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Le Mans MotoGP

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7 months ago

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Le Mans MotoGP

They say that winning your home grand prix is like scoring the winning goal at the World Cup final, but only one person on this planet knows what it’s like to win your home MotoGP race at Le Mans.

Because there’s nowhere better to do that than Le Mans, thanks to the vast and noisy crowd thronging the vast grandstands, built to accommodate the crowd at the circuit’s 24-hour car race.

On Sunday the 111,000 fans sounded like the best football crowd – singing football chants for winner Johann Zarco and belting out the Marseillaise time and time again.

Zarco has been in the MotoGP paddock for almost two decades, since he won the inaugural Red Bull Rookies championship in 2007. During his early years in grands prix he wasn’t a great talker and seemed to treat journalists with suspicion. (Not without reason.) More recently he’s shrugged off that somewhat dour persona to become the championship’s philosopher king, its Eric Cantona, always ready with a leftfield quote to brighten your day.

But not on Sunday. Quite rightly, the 34-year-old was overcome by the magnitude of his achievement – bottom lip trembling, fighting back the tears as he performed his traditional backflip in front of the stands that tower over the start-finish.

“I expected more tears – they are here but they are not getting out!” he grinned. “It’s very special – I can’t believe it’s happened. I race to win races, to be on the podium. I always push myself to get the best performance and I always trust that one day I can win.”

Zarco may have kept the tears from flowing but his parents didn’t. Remarkably, this was the first time his mum had visited a grand prix. Zarco had only asked her to be there because he wanted her to hear the French fans at full song. No one, not even the Zarco family, knew there would be good reason for them to sing louder than ever.

Marc Marquez leads pack in 2025 MotoGP French Grand Prix

Márquez leads Quartararo, Binder, Acosta, his brother and Aldeguer on slicks at the end of lap four – two corners later Quartararo and Binder fell, triggering another mass bike swap, to rain bikes

Michelin

“It’s a bit strange because of the way it happened today,” Zarco continued. “I needed to control a lot and wait for the victory to come. I’m so happy because I love the history of motorbikes, so to write this line – to be a French winner of the French GP! – wow, that’s very special and I’m very happy for this.”

Only one other Frenchman has done what Zarco did on Saturday – in 1954, factory Gilera rider Pierre Monneret won the French 500cc GP at the Reims street circuit, 90 miles northeast of Paris.

Zarco didn’t only have the French crowd on his side, he also had the Le Mans weather behind him. Honda may have taken some big steps forward with its RC213V in recent months but the bike isn’t ready to win in the dry just yet.

Rain was exactly what Zarco and his RC213V needed. And perhaps his age – he’s the oldest rider on the grid – helped him through the chaotic preamble and early stages: the first start aborted after the entire grid ended the warm-up lap in pitlane to switch to their rain bikes, the second start following another mass bike change, to dry bikes.

Zarco was one of the few that didn’t change his mind during the second sighting lap. LCR Honda team owner Lucio Cecchinello’s weather app had told him that more rain was 100% on its way, so even though slicks seemed the right call at that time, they weren’t. That’s why Zarco had the courage of his convictions to stay with rain tyres, even while so many were going the other way.

But it all might have ended a few seconds into the race, when Enea Bastianini sent it up the inside at Turn 3 like a madman, taking out Pecco Bagnaia.

Johann Zarco leads Miguel Oliveira in 2025 MotoGP French GP

Zarco leads for the first time on lap eight, chased by Miguel Oliveira, who also started on rain tyres, but crashed out

Michelin

Joan Mir only just avoided the Italians’ disaster but missing them had the 2020 MotoGP champion collide so hard with Zarco that the LCR rider’s left hand slipped off the handlebar, the impact also smashing his switchgear. Mir fell heavily, suffering a fracture in his right hand.

By the time Zarco had ridden out of the Turn 3 gravel trap he was almost last and many riders might have thought their day was essentially over. Not Zarco. This was his 288th GP start, so he knows how to keep his head when all around are losing theirs: stay calm, don’t rush, let the race come to you.

“From there, it was: OK, don’t burn your rain tyres, take what you can take, you will see and I’ve seen it,” he added.

The first few laps were dizzying. All the riders that had swapped back to their dry bikes had to do two long-lap penalties, as prescribed in new rules, written following last month’s COTA grid palaver.

Then another sprinkling of rain. Marc Márquez was leading, chased by pole-starter Fabio Quartararo and Brad Binder, all on slicks. When they attacked the final corner on lap four, Márquez nearly lost the front, while Quartararo and Binder did lose the front, both clattering into the gravel trap. Turn 14 is always slippery when wet because its asphalt is polished by car undertrays during the 24 hour race.

Those crashes triggered another mass bike change during the next few laps, which put Zarco into the lead, on lap eight, only another 18 to go. He spent every single one of those laps teetering on the brink of a crash because the track was never fully wet, so it was greasy, which makes it difficult to find the limit without tripping over it.

