Zarco shines at home in the wet

MOTOGP: FIRST FRENCH WINNER AT LE MANS IN 71 YEARS

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Johann Zarco produced an outstanding ride in difficult wet conditions at Le Mans yesterday to become the first home winner of the French MotoGP in 71 years.

Riding in his 150th MotoGP, the 34-year-old Honda LCR rider hit the front after eight laps and held his position through to the end of the race to become the first Frenchman to take the checkered flag in the top category race since Pierre Monneret in 1954.

In front of the biggest-ever attendance at a MotoGP event and with his mother watching him for the first time, Zarco finished 19.907 seconds ahead of six-time world champion Marc Marquez with 20-year-old rookie Fermin Aldeguer claiming a first podium in just his sixth race.