,” said the Italian. “We are stilling missing something compared to Aprilia. I hope tomorrow we will have good weather because we can make a good result.”

The other Aprilia, ridden by Marco Bezzecchi, was third 2.786sec back.

The Italian remained at the top of the riders’ standings, with his lead cut to six points over team-mate Martin.

Pedro Acosta, on a KTM, is third, 36 points off the pace.

“I’m very happy,” said Bezzecchi. “I wasn’t feeling very good. Happy to get this result. Always fighting.”

Spaniard Acosta was fourth with Frenchman Fabio Quartararo fifth for Yamaha.

Marquez started on the front row but had slipped to seventh before losing control of his bike with less than two laps of the 13-lap race to go.

He put his left foot on the ground to try to regain his balance but was flipped over the handlebars in the opposite direction, sliding along the ground as his disintegrating Ducati cartwheeled just past him.

The Spaniard got up and walked away but with a slight limp.

The weekend’s racing continues with Sunday’s main race when rain is forecast.