Re-live the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France!

The latest instalment in the 2010 MotoGP World Championship called on the Le Mans circuit for the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France, and the sun was beating down for the third round. The action was just as hot, with fantastic races across all three categories, and as usual motogp.com guides you through the weekend’s happenings with a full video review.

Kicking off proceedings last Thursday was the traditional pre-event, which saw MotoGP riders Ben Spies, Randy de Puniet and Marco Simoncelli visit the Centre Hospitalier du Mans to visit young patients. Following that, the official pre-race press conference took place at which Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo was joined by Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and De Puniet.

It was Rossi who led the way in FP1 as he settled with the fastest time when the action began on Friday, whilst Stoner took the momentum in FP2. Rossi regained the psychological advantage by securing pole position with the hottest lap in qualifying, and Stoner experienced a momentary problem in the Sunday morning warm up. The Australian had qualified in fourth position, with Lorenzo and Pedrosa completing the front row.

Following the success of his football team Inter Milan in winning the Champions League on Saturday evening, Rossi was hoping to emulate the achievement in the race, whilst Pedrosa was readying himself for a milestone 150th GP start. Stoner was aiming to claw back the early deficit that had developed between himself and the top of the standings.

The MotoGP race belonged to Lorenzo however as the Spaniard triumphed magnificently. Missing from the starting grid however was Álvaro Bautista, who suffered a crash in FP1 that aggravated his already injured shoulder and resulted in his withdrawal from the race. Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso joined Lorenzo on the podium, all three discussing an eventful race in the post-GP press conference.

It was a clean sweep of Spanish victors across the three categories once more, repeating the trio who won at Jerez last time out. In the Moto2 race a solid Toni Elías won a contest that was strewn with early crashes, one of the most spectacular involving Alex de Angelis who was extremely unlucky to be taken out by the stray bike of wildcard rider Xavier Simeon.

Pol Espargaró won the 125cc event after another great tussle with Nico Terol, cutting the Bancaja Aspar rider’s lead the top of the standings to just two points.

As always there was spectacular OnBoard action recorded at Le Mans, with the Paddock Girls also in full splendour.