MotoGP 2026 French Grand Prix: Race and qualifying times, how to watch and Le Mans weather forecast

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MotoGP returns this weekend with a trip to the iconic Le Mans circuit for the French Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know about Round 5, including the full schedule and how to watch the action live.

Marco Bezzecchi still leads the 2026 MotoGP standings, despite seeing his recent winning streak come to an end at the Spanish Grand Prix last time out.

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez started on pole in Jerez and converted it into an early lead, but his race ended dramatically after crashing out on lap two.

The Spaniard had just been overtaken by his younger brother, Alex Marquez, who went on to claim back-to-back victories with Gresini at his home Grand Prix.

The MotoGP paddock now arrives at Le Mans for the second race in the European leg of the 2026 calendar.

Read More: French Grand Prix predictions as MotoGP experts decide whether Marc Marquez can win at Le Mans

Who is going to win the French Grand Prix?

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When is the MotoGP 2026 French Grand Prix, including full schedule

The 2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix takes place from 8-10 May at the Le Mans circuit, with Sunday’s main race getting underway at 2pm track time. The race will run over 27 laps.

The Sprint race is scheduled for Saturday, 9 May, and will begin at 3pm local time, running half distance of the main grand prix at 13 laps.

How to watch the MotoGP 2026 French Grand Prix

The 2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix can be streamed via MotoGP’s Videopass. A subscription to the basic Videopass costs £26.13 (€29.99) a month or £174.27 (€199.99) a year, which gives fans access to live and on-demand races.

A small price upgrade to £28.74 (€32.99) monthly and £182.97 (€209.99) unlocks TimingPass, which gives subscribers access to real-time live data.

UK viewers can watch the MotoGP French Grand Prix via a subscription to TNT Sports and Quest. A subscription to the streaming service, through Discovery+ costs £30.99 a month and gives viewers access to four live TV channels and a number of other streamed live sports.

Fans in Australia can watch MotoGP live on FoxSports via Kayo. The streaming platform, which also has broadcast rights to a number of motorsport series, including Formula 1, starts at $29.99 a month, and allows viewers access to over 50 sports live and on demand.

Free highlights of the 2026 MotoGP French Grand Prix will be available on the MotoGP website and its YouTube channel after the race.

What is the weather forecast for the MotoGP 2026 French Grand Prix?

At the time of writing, the Le Mans weather forecast for the 2026 French Grand Prix is starting to improve earlier in the weekend after it was previously forecast to be stormy weather on Friday and Saturday, before turning to light showers on Sunday.

The forecast now suggests there will be drizzle and a dry breeze on Friday for practice, with highs of 21°C. It is currently expected to be sunny for first practice before the chance of rain increases later in the day to 31% by the next session.

Temperatures should increase to 23°C on Saturday, with the forecast currently predicting light rain showers and light winds. The final practice session has a 33% chance of rain, although this reduces towards the start of qualifying, however there is a risk of thundery showers by the Sprint race.

The thundery showers are expected to continue into Sunday, with a 72% chance of rain around the start of the race at 2pm. Temperatures should reach a cooler 19°C, with the rain risk reducing into the afternoon.

Where is the MotoGP 2026 French Grand Prix being held?

The 2026 French Grand Prix will take place at the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, northwestern France. Best known as the home of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, the venue has also become a permanent fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 2000, having previously hosted 11 Grands Prix between 1969 and 1995.

Jorge Lorenzo remains the most successful MotoGP rider at Le Mans, claiming five premier-class victories at the circuit between 2009 and 2016. Honda also boasts a remarkable record at the French Grand Prix, with 10 wins in the MotoGP era and 53 victories across all classes.

Le Mans has produced seven different MotoGP winners since 2019, highlighting just how unpredictable the event has become. Marc Marquez was the last rider to win back-to-back French Grands Prix, triumphing in both 2018 and 2019.

The current MotoGP lap record at Circuit de la Sarthe belongs to Enea Bastianini, who set a stunning 1:31.107 aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP24 during the 2024 French Grand Prix. However, despite his pace over a single lap, it was Jorge Martin who emerged victorious in the race itself.

Who won the MotoGP 2025 French Grand Prix?

Johann Zarco secured his first MotoGP victory since the 2023 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island after recovering from a dramatic opening-lap incident to win in front of his home crowd at Le Mans.

The result also marked LCR Honda’s first victory since Alex Rins triumphed at the Circuit of the Americas in 2024, while Zarco’s success ended Ducati’s remarkable streak of 22 consecutive Grand Prix wins dating back to the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix.

Chaos unfolded before the race had even begun. The start was initially delayed after every rider pitted at the end of the warm-up lap following the appearance of rain spots. Conditions then briefly improved, prompting 13 riders to switch back to dry bikes during the sighting lap.

Drama continued into Turn 1 when Enea Bastianini and Francesco Bagnaia collided, collecting Joan Mir in the process. Zarco was forced through the gravel to avoid the crash but managed to stay upright and rejoin the race.

As the rain intensified, polesitter Fabio Quartararo and Brad Binder both crashed while attempting to chase race leader Marc Marquez. Zarco, however, benefited from starting the restarted race on wet tyres, while several rivals, including Marquez, were later forced to pit again for their wet bikes.

That strategic advantage allowed the Frenchman to build a commanding lead, eventually crossing the line almost 19 seconds clear to seal an unforgettable home victory at Le Mans.