Fermin Aldeguer in 2025 MotoGP French GP

Rookie Aldeguer’s first MotoGP race in the rain announced a brave new talent. He might have done better than third if he hadn’t changed to rain tyres too late

Gresini

The former Moto2 world champion had two big concerns: trying not crash and trying to go fast enough to keep Marc Márquez behind, so he was sat on a razor’s edge for the next half hour. Márquez did try to close the eight-second gap but soon realised that going faster than Zarco would be too risky, his Jerez crash still ringing in his ears.

“Without the mistake at Jerez, I’m 80% sure I would’ve crashed today, because I know myself!” the Spaniard laughed.

Once Márquez had settled for second and built a gap over brother Alex, who later crashed twice, Zarco was safe, so long as he kept laser-like focus and didn’t let his growing lead fool him into slowing down, because if you do slow down your tyres will cool down and you’ll most likely end up on the ground.

“It was a tricky race,” said Zarco after his second MotoGP victory, 19 months after his first, with Pramac Ducati at Philip Island. “We knew it was going to rain, so my choice was rain tyres. When the race started the other guys with slicks were faster but there were some rain drops, so I knew it was too tricky [for slicks]. Then I saw them crashing and going to the box, so I gained positions. Jack [Miller] was with rain tyres and I know he’s so strong in these conditions, but when he crashed I began to trust that I could do something good.”

Zarco’s victory was Honda’s first since Alex Rins won the 2023 Americas GP and doubly important for the Japanese manufacturer because it ended Ducati’s victory streak. Two weeks earlier at Jerez, Alex Márquez had won the Bologna brand’s 22nd consecutive MotoGP race, equalling Honda’s record from the 1990s. Everyone assumed Ducati would better Honda and make history on Sunday, but thanks to Zarco and the rain that didn’t happen.

Johann Zarco celebrates with LCR Honda team after winning 2025 MotoGP French GP

Zarco, his mum and dad and the LCR Honda team celebrate

Michelin

Marc Márquez’s second position – the first time he’s finished a GP race this year without winning it – was hugely important. The previous day he had won his sixth consecutive sprint to retake the world championship lead from his little brother. His Sunday success and Alex’s crash takes him to Silverstone next week with a 22-point lead.

Factory Ducati team-mate Pecco Bagnaia had one of the worst weekends of his career. Struggling to magic the same speed as Marc out of this year’s Desmosedici, he crashed out of the sprint and then had Bastianini destroy his Sunday race moments after it had started. And Bagnaia would’ve been a good bet for the win, because he had started on rain tyres. Instead he rejoined the race to finish last, one place out of the points in 16th.

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NCAA Volleyball Regional Schedule Set

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3 hours ago

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December 8, 2025

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The fourth-seeded Indiana volleyball team (25-7, 14-6 B1G) will play in the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. The NCAA announced start times and dates for next week’s regional semifinals on Sunday (Dec. 7) afternoon. The Hoosiers will play top-seeded Texas at Gregory Gymnasium on Friday (Dec. 12) afternoon at Noon ET on ESPN.

 

Following the greatest regular season in program history, IU was awarded a top-16 national seed and the chance to host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers made quick work of their first two matchups, sweeping Toledo and fifth-seeded Colorado in Bloomington to advance to the Sweet 16.

 

IU is one of five Big Ten programs remaining in the NCAA Tournament. Of the 16 schools left in the big dance, IU is one of two teams (Cal Poly) that didn’t make the big dance last year. The Hoosiers have already set a single-season program record for wins (25) and will attempt to advance to the regional final for the first time in program history.

 

The other matchup in the Austin Regional will pit second-seeded Stanford and third-seeded Wisconsin against each other. Their match will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of IU’s. The winners of both regional semifinals will meet on Sunday (Dec. 14) afternoon for a spot in the national semifinals in Kansas City.



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Louisville volleyball NCAA Tournament bracket, Texas A&M vs UofL game

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3 hours ago

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December 8, 2025

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Dec. 6, 2025Updated Dec. 7, 2025, 6:08 a.m. ET

After defeating Marquette 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Saturday night, No. 2 Louisville will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, and take on No. 3 Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 at 7 p.m. Friday.

This will be the Cardinals’ seventh consecutive regional appearance but first with Dan Meske as head coach.

Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with the match from home:

No. 2 seed Louisville versus No. 3 seed Texas A&M will be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2.

Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.

Those without cable can access ESPN2 via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.

Buy Louisville volleyball tickets here

After defeating Marquette, UofL will play Texas A&M in the Lincoln, Nebraska, Regional Friday at 7 pm. Here’s a look at the tournament schedule:

  • First and second rounds: Dec. 4-6
  • Regionals: Dec. 11-14
  • Semifinals: Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Championship: Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri



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The Omaha World-Herald’s Nebraska All-Class volleyball teams

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December 8, 2025

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Men’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open

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6 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.

The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.

Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history.  Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.

In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history.  First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).

Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.

First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).

The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.

 



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Women’s Track & Field Turns in Multiple High Marks to Begin Season at Cornell

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6 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.

Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.

Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.

Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.

Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.

Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.

Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

 



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Men’s Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Cornell Greg Page Relays

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December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.

Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.

Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.

IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.

Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.

Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.

Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.

Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

 



